Russell Brand at the Home Affairs Explained, Drug Addiction is Not a Criminal
The 36-year-old former heroin addict described addiction as an "illness" and said that those suffering from it should be treated with "compassion".
"I'm not a legal expert. I'm saying that, to a drug addict, the legal aspect is irrelevant. If you need to get drugs, you will," the Daily Express quoted him as saying.
"The criminal status sends the wrong message. Being arrested isn't a lesson, it's just an administrative blip."
Brand, who beat his addiction in 2002, revealed to the Home Affairs Committee he was arrested 12 times for drugs.
He advocated an "abstinence-based recovery" approach, telling MPs this was how he overcame his addiction to drugs, which he said was caused by emotional, psychological and spiritual difficulties.
He said he thought the money spent on arresting drug addicts would be better spent on treating them, as he gave evidence to the Home Affairs Committee on 24 April 2012, as part of its inquiry into drugs policy.
"I think some people can safely take drugs. I'm not saying no to all drugs," he said.
"Let's have an authentic, truthful, honest debate and some funding for abstinence-based recovery."
Decriminalising possession of drugs would allow addiction to be treated as a "health matter", he said, adding, "Addicts who get clean generally stop committing crime."
The comedian was reportedly speaking frantically, cracking jokes, and, well, being the Russell Brand that his legion of fans have come to know and love. However, despite his references to Tupac and the like, his message remained clear: abstinence-based recovery is essential to helping the countless individuals currently suffering from this disease.
“It is more important that we regard people suffering from addiction with compassion and there is a pragmatic rather than a symbolic approach to treating it,” he explained. He also went on to add that he wasn’t using his celebrity status to reach young people, but to help those who are presently suffering from addiction.
Read More:
"I'm not a legal expert. I'm saying that, to a drug addict, the legal aspect is irrelevant. If you need to get drugs, you will," the Daily Express quoted him as saying.
"The criminal status sends the wrong message. Being arrested isn't a lesson, it's just an administrative blip."
Brand, who beat his addiction in 2002, revealed to the Home Affairs Committee he was arrested 12 times for drugs.
He advocated an "abstinence-based recovery" approach, telling MPs this was how he overcame his addiction to drugs, which he said was caused by emotional, psychological and spiritual difficulties.
He said he thought the money spent on arresting drug addicts would be better spent on treating them, as he gave evidence to the Home Affairs Committee on 24 April 2012, as part of its inquiry into drugs policy.
"I think some people can safely take drugs. I'm not saying no to all drugs," he said.
"Let's have an authentic, truthful, honest debate and some funding for abstinence-based recovery."
Decriminalising possession of drugs would allow addiction to be treated as a "health matter", he said, adding, "Addicts who get clean generally stop committing crime."
The comedian was reportedly speaking frantically, cracking jokes, and, well, being the Russell Brand that his legion of fans have come to know and love. However, despite his references to Tupac and the like, his message remained clear: abstinence-based recovery is essential to helping the countless individuals currently suffering from this disease.
“It is more important that we regard people suffering from addiction with compassion and there is a pragmatic rather than a symbolic approach to treating it,” he explained. He also went on to add that he wasn’t using his celebrity status to reach young people, but to help those who are presently suffering from addiction.
Comments