Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte declared a drug war against substance users and dealers that has resulted in 12,000-20,000 extra-judicial deaths. US President Trump is similarly taking a hard line by instructing federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for opioid dealers and traffickers. Trump supports tougher criminal sentencing as a means of curbing the opioid overdose epidemic. Listen in to this opiate recovery support group as they discuss death penalty for drug related crimes.

Discussion Guide:

Under what circumstances, if any, would the death penalty for drug related crimes be appropriate?

Do you believe that tougher sentencing will serve as a deterrent to the manufacture and sale of opioids? Why or why not?

Will it decrease the number of overdose deaths? Why or why not?

There is little evidence that harsh sentences prevents drug abuse and addiction. Why do some people believe otherwise?

Would you propose other federal efforts to curb the overdose epidemic? What specific steps would you propose?

Supplemental Reading:

Sarah N. Lynch, Federal Prosecutors Told To Seek Death Penalty in Drug Cases, http://www.yahoo.com/news/attorney-general-tells-prosecutors-seek-death-penalty-drug-150732947.html

Sanho Tree, The War on Drugs Breeds Crafty Traffickers, http://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/opinion/war-on-drugs-trafficking.html

The Pew Charitable Trusts, More Imprisonment Does Not Reduce State Drug Problems, pspp_more_imprisonment_does_not_reduce_state_drug_problems