Drug Decriminalization in Maryland Through an African Centered Research Paradigm- Analysis and Recommendations

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Holistic reasoning or logic is thinking predicated on at least two properties: the first is the union of affect (feeling) and thought (Ani, 1994; Bell, 1994), and the second is the spiritualization of human beings. The union of affect and thought recognizes the epistemological importance of both feelings and thoughts and that both can be seen as two transparent and penetrable sides of the same coin. Acknowledging the interconnectedness of feelings and thought allows youths to make decisions that more completely tap the multidimensional makeup of their being. This allows young persons to get in touch with latent aspects of themselves that can serve as new avenues through which to achieve a greater capacity for positive potentiality and change. The spiritualization of human beings is the belief that at the core of the human being is a spiritual essence that releases vast capabilities for interconnectedness, or what Nobles (1980) calls "spiritual oneness." Bringing youths into spiritual oneness helps them (1) to understand that they are spiritually, socially, and mutually connected to others; (2) to acknowledge the sacredness of all human life; and (3) to appreciate the many shades and variations of human beings and human experiences. This transformation from materialistic/individualistic thinking to spiritual/holistic thinking among those who seek professional help can be brought about by a therapeutic process known as the Belief Systems Analysis (see Myers, 1988). Although this helping/healing process can be conducted through direct, one-on-one practice, it should be noted that the Afrocentric paradigm of human services invariably views the broader society, in which the individual exists and in which the Eurocentric worldview prevails, as being the primary target for change. There also is a role for human service workers who are policy practitioners. The government, at the federal, state, and local levels, can promote holistic logic and spiritual wellness by supporting and enacting legislation that speaks more to meeting the holistic and spiritual needs of citizens as well as their material needs. One of the reasons for the existence of spiritual alienation is the downplaying or repudiation of a holistic concept of humans by governmental agencies that place substantive emphasis on material and physical needs. Although these needs are certainly important, this predominant focus communicates, though subtly, to the citizen that needs of the soul and interpersonal relationships are less critical. The domain of social welfare policy has been too restricted, and social welfare policy analysts and practitioners should work more to reconceptualize the meaning of "welfare" to highlight human needs that speak more to spiritual and interpersonal development. Using their skills as analysts and practi-- 4151 Park Heights Avenue, Suite 207, Baltimore, MD 21215 • www.lbsbaltimore.com • (410) 374-7683
tioners, these human service professionals should then endeavor to interject this conceptualization into public and social legislation by influencing the thinking of elected officials, executives, and the larger citizenry. The roles discussed by Jansson (1994) can be applied to achieve this objective. (Schiele, 2013) It is these sorts of Black-led interventions that center on spiritual elements of psycho-social integration which should be researched as the solutions to addiction and the violence so often associated with drug addiction and the illicit drug trade. It is understandable that researchers might not want to tie their research outcomes to explicit recommendations as there is a risk of confirmation bias. But it is important researchers explicitly study the degree to which community capacity to address issues like addiction and violence has been so deeply disrupted by systemic poverty and the War on Drugs. Researchers must also study roads these communities could take to reverse this structural deracination. One researcher who does this well is Todd Clear. He has attempted to demonstrate, through data analysis, that hyper incarceration undermines community capacity to build civil society because it leads to increased crime. It might be useful to look further into the footnotes of Clear’s work to see if there are other researchers who give recommendations on how to quantify the ways hyper incarceration impacts civil society in targeted communities. Clear’s work is useful in that it describes the ability of social organization, social cohesion, and community stability in having a protective effect in deterring crime. Though it appears that his findings have not been applied specifically to addiction nor have they been analyzed from an African-centered research perspective, which accounts for anti-Blackness. Such an approach would challenge Clear’s use of the logic of mainstream criminology. For example, the viewing of social institutions as being necessary because they produce “informal social control”, a frame which centers on the elimination of crime and not the flourishing of community as the goal of public policy. Finally, it is necessary that research study historical precedents in the context of decriminalization in the United States. In the earlier mentioned discussions of the decriminalization of cannabis and traffic infractions, Wood describes the decriminalization of sodomy as an example of the need to account for expanding the frame of decriminalization. He also expands his analysis on the limitations of decriminalizing traffic violations by citing an example of judicial decriminalization being rolled back by a state legislature, writing: “In 1971, Colorado was the fourth state to follow this approach.77 An important feature of Colorado’s repealed antisodomy law was that it included a solicitation provision78 against oral copulation, which made LGBT civilians vulnerable to over-policing in public settings.79 Through established vice squads in major police departments (including the Denver Police Department), police officers conducted concentrated police surveillance, sting operations, and raids in public places and establishments known to attract LGBT people. These aggressive tactics not only encouraged police harassment against LGBT 4151 Park Heights Avenue, Suite 207, Baltimore, MD 21215 • www.lbsbaltimore.com • (410) 374-7683
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Drug Decriminalization in Maryland
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Drug Decriminalization in Maryland Through an African Centered Research Paradigm- Analysis and Recommendations

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