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I agree with the conclusion, but the problem with perception is that no sexually abused child or child of an addictt ever made a choice to be that child. 100% o

I agree with the conclusion, but the problem with perception is that no sexually abused child or child of an addictt ever made a choice to be that child. 100% of the time, they’re purely victims. A lot of drug addicts are the same way, but quite a few are also people who enjoyed doing drugs until it got the better of them. They’re not all abused children or mentally ill, some are just drug addicts. The result is that you can be unreservedly sympathetic with abused children, but need a bit of background to feel the same sympathy for an addict. Now, I’d argue that either way treatment and support is the answer, not jail. I’d also argue that the addicts who were screwed over and over into addiction are enough of a majority that we should give all addicts the benefit of the doubt. However I also understand the perspective of people who have been urned by those addicts who are just selfish assholes, and can’t manage that. They shouldn’t set policy, but they’d have a valid view too. tl;dr All victims of child abuse are victims, some drug addicts are only victims of their own poor decisions.

cm2012 8y ago
Except that twin research shows that drug use and progression from light drugs to hard drugs to addiction is largely from genetics: https://archives.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/twin-studies-help-define-role-genes-in-vulnerability-to-drug-abuse https://archives.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/twin-s... Some quotes: > "The progression from the use of cocaine or marijuana to abuse or dependence was due largely to genetic factors." > "The genetic influence for abuse was greater for heroin than for any other drug." Different paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470015902.a0005230.pub2 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/978047001590... "For instance, it is estimated that 50–60% of the variation in risk for alcoholism is accounted for by genetic factors." Now add this on top of the stuff that affects you growing up you can't control. Saying, "enjoyed doing drugs until it got the better of them" ignores that whether or not you're going to be driven towards drugs is largely determined before you're even born.

cm2012 8y ago

Except that twin research shows that drug use and progression from light drugs to hard drugs to addiction is largely from genetics: https://archives.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/twin-studies-help-define-role-genes-in-vulnerability-to-drug-abuse https://archives.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/twin-s... Some quotes: > "The progression from the use of cocaine or marijuana to abuse or dependence was due largely to genetic factors." > "The genetic influence for abuse was greater for heroin than for any other drug." Different paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470015902.a0005230.pub2 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/978047001590... "For instance, it is estimated that 50–60% of the variation in risk for alcoholism is accounted for by genetic factors." Now add this on top of the stuff that affects you growing up you can't control. Saying, "enjoyed doing drugs until it got the better of them" ignores that whether or not you're going to be driven towards drugs is largely determined before you're even born.