Yankee Pitcher's Mom Arrested for Meth: Should She Get Treatment or Prison?

Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain's mom, Jacqueline Standley, was arrested at her apartment this weekend for selling a small amount of methamphetamine to an undercover cop back in February. It breaks my heart to think of Joba Chamberlain's mom spending time behind bars for her drug problems. She is facing one to 50 years behind bars for one gram of meth. She has been open about her substance abuse and depression and she obviously needs treatment and help, not a cage, to deal with her addiction.

Former Yankee great Daryl Strawberry has also been in the news recently talking about his substance abuse struggles. In a recent interview in the New York Times Magazine pegged to his book, Straw: Finding My Way, Strawberry opens up about his addiction. "I wasn't a criminal. That's what saddened me. Not being a criminal and going to jail because you have a substance abuse problem is really sad. It's sad that the system doesn't see that as the real issue."

America likes to promote itself as the "home of the free" but, unfortunately, we have the embarrassing honor of being known as the incarceration nation. The U.S. has less than five percent of the world's population but almost 25 percent of the world's prison population, incarcerating more of its citizens per capita than any other country in the world. We lock up more people on drug charges than Western Europe locks up for everything and they have 100 million more people than we do. A government report released by the U.S. Justice Department found that 1 in 31 Americans was in prison or jail or on parole or probation last year. The way our country deals with drug abuse is the driving force to our incarceration problem.

Because "tough on crime" politicians push for mandatory minimums and long incarceration for people with drug problems, states from New York to California are facing multi billion-dollar budget deficits. Governors and mayors are being forced to cut spending on everything from education to heath care, and are even shutting down popular prevention programs. We need to start offering treatment instead of incarceration for people like Ms. Standley. States could save hundreds of millions of dollars by doing away with these wasteful laws that lock up nonviolent people with drug convictions at a hefty price tag of $40,000 per year. We can't afford these ineffective and inhumane laws anymore!

Substance abuse and the drug war touch almost every family in America, famous or not. Millions of people have a loved one behind bars on drug charges. Many millions more have struggled themselves or have a loved one who has dealt with addiction to illegal or legal drugs. By declaring a "war on drugs" we have declared a war on ourselves.

We have to learn how to live with drugs, because they aren't going anywhere. The drug war has been waged over the last 30 years. We spend $40 billion a year and despite the decades of war, incarceration rates and money spent, drugs are as plentiful as ever and easily accessible. We have to accept that drugs have been around for thousands of years and will be here for thousands more. We need to educate people about the possible harm from drug use, offer compassion and treatment to people like Ms. Standley and Mr. Strawberry who have problems and leave in peace the people who are causing harm to no one.

Tony Newman is the director of media relations at the Drug Policy Alliance.

Comments

[PaxMundis]

I'm sorry, but all arguments about a victimless crime fall flat when it comes to meth. The very production of meth is a danger to not just the people who use it but to the people who make it and the general environment. I ask people who support legalization of all drugs, including meth: Would *you* want a meth lab next door?

[marignymitch]

I she's rich and white rehab. If she's nonwhite and poor prison. That's national policy.

[Aranxa]

There is historic and archeological evidence that people have been using substances for millennia. Even animals indulge. There are often stories of rampant elephants in India that have gotten into the fermented fruit. When will people realize this is natural. Some people just react to substances differently and become physically or mentally dependent. When this happens those people need help and support. when it doesn't happen those adults should be left alone with their choices.

[PaxMundis]

Yeah, and there is historical and archeological evidence that people have been using weapons for millenia, that doesn't mean that I can carry a rocket launcher everywhere. Let's face it, meth is in much different class than any other drug. While I would support legalizing marijuana (even though I think smoking is a very poor way to deliver a drug), meth is just too dangerous to be legalized.

[3fingerbrown]

I agree with the overall point of this piece, and as a New Yorker I was heartened by the reform of the absurd Rockefeller drug laws, but ...

Standley was arrested for selling, not possessing, meth. The details of the case are sketchy; all we have to go on is the brief AP story linked to above. It isn't clear if this was a one-time offense or chronic, but chances are if the cops were targeting her, it wasn't the first time she sold the stuff. I'll need more facts before I decide how much of my compassion she's entitled to. If it turns out that she's in the business of selling meth, a particularly nasty drug, she's far from someone who is "causing harm to no one."

As for Strawberry, the chronology of his legal problems at wikipedia.­org/wiki/D­arryl_Stra­wberry#Leg­al_and_per­sonal_prob­lems suggests that his case are a lot more complicated than "I'm not a criminal, why am I going to jail?" His crimes have included failure to pay child support, driving under the influence, and multiple violations of the terms of his probation.

Over the years Strawberry has been handled with great compassion by his employers and the legal system, including the judge who first sentenced him to treatment instead of prison. Not many people get as many second, third, and fourth chances in life as Strawberry's gotten. It amazes me that he now portrays himself as a victim of the system.

[marlovian]

If it was any other team, I would say treatment.

[Aranxa]

Go Sox!!

[RightWingMarine]

adults should be free to ingest any substance they wish.

[PaxMundis]

" adults should be free to ingest any substance they wish."

Fine. Then I suppose you wouldn't mind having a meth lab next door. I'd recommend a hazmat suit.

[RightWingMarine]

I said that adults should be free to ingest what they wish not that they should be free to introduce toxic chemicals into the environment that pollute onto anothers' land.

[SaucyB]

ABSOLUTELY! The war on drugs is an obvious FAIL! and what's even more mind boggling is that there is no shortage of drugs in prison either so what's the point again?

[PostModernPatriot]

Great post! Yes, there are millions of decent, hardworking loving families being torn apart by mandatory minimums and the rest of the Drug War insanity. We really need change in this area. Diversion into treatment for non-violent addicted offenders with a chance to have their record cleaned after completion of treatment would be a good start. And marijuana legalization is long overdue.

[BusGreg]

After 37 years of failed policy in the war on all drugs and even longer when it comes to cannabis the time has come to take a new look and approach this with open mind and eyes. All the war on drugs has done is create criminals out of people who use drugs. This insanity has cost the tax payers over one trillion dollars and we have nothing to show for, except for an over loaded prison system. At the same time our government has stood by and watched billions of dollars annually go to drug cartels. These cartels now pose a significant threat to our border security and to the security of the countries from which the drugs originate. Had we implemented a sensible policy this could have been avoided and with the right legislation many of those who are hooked on the dangerous drugs, such as heroin, meth and even prescription drugs could have been helped.

[silverball]

...i think you covered that quite well an hit all the right notes and facts for our dismal "war" on drugs...victimless crimes and some are people that need help...locking people up isn't on my list of helpful methods of treatment.....