Gio Noyola

Mrs. Huegelmann
English 1102
Chicago: The Poverty Epidemic

The city of Chicago needs to take action now to greatly reduce the poverty rate before it
gets even worse. Of Chicago's 800 census tracts, 40 percent have deep poverty rates above the
city average. (Chicagoreporter) A single person would fall into the deep poverty category if they
make about $5,885 a year or $12,125 for a family of four. (Chicagoreporter) There is absolutely
no way a family in deep poverty could provide a good education for their children. A lack of
education for these children can lead to bad things, but its not their fault. The city could do more
but are too busy pouring extra money into less important things like prisons. Gang violence and
drug use have not helped the problem either. Just this past January, Chicago had the most violent
start to the year since 1999. (Chicagotribune) Most of the violence and drug problems take place
in the south side of the city. The only way to reduce poverty, which is the root of all the violence,
drug use, and lack of education in Chicago, is to change the law. In 2001, the country of Portugal
decided to decriminalize all drug use. The result; illegal drug use among teens in Portugal
decreased and treatment for drug addiction more than doubled. If Chicago decriminalized use of
drugs, then violence would decrease and poverty would be reduced.
In America, the rate of lifetime use of marijuana in people over 12 is 39.8%. In Portugal,
where drugs have been decriminalized, the rate of lifetime use of marijuana in people over 15 is
10%. That is a huge difference compared to America. Proportionally, more Americans have
used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana. (Time) This is a shocking fact considering

that cocaine is a much harder drug than marijuana. Before the decriminalization of drugs in
Portugal, they had one of the highest addiction rates in the world. Now, the addiction rates there
are now one of the lowest. Not only would decriminalization of drugs in the South side of
Chicago help lower drug problems, but would also save money on law enforcement and put that
money towards education.
Violence is also another concerning issue in the city of Chicago that is a result of poverty
and drug use. By March 31, 141 people had been killed, according to the Chicago Police
Department. (CNN) This is shocking because this is already a 71% increase from last March
and it may get worse. Many of these killings are related to gangs near the South side of Chicago.
Decriminalization could be the stopping force to all the gang violence and drug abuse. If drugs
were legal, gangs wouldnt have to sell illegally or fight over drug territories anymore. Gangs
would maybe even disappear. Families wouldnt have to worry about hearing gunshots every
night. Parents could feel more comfortable taking their kids to the park and enjoying the
outdoors. Even though the South side would still be in poverty, all the people who were in gangs
would have to get jobs as a result of decriminalization.
The best way to stop a bullet is with a job. (CNN) That couldnt have been said any
better by Ira Acree, a Pastor from a West side church. If a decriminalization law were passed, the
government could find a way to put money into some kind of job creation in the South side.
Since poverty is what drives people to become desperate and turn to selling drugs, they would
have to turn to another option after decriminalization. There is no better way to end poverty in
the South side other than getting a job. Stop putting extra money into prisons and start putting it
towards education for teenagers. With that extra money going towards helping students it would
give them more opportunities to succeed as an adult and have a brighter future.

It all starts with decriminalization. It is the best chance that Chicago has at ending the
poverty epidemic. It may sound like an outrageous idea to many people, but it does have upside.
Decriminalization would cause drug abuse to plummet, street violence wouldnt be as much of a
problem, and as a direct result of the that people would have to start working to ultimately put an
end to poverty in Chicagos South side.

Works Cited

Emmanuel, Adeshina. "Black Chicagoans Most Likely to Live in Deep Poverty." Chicago
Reporter. N.p., 06 Oct. 2015. Web. 03 May 2016.
Gorner, Jeremy, and Alexandra Chachkevitch. "Bloody Start to Year as Homicides Hit 50, Worst
January since at Least 2000."Chicagotribune.com. N.p., 1 Feb. 2016. Web. 03 May 2016.
Kirkos, Bill. "Residents Fear Chicago Will Set New Deadly Record." CNN. Cable News
Network, 1 Apr. 2016. Web. 03 May 2016.
Szalavitz, Maia. "Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?" Time. Time Inc., 26 Apr.
2009. Web. 03 May 2016.