A man, said to be addicted to the powerful painkiller Oxycontin was recently given a 6 year sentence after being convicted for committing a string of burglaries involving neighbors, friends and family in a few months time. The convicted man blamed his drug addiction to the powerful drug Oxycontin for the reason he committed the crimes.
The man became addicted to Oxycontin after being prescribed the drug after a trip and fall more than three years earlier. As with many with drug addiction problems the man turned to crime, in this case robbing in order to be able to feed his addiction. The court system did not allow his drug addiction to be used as a plea for defense in committing the crime.
Drug addiction often finds the drug abuser turning to crime in order to fill the desperation they are feeling when needing their next fix. Thankfully, there is help available for those who want to end the cycle of drug abuse and start a new clean and sober life.
It is beyond doubt that drug-addiction always plays havoc with the life of the addict as well as with the society in which we live. Drug addiction is quite real and can destroy a person’s life, but it’s not a worthy defense when going up against the legal system. The bottom line is everyone who commits a crime should be held accountable and drug addiction is not an excuse for committing violent crimes. However, should an addict be simply thrown in jail or be rehabilitated as well?
