A 'bad guy' or a 'sick guy'?

The handling of addiction victims' problems involves a power struggle. And, therein the failure to resolve the addiction crisis may be hiding.  Among the salient points in support of the power struggle idea are the following:

• A general failure to recognize and acknowledge the power of addictive drugs over their users
• The idea that addiction can be solved by running the victims through the criminal justice system
• Failure to hold doctors and drug manufacturers to account for their unrestrained pushing of these drugs

The high-powered narcotics available today are easily abused and, once an addiction is established, are virtually impossible for the user to break away from. Whatever led the person to abuse these drugs does not matter once the addiction is in place. Users seem to suffer a reorganization of perception and easily reach the point where there is no control over the addiction.  A cascade of collateral problems ensues and the is quickly too much for established systems and norms to handle.
Users sometimes describe their addiction as a monster inside them that takes over their very being. As their lives begin to crumble, these unfortunate souls find themselves in increasingly desperate situations and easily slide into behaviors that lead to more troubles. When these problems cross paths with the legal system, the addicts typically find themselves classified as criminals and take on a load of additional burdens. Officials' attitudes lead to prosecuting sick persons as criminals. Social and governmental disdain for dealing with addiction victims disregards the notions of illness and various legal defenses which would seem appropriate.  Defenses available to many charged with crimes such as diminished capacity, duress, mental deficiency are routinely denied to addicts.
Folks suffering with addiction who engage in criminal behavior frequently do so as a result of desperation and the ravages of addiction on their lives. Too often they are referred to a cookie-cutter system that makes no allowances for individual differences, it sorely limited in what services it can provide and seeks to force compliant behavior at the risk of jail time. No one would seriously consider encouraging healthy conduct on the part of a cancer or cardiac patient with such sanctions.
However, it is hard to fault the justice system since it amounts to a catch-all for those who have slipped through the cracks at earlier stages. Serious observers deem addiction as a public health problem. Unfortunately, there is little effort to provide services to addicts; insurance is virtually nonexistent; typical public clinics and programs are overwhelmed; and those private facilities which are capable of comprehensive treatment often command a high price.
Meanwhile, the medical community has been slow to respond or take a proactive stand. Some physicians refuse to prescribe the strongest narcotics; many do not recognized addictive signs or drug-seeking behavior in their patients. Thus many early-stage users go undetected. At the opposite extreme, there continue to be 'pill-mill' operations in some areas that are dispensing these medications at an alarming rate.
Medication manufacturers continue to produce these products in huge quantities and have been able to resist any suggestions that these chemicals be regulated or brought under stricter control.
Recent general circulation media reports show an increasing level of prescription drug abuse throughout the nation. The path now being followed will lead us to disaster unless a serious and strong change is promptly made towards recognizing and treating 'sick guys' instead of brushing them into the dust bin as 'bad guys'.