MOOR vs. MOOR: Should Drug Dealers Be Held Responsible When Their Clients Overdose?

JOSEPH NEY-JUN
Staff Writer

In this economy, we find that people often turn to illicit activities to make a living. While it may be hard to earn money nowadays, destroying the livelihoods of others is not an honest living.

On Feb. 2, actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died of a heroin overdose in New York. The dealers who are suspected to have given him the drugs were taken into custody. They will be charged with the possession and distribution of the drug, but as of this moment will not be held directly responsible for his death.

In 2010, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recorded a total of 38,289 deaths by overdose in the United States. Not all of those deaths were due to illegal drugs, but for those that were, how many dealers were charged for the death of their client? None.

While they cannot be charged with manslaughter, the suspected, if proven guilty, may be able to fall under the rule of felony murder. Felony murder is when a murder is committed during the commission of a felony or attempted felony and is charged as second degree murder in the state of New York, according to the 2006 New York Code.

The dealers were not out to kill, but they knew of the possibility and are responsible when that possibility becomes reality. Hoffman knew about that possibility just as the dealers did, but that does not mean they are not also responsible. If the dealers in New York are found guilty for the death of Hoffman by felony murder or otherwise, the ruling could change laws all over the country, allowing dealers everywhere to be held accountable. These people do more than just sell drugs, they sell substances that destroy lives.

CINDY LUO
Staff Writer

While people reminisced about actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’s outstanding acting craft, the tragedy also attracted people’s attention to the reason for his death, overdose, which brought up a controversial topic that questioned the responsibility of drug dealers when their clients die due to overdose.

No matter what kind of health problems the clients faced later on, it is reasonable for police to arrest the drug dealers because the trade itself is illegal. However, the accusation should be nothing other than illicit drug trade.

Hoffman, compared to the drug dealers who just supplied the heroin, was the only person who could take charge of his life and he chose to place himself in a dangerous situation. Hoffman realized the severe consequences he would be facing when he bought the narcotics, yet he still chose to inject 10 bags of heroin daily, according to the Telegraph. Thus, he alone ended his own life and the drug dealers should not be held responsible for his death.

One of the opposing arguments suggested that the sellers should be charged with murder because they provided the harmful substances that destroyed lives. However, homicide is defined in several grades and they all share one basic requirement—intent to cause death. Obviously, it is unlikely that most drug dealers would sincerely hope that a customer dies using their product, as in their position, it means losing business. Instead of considering the consequences of their dealing, the dealers may only have cared about profiting from the drug sale, which makes this evil trade the reason why they should be penalized.