4 ms·

I would say that we could go one step further. The government can issue drug tests. If someone demonstrates addiction through these tests, they get a tapering s

I would say that we could go one step further. The government can issue drug tests. If someone demonstrates addiction through these tests, they get a tapering supply of their drug in pharmaceutical grade at zero cost. Drug dealers can't compete with free, and the government's supply tapers to zero, so street supply and addiction should plummet. You can prevent diversion of the government supply to the street by tagging it. Test positive on the government supply and you get nothing. Tighten or loosen policy as needed if street dealing returns.

codemonkey-zeta 4y ago
This assumes people want to end their drug abuse. Even having the will, ending severe addiction with a tapering supply is extremely difficult, and painful. Like slowly peeling off a band-aid for months, or even years. Odds are that proposed solution would help some people, but would fail in the majority of cases and cost an absolute fortune.
- avidiax 4y ago
  There's no way that some pills and vials and tracking will cost more than an entire drug war. If free is too expensive, just make it cheaper than the street. And I don't think that the users have to want much. They are addicted, addiction is expensive, enter a free alternative that they will have to accept eventually when their drug dealers can't make ends meet and quit the game. The taper comes after the drug dealers have all found something else to do. Give it some time for all their drug routes and contacts to go cold. And be prepared to ramp supply back up if they come back. It will be a multi-round game, but it's one that the drug dealers just can't win, for simple economic reasons.
xorfish 4y ago
I don't think it is a good idea to reduce the supply over time. It may make sense in some cases, but some addicts are better of by having a constant supply. Pharmaceutical grade opioids are pretty safe. Far safer than legal drugs like tobacco or alcohol.
- avidiax 4y ago
  Also fine, and probably more practical. There is a certain moralizing part of society that has to have the taper on the horizon.

codemonkey-zeta 4y ago

This assumes people want to end their drug abuse. Even having the will, ending severe addiction with a tapering supply is extremely difficult, and painful. Like slowly peeling off a band-aid for months, or even years. Odds are that proposed solution would help some people, but would fail in the majority of cases and cost an absolute fortune.

avidiax 4y ago
There's no way that some pills and vials and tracking will cost more than an entire drug war. If free is too expensive, just make it cheaper than the street. And I don't think that the users have to want much. They are addicted, addiction is expensive, enter a free alternative that they will have to accept eventually when their drug dealers can't make ends meet and quit the game. The taper comes after the drug dealers have all found something else to do. Give it some time for all their drug routes and contacts to go cold. And be prepared to ramp supply back up if they come back. It will be a multi-round game, but it's one that the drug dealers just can't win, for simple economic reasons.

xorfish 4y ago

I don't think it is a good idea to reduce the supply over time. It may make sense in some cases, but some addicts are better of by having a constant supply. Pharmaceutical grade opioids are pretty safe. Far safer than legal drugs like tobacco or alcohol.

avidiax 4y ago
Also fine, and probably more practical. There is a certain moralizing part of society that has to have the taper on the horizon.