
G.D. Hancock, Ph.D.

What happens when addiction meets a broken justice system?
The Criminalization of Addiction: One Family's Fight Against Mandatory Minimums in the Opioid Crisis
A Vision for Change
The war on drugs began more than 50 years ago, and the data show that more dangerous drugs are available, there are more addicts, and many times more overdose deaths. The punishment-and-more-punishment approach has failed to deliver. It is time for a different approach — one grounded in evidence, compassion, and constitutional rights.

Insights
The current legal environment has gone to the extreme by not considering the culpability of the deceased in DIH cases. After an addict overdoses, they are treated as innocent bystanders, and the surviving addict is treated as a homicidal dealer.

Due Process
Due process needs to be restored in DIH cases. Due process protects citizens from government abuse. Even though Due Process is guaranteed by the Constitution, Congress has taken it away for drug and gun crimes.



