Drug Addiction an Illness, Not a Crime
Albany Times Union
Anthony Papa
July 08, 2008
The writer refers to Tatum O’Neal’s recent arrest for drug possession and argues that treatment is more effective than imprisonment for those with a drug addiction.
Tatum O’Neal, the Oscar-winning actress, took a plea deal last week stemming from her June 1 arrest while supposedly trying to score some crack cocaine on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She was initially charged with possession of a controlled substance and faced a year in prison if convicted. The court allowed her to plead out to a disorderly conduct charge and ordered her to attend two half-day drug treatment sessions. If she follows the court’s orders, the cocaine possession charges will be dismissed.
O’Neal has been open about her history of heroin addiction as outlined in her memoir, “A Paper Life.” When she was arrested by undercover officers, they searched her and found two bags of cocaine along with an unused crack pipe. She had initially told police she was doing research for an acting role. Then she changed her story and told them that the death of her 16-year-old dog nearly triggered her into relapse.
Some say O’Neal was treated with a slap on the wrist. Others say she did not deserve to do any jail time because of her addiction. This raises a critical question that we as a society need to address. Should we treat drug addiction as a criminal matter, or as a medical problem?