Born as a consequence of President Nixon's infamous War on Drugs, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP), a unique entity existing solely in New York, has long been a destructive force within the city's populous. As one of countless victims of its punitive measures, I have come to recognize the unfathomable harm and destruction the SNP's policies inflict on thousands of lives each year, predominantly within Black, Brown and low-income communities.
Through its relentless prosecution of drug-related offenses, this office has served as a key instrument in perpetuating New York's on-going overdose crisis, while simultaneously reinforcing the state's legacy of violence and inequality. A call for its abolition is therefore nothing short of a demand for justice.
In 1995, I became one of the countless victims of the SNP, sentenced to prison for two to four years for drug dealing as I battled my own addiction. Despite making plea after plea for treatment, my voices fell on deaf ears and I was denied desperately needed support and social services. I was forced to endure debilitating withdrawal symptoms in prison, where key opioid use disorder treatments like methadone and buprenorphine were unavailable.
The devastating repercussions of my sentence didn't cease after my release in 1997. Unemployable and carrying the stigma of a felon, I struggled to find work and modest housing, a struggle that severe addiction only amplified. It was a crippling experience, and the impact of my incarceration was far-reaching and life-altering. And I am far from alone in this battle -- an untold number of similar stories echo through the communities of this State.
As long as we continue to feed the behemoth that is the war on drugs, we, as a society, remain complicit in the harm inflicted on countless lives. It's high time that New York leaders begin to divest from this harm and invest in meaningful systems of care.
The destructive practices of the SNP only fuel the overdose epidemic plagging our state. It is well documented that criminalization significantly increases the risk of overdose, especially after release from incarceration. Drug busts are even linked to a surge in overdose rates in surrounding neighborhoods.
Presently, New York records over 18 preventable overdose-related deaths daily. Suppose instead of incarcerating thousands annually for drug offenses, New York could have invested in a system of care, housing, public health solutions, and Overdose Prevention Centers -- like those managed by OnPoint, which recently celebrated their 1,000th overdose intervention without a single death? Countless lives could have been saved.
Tomorrow, as we observe International Overdose Awareness Day, let us urge our leaders to abolish not just the Special Narcotics Prosecutor's Office but to dismantle the system that criminalizes and stigmatizes individuals grappling with addiction. New York can continue its legacy as a draconian entity or choose to evolve into a beacon of hope. The time for action is now.
