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Yes, finally people are starting to see drugs addicts as the valuable people they are and not as disposable felons. Addiction is a sickness that affects people
by WheelsAtLarge 10y ago
Yes, finally people are starting to see drugs addicts as the valuable people they are and not as disposable felons. Addiction is a sickness that affects people not a failure of morals that needs a jail sentence.
- kibwen 10y agoI know a high-functioning heroin addict who's a programmer by day. It's surprising to discover seemingly-normal people who have this monkey on their backs, given the popular perception of addicts.
- fdsaaf 10y agoSamuel Taylor Coleridge had an opium addiction too. We should legalize drugs and help people who get addicted, not just ban substances that some people use responsibly.
- tigershark 10y agoYeah right. Because there is such thing like heroin responsible use.
- daeken 10y agoYes, there is. Is it the norm? Not at all, but that doesn't change the fact that some people do use heroin in moderation and without it drastically impacting their lives. This polarized look at heroin use further stigmatizes drug users and leads to those with problems (and casual users who are having trouble not letting it get out of hand) not getting the help they deserve.
- solipsism 10y agoPlaying russian roulette isn't responsible just because you don't get shot. There are many people who use it in moderation... until they don't. Until they make one too many "bit more won't hurt" type decisions. Or they lose their job or a family member dies or they just have a shitty day. "responsible heroin use" is probably the stupidest phrase I've heard all day, and I've been watching CNN. EDIT: And, by the way, calling a spade a spade and naming heroin as the scourge it is is not stigmatizing users.
- timdev2 10y agoI thought most overdoses are the result of variable potency which is the result of the prohibition. Are you saying that accidental overdose would be a significant danger for addicts if they had a reliable supply of predictable potency? If that is what you're saying, do you have any evidence to support that? I do agree that easy access to powerful opiates is a recipe for disaster for people at risk for suicide. And I concede that the danger of a negative feedback loop is obvious.
- baddox 10y agoDoes that mean you don't believe that responsible alcohol or tobacco use is possible? What about prescription pain medication?
- solipsism 10y agoThat's like asking, "Does that mean you don't believe in responsible knife juggling?" One is going to kill you a lot more surely and quickly than the other, but neither is a good idea. To say heroin and alcohol/tobacco are equivalent would be stupid. To say an addition to heroin has no similarities to an addition to alcohol/tobacco would also be stupid.
- forgetsusername 10y ago>To say heroin and alcohol/tobacco are equivalent would be stupid. It doesn't sound like you have any experience with drugs or medicine outside of what you learned in D.A.R.E.
- ryanlol 10y ago>To say heroin and alcohol/tobacco are equivalent would be stupid. Indeed, with proper dosage long term recreational use of heroin is far less likely to cause lasting damage than alcohol or tobacco.
- ahoka 10y agoI hope you are not serious...
- 55555 10y agoThere are many people who use heroin in small quantities or very infrequently. The stigma is one factor keeping you from knowing about this.
- namlem 10y agoWith heroin you should still legalize possession, just not sale. Instead do what they do in Switzerland and the Netherlands: Have safe injection sites where the government gives you free heroin. Those who are diagnosed with addiction can come once a day and get a dose of heroin under medical supervision. The clinics often help find jobs for the unemployed as well, further helping them with their addiction. Typically once someone gets their life back together they'll be able to quit.
- girvo 10y agoThat's me, or was anyway. Addict for 6 years, clean for 4 (well, on Suboxone)
- agumonkey 10y agoI recently heard that George Michael's song Monkey was about addiction too..
- jmspring 10y agoLiving in a community with heroin addicts that see every opportunity to rob someone for a fix, sorry addicts are criminals first. There is no excuse for their behavior.
- itsweller 10y agoYes, every heroin addict robs people to feed their heinous, immoral addiction. I’d love to hear your thoughts on crime in poverty stricken areas or those of one predominant race or another, I’m sure they’re just as well reasoned, tolerant, and coherent. Behavior like yours is why many turn to other avenues of coping rather than feeling comfortable seeking help. Don’t think for a second I’m condoning what you perceive, but your definition of “addict” is likely one or two standard deviations away from reality, and to imply that all “addicts” are criminals or all criminals you see are addicted to heroin is more than a little amusing.
- ajkjk 10y agoWell, since that attitude doesn't get useful results, maybe try the humanizing one that might?
- meowface 10y agoThere's no excuse for robbing people for any reason, but the addicts who do that are broke and are faced with a choice of re-feeding their addiction (via theft or robbery) or immense suffering. You do not see this issue in wealthy heroin addicts, I promise.
- 9935c101ab17a66 10y agoThis isn't the place for this specious 1-dimensional trope-laden opinion.
- pixelbill 10y agoNo one demonizes you for being addicted to potato chips and reality TV, so maybe try some empathy.