Should I be jailed for breaking the law?

[Murphy Jnr]

Can they really 'function normally'?

 

Probably not is the answer you wont get from Cyclone, at best it allows them to cope with life which is an improvement on the existence they had before....?

[Rupert_Baehr]

Several trials have been done. Prescribing heroin to those who are already addicted keeps them safe and allows them to function normally within society, whilst removing the ability to deal from the hands of criminals and cutting off any profit those criminals might make.

 

Not only does prescribing heroin to addicts ensure that they have a clean supply and remove the profit from drug dealers, but it also removes the incentive for addicts to commit crimes to obtain the money to buy heroin from dealers.

 

When I worked in a prison, more than 60% (It may have been nearer 80%) of the inmates were inside for drug-related crime. Some were dealers, some were incarcerated for crimes committed whilst under the influence of drugs, but a very large number were incarcerated for crimes committed to obtain the money to buy drugs.

 

If drugs were readily (and cheaply) available to addicts, then not only would it drive dealers out of business (and thus reduce the number of new addicts) but it would probably reduce the level of acquisitive crime.

 

Can they really 'function normally'?

 

You'd need to ask an expert about that, but given that addicts aren't high all the time, a regular controlled dose might allow many addicts to function normally for a greater proportion of the time. - They might have more highs, but presumably they would have fewer periods in which they are suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

 

Probably not is the answer you wont get from Cyclone, at best it allows them to cope with life which is an improvement on the existence they had before....?

 

I was told (by a friend who specialises in treatment of addictions) that nicotine is more addictive than heroin (and a nicotine addict gets far more highs per day[one per puff] than does a heroin addict). According to that friend, when you first start to smoke/use a drug, it makes you feel 'better' (the 'high') than you did before. As your body becomes accustomed to the drug, when you are not taking it you feel worse than you used to. Eventually, the addict is taking the drug just to feel as good as a non-user.

 

There is no evidence that any country is winning the 'war on drugs'. (If you know otherwise, feel free to provide a link to it.)

 

If providing drugs at low (or even no) cost to addicts would ruin the market for dealers - driving many of them out of the trade - and would reduce the level of acquisitive crime (and hence reduce the prison population considerably) what's wrong with that?

 

Prohibition (of alcohol) didn't stop people in America from drinking alcohol - but it did allow a number of people (including Joe Kennedy) to become very wealthy. Prohibition of drugs doesn't appear to be eradicating drug use, but it is certainly making a lot of people very wealthy.

 

I wonder how much money the 'drug dealing industry' pays each year to persuade politicians (throughout the world) to keep drugs illegal (and keep the street prices high)?

[Halibut]

Can they really 'function normally'?

 

Probably not is the answer you wont get from Cyclone, at best it allows them to cope with life which is an improvement on the existence they had before....?

 

The real answer is yes. People on prescription heroin can indeed function normally and are quite capable of holding down a job.

[Cyclone]

I'll say this; I believe there are times when decisions based on law are unjust. There are times when the law defies logic. Abiding by them and/or accepting the meaning of the law does not make a person foolish or weak minded. I do what I do because I believe it to be right for me.

 

Abiding by an unjust law doesn't make someone foolish?

[Cyclone]

Probably not is the answer you wont get from Cyclone, at best it allows them to cope with life which is an improvement on the existence they had before....?

 

You won't get that answer because it would be wrong.

 

The answer is yes, they can. They can hold down full time jobs, they can be normal productive members of society.

[Murphy Jnr]

If providing drugs at low (or even no) cost to addicts would ruin the market for dealers - driving many of them out of the trade - and would reduce the level of acquisitive crime (and hence reduce the prison population considerably) what's wrong with that?

 

Anything that reduces the profiteering and thus the misery of others is welcome and I have no issue with that. Neither do I have issues regarding the legalisation of drugs and/or the prescription of the same. I neither condone or condemn people who use drugs. I had a limited understanding of the drug canabis but largely thanks to onewheeldave's insight, come away with at least a modicum of knowledge.

[Murphy Jnr]

Abiding by an unjust law doesn't make someone foolish?

 

I bet you aced Twister at parties

[quisquose]

Can they really 'function normally'?

 

I recall watching a tv programme many years ago about famous addicts, of which there were many.

 

Needless to say, history is populated with a large number of artists, writers, scientists, engineers and politicians "functioning normally" whilst addicted to drugs.

 

With the exception of the very wealthy, I think you would struggle to find an addict "functioning normally" now, since prohibition.

[Murphy Jnr]

I know someone will enlighten me but is controlled prescription winning favour over rehabilitation now. Is it more cost effective to give them what they need rather than wean them off it. If so is this down to success rate?

[Chris_Sleeps]

I know someone will enlighten me but is controlled prescription winning favour over rehabilitation now.

With regards to opiates, the two things aren't exclusive. Rehabilitation is complex, but the methadone program isn't a working solution. It leaves people taking one opiate while still addicted to a 2nd, street heroin. Addicts should have access to diamorphine, clean medical heroin, and then they can go through rehab.