Sunday, October 14, 2018

Losing the War on Drugs


The war on drugs has failed at great cost
In addition to the number of lives lost
Prisons and jails swamped with new arrivals using drugs
Non violent crimes jailed like thugs
The flow of drugs from Mexico is more like a never ending tidal wave
More people than lost in entire Vietnam War going to OD graves
Using the criminal justice system to the drug problem solve
Instead of the rehab community to the solutions to the epidemic devolve
Addiction is a disease yet viewed by governments as a crime
Forcing this nation to spend billions so addicts can serve time
Little treatment only more jailers and prison guards
While on the streets usage increases does not retard
Black families torn asunder as black males
In increasing numbers due to drugs find their way to jail
No father figures only more and more single moms
Caught up in welfare not working receiving alms
With prison records the job market shuts its doors
A problem we can no longer ignore
As life expectancy falls, no longer soars
Too many OD’ed bodies litter the floors
Too many unwed mothers faced with an insurmountable hurdle
Little wonder the children growing up on prison track curdled
© October 14, 2018 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet  

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