Our ancestors knew – unlike we – that animals are animals and humans are humans. Animals are worse. They are sociopaths. But while people dislike human psychopaths, they pet their dog on the sofa. Of course, there are things such as wars, long-term imprisonment and torture. But we can extend our empathy, cooperate, and help each other. The same goes for substance supply for addicts.
While people are driven by selfish genes and their current world’s social hierarchies are questionable (there are extremely complex relationships whether it comes to government or private sector and people do it because of solely selfish reasons), they may bear some moral responsibility. “I am a paramedic and I am responsible for this and that.” Or “I am a social worker and I am trying to do my best.” Of course, people sometimes are paid to help, yet do nothing.
What is evil? And how we should not make it worse
If you think that it is humane for someone to break his legs, destroy his car, invoke PTSD etc., this is bad, and so is a lack of care for addicts who have been imprisoned.
But if we don’t land our hand even to an “evil” person (I don’t believe in free will but in moral responsibility), we are on the same level.
Drug addicts in custody and our evolutionary-given hate
First, we are xenophobic. I do not deny that drug addicts commit crimes such as assaults, theft, or even murder, but few people have experienced it (this of course doesn’t mean we shouldn’t condemn it). But they are somehow different in everything (in manners). Not your usual guys.
From an evolutionary psychology standpoint, we hate those who differ in groups because they threaten the cohesion that binds us. Groups survive by unity, by shared values, and by common behaviors. Someone who looks different, speaks differently, or follows unfamiliar customs disrupts this stability. Their presence challenges our sense of normalcy, making us question whether our way is truly the only way. This breeds suspicion. In evolution, those who did not conform could be outsiders—competitors for resources or even threats. The instinct to distrust them is ancient, a survival mechanism wired deep into human psychology.
Xenophobia is not just about race or nationality. It appears in religion, politics, and even minor cultural habits. A different way of dressing, eating, or thinking makes people uncomfortable. The outsider does not follow the unspoken rules that define the group’s identity. This is why societies build myths about outsiders—painting them as dangerous, immoral, or inferior. Fear keeps the group strong. Hatred becomes a form of unity. But in a world that no longer relies on tribal survival, this instinct causes more harm than good. It fuels conflict, prevents cooperation, and blinds us to the benefits of diversity. Yet, the instinct remains, lurking beneath every social divide.
So why give substance abuse to someone who is different and – the cherry on the top of the pie – has committed a crime?
Substance supply for addicts: “Yes, sometimes we have a junkie who is screaming and making a mess.”
During a police station tour, I was a witness of a policewoman admittig that “a junkie is sometimes screaming and making a mess” when in custody. I was the only humanist in the crowd.
I cannot even imagine the pain the person must have felt. If I were a policeman – rules or not – I would have obtained the illegal substance for the individual experiencing unbereable suffering.
And actually this is really what differ us from animals we have system when – globally speaking – rarely provide substance supply for addicts even if is minimal at scope.
How prevalent?
As of 2022, 59 countries provide opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in prisons. Only nine countries—Armenia, Canada, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Moldova, Spain, Switzerland, and Tajikistan—offer needle and syringe programs (NSPs) in prisons. Canada is the only country with a prison-based drug consumption room (DCR). Access to harm reduction services in prisons varies significantly. Low- and middle-income countries have limited availability. Some countries expand these services due to public health concerns.
Substance use treatment in police custody and detention centers varies. Some countries offer treatment programs for detained drug users. Sweden directs suspected drug users to treatment instead of punishment. China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos place drug users in compulsory detention centers without trial. Reports highlight human rights abuses and ineffective treatment. The United States has the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. LEAD diverts low-level drug offenders to community-based treatment instead of arrest. Treatment availability, quality, and approach differ worldwide.
Conclusion
Denying substance supply to addicts in prisons and custody is an extension of the same primitive instincts that once drove humans to reject outsiders. Evolution has wired us to fear and ostracize those who do not conform, but society has moved beyond tribal survival. A just system does not inflict unnecessary suffering, even on those who have committed crimes. The presence of harm reduction programs in some countries proves that practical, humane solutions exist. Failing to provide necessary care does not make society safer—it only reinforces cruelty. The question is not whether these individuals deserve compassion, but whether we are willing to act on the principles that separate us from animals.
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