4 ms·

> Stuff like Heroin and Meth don't legalize private sales but let drug counsellors hand it out to addicts to kill the illegal market, prevent them being harmed

by tomp 11y ago

> Stuff like Heroin and Meth don't legalize private sales but let drug counsellors hand it out to addicts to kill the illegal market, prevent them being harmed by contaminated drugs and stop them breaking and nicking stuff. That's the worst of both worlds. What will happen is a lot of people will become "addicts", get the drug (legally), then sell it to drug dealers to cash out. Criminals will keep their profits high, but they'll decrease their risk (because the government will be a safe and reliable supplier).

anon4 11y ago
Who will the drug dealers sell it to?
- tomp 11y ago
  People who don't want to go through the hassle, or don't want to be associated with the stigma of, getting the drugs legally.
  - callinyouin 11y ago
    Hassle? Stigma? Hardcore drug addicts will do anything to get their fix. I have known heroin addicts, for example (one was a friend who sadly got sucked into that world). When you're zonked out on heroin most of the time, the way society perceives you is of very, very little consequence.
    - tomp 11y ago
      > Hardcore drug addicts As another commenter mentioned, I'd imagine a lot of drug trade (maybe not in heroin, but definitely in cocaine) is not hardcore drug addicts, but occasional (or even regular) users who live (relatively) normal lives.
- adrusi 11y ago
  The people who aren't dependent and don't qualify for government provided dope. And there could be a lot of such people: imagine how much less risky a heroin habit sounds when you know that as as an addict you can get free clean drugs reliably, and that it will always be in front of a drug expert. And it is less risky. I'd support a system that gives I'd more junkies of the junkies aren't destroying their health, aren't stealing, have jobs. But of you're only allowing heroin use for dependent users in a clinic, you won't destroy the black market. There are still people developing new heroin addictions in Switzerland. And not only new users will use the black market to get heroin. Anyone who wants to use it in their own home, anyone who wants to keep their use secret will have no other choice.
dermotbrennan 11y ago
You could insist that addicts use the government-provided drugs in a clinic. Don't just hand it to them.
tim333 11y ago
It's been tried a few times in reality with Heroin and seems to work ok. Sometimes they make the addicts use it in front to the counsellor to ensure they are not taking it to sell on. http://health.spectator.co.uk/the-case-for-prescription-heroin/ http://health.spectator.co.uk/the-case-for-prescription-hero...

by tomp 11y ago

anon4 11y ago

Who will the drug dealers sell it to?

tomp 11y ago
People who don't want to go through the hassle, or don't want to be associated with the stigma of, getting the drugs legally.
- callinyouin 11y ago
  Hassle? Stigma? Hardcore drug addicts will do anything to get their fix. I have known heroin addicts, for example (one was a friend who sadly got sucked into that world). When you're zonked out on heroin most of the time, the way society perceives you is of very, very little consequence.
  - tomp 11y ago
    > Hardcore drug addicts As another commenter mentioned, I'd imagine a lot of drug trade (maybe not in heroin, but definitely in cocaine) is not hardcore drug addicts, but occasional (or even regular) users who live (relatively) normal lives.
adrusi 11y ago
The people who aren't dependent and don't qualify for government provided dope. And there could be a lot of such people: imagine how much less risky a heroin habit sounds when you know that as as an addict you can get free clean drugs reliably, and that it will always be in front of a drug expert. And it is less risky. I'd support a system that gives I'd more junkies of the junkies aren't destroying their health, aren't stealing, have jobs. But of you're only allowing heroin use for dependent users in a clinic, you won't destroy the black market. There are still people developing new heroin addictions in Switzerland. And not only new users will use the black market to get heroin. Anyone who wants to use it in their own home, anyone who wants to keep their use secret will have no other choice.

dermotbrennan 11y ago

You could insist that addicts use the government-provided drugs in a clinic. Don't just hand it to them.

tim333 11y ago

It's been tried a few times in reality with Heroin and seems to work ok. Sometimes they make the addicts use it in front to the counsellor to ensure they are not taking it to sell on. http://health.spectator.co.uk/the-case-for-prescription-heroin/ http://health.spectator.co.uk/the-case-for-prescription-hero...