3 ms·

This is a very valid point. I don't see the UK government however changing their approach. Treating addiction as a disease just enables the government to vilify

by awjr 11y ago

This is a very valid point. I don't see the UK government however changing their approach. Treating addiction as a disease just enables the government to vilify users. Many low-level heroin/cocaine users just lead normal lives. As do many low-level wine users. The only way I see this changing is when it financially makes sense. Taking Colorado as a model, the UK could get in the region of £400million a year in tax benefits from the legalisation of cannabis alone. Drug related crime is estimated to cost the country £14 billion annually.

shocks 11y ago
Thanks. Do you know where I can find some numbers on this? It's something I've always wondered. We're told by the media that 90% of heroin addicts are on the street stealing to maintain their habit - but I wouldn't be surprised if 90% of heroin addicts appear to have these "normal" lives.
- user_0001 11y ago
  Depends how you define "addict". As any heroin user? Someone whose whole life is based around the drug? Something else?
- DanBC 11y ago
  There are two sources of information in UK. Office for national statistics are nice. They're robust about what does or doesn't count, and how they count, and where you need to be cautious with the numbers. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ http://www.ons.gov.uk/ The other place might be Public Health Outcomes: http://www.phoutcomes.info/ http://www.phoutcomes.info/ EG http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile-group/mental-health http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile-group/mental-health And finally NICE tend to have excellent referencing. Noodle around here to find the NICE guidance. http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/drug-misuse http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/drug-misuse
bluedino 11y ago
>> Many low-level heroin/cocaine users just lead normal lives. As do many low-level wine users. This is a pretty ridiculous comparison
- code_sterling 11y ago
  Hardly, just because alcohol is socially accepted doesn't mean it's not a drug. Alcohol and heroine are considered the most harmful drugs out there. It's an apt comparison.
- ex_ex_nihilo 11y ago
  It's only ridiculous if you don't think about it.

by awjr 11y ago

shocks 11y ago

Thanks. Do you know where I can find some numbers on this? It's something I've always wondered. We're told by the media that 90% of heroin addicts are on the street stealing to maintain their habit - but I wouldn't be surprised if 90% of heroin addicts appear to have these "normal" lives.

user_0001 11y ago
Depends how you define "addict". As any heroin user? Someone whose whole life is based around the drug? Something else?
DanBC 11y ago
There are two sources of information in UK. Office for national statistics are nice. They're robust about what does or doesn't count, and how they count, and where you need to be cautious with the numbers. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ http://www.ons.gov.uk/ The other place might be Public Health Outcomes: http://www.phoutcomes.info/ http://www.phoutcomes.info/ EG http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile-group/mental-health http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile-group/mental-health And finally NICE tend to have excellent referencing. Noodle around here to find the NICE guidance. http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/drug-misuse http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/drug-misuse

bluedino 11y ago

>> Many low-level heroin/cocaine users just lead normal lives. As do many low-level wine users. This is a pretty ridiculous comparison

code_sterling 11y ago
Hardly, just because alcohol is socially accepted doesn't mean it's not a drug. Alcohol and heroine are considered the most harmful drugs out there. It's an apt comparison.
ex_ex_nihilo 11y ago
It's only ridiculous if you don't think about it.