The War on Addiction

By Tim Spock Why are drug use and overdoses on the rise despite decades of mandatory 12-step programs and zero tolerance policies? As substance-related deaths climb and the for-profit prison system booms, you may be wondering how we got here—and what power we have to make things better. This zine from Drunk Punk author Tim Spock is a close look at the connections between incarceration, addiction, and "The War on Drugs," revealing the sinister political motivations that created our current predicament as well as potential paths toward healthier, freer futures. The War on Addiction cites scientific studies and government reports alongside Spock's personal experience of being incarcerated with substance abuse disorder, offering inclusion, prevention, and dogma-free treatment as ways to address the substance abuse crisis without deepening stigma. By creating systems of support that offer people compassion and dignity, we can engage in harm reduction and finally treat addiction as a health issue rather than a criminal one.