Keeping Heroin Users Safe From The Police

NewsMax ^ | 07/03/03 | Paul Walfield

[political_chick]

In the so-called war against illegal drugs, we have lost every battle. Clear across the globe, just about every concerted effort to eradicate drug use has failed.

The given reasons for the dismal results are many, but the prevailing theory is that there is just too much money involved in the drug trade. So much so that the key people fighting the war get paid off, and the “war” is in reality just a “war” in name only.

While there might be spectacular-sounding successes reported on the evening news, the reality on the ground is never a real setback for the drug cartels.

Statistics vary, but most everyone involved in the matter would agree that the vast majority of criminal conduct involves drugs in some manner. Directly or indirectly, drugs appear to be at the root of a lot of of the crimes committed in the United States and many other Western nations.

Generally speaking, you aren’t going to put much of a dent in the drug trade by going after or harassing a small number of drug users who are unable to pay off anyone to leave them alone. There needs to be a better way of dealing with them, a different way of handling low-end drug users.

So, along comes rough and gruff Larry Campbell. He is the mayor of Vancouver, Canada. If anyone can think outside the box, it has to be the Canadians. Larry was once a policeman who worked on drug cases.

[corkoman]

In the so-called war against illegal drugs, we have lost every battle

Who you calling "we".

Seems "we" are winning in stopping the abomination of liberties called the War On Drugs.

I feel deeply saddened for all the rascally totalitarians who want to subjugate others.

[MrLeRoy]

Wod_list (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/involved?group=124) ping

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[Scenic Sounds]

I feel deeply saddened for all the rascally totalitarians who want to subjugate others.

I agree that we have done a miserable job of dealing with the problems associated with heroin addiction in this country. It's really frustrating to see that after all of our experience we still haven't been politically able to even address these issues in a rational way. I'd really like to say that we're learning some very expensive lessons, but I can't honestly say that we're even learning.

Growing up, I lost some good friends to heroin - a few to fatal overdoses and several to prisons. Everytime I think about those old friends, I count my blessings that I never joined them in what I know they saw initially as just experimenting. I think mostly it was probably just an aversion to needles that kept me away. Whatever it was, I'm very thankful that when I was young and very foolish, I was never that foolish.

So, I really cringe everytime I hear heroin use being linked to "freedom" or "liberty." There isn't anyone who ever found much freedom or liberty through junk.

[bc2]

I, too, have lost friends and family to drugs, from death to total loss of personality (ie the drugs fried their mind).

As sad as I am that one of my closest friends is now pretty much a waste case from eating LSD and exstacy pills, snorting cocaine and ketamine, etc... there were never any guns held to his head.

drug use is not a "crime", it is simply immoral (and possibly sinful) behaviour. But there are laws to deal with "crime", ie: the initiation of force or fraud, and drug use in and of itself is not a "crime", the government should end the WOD.

It didn't save my mom's cousin from snorting so much coke his heart exploded, and it didn't save one of my best friends from turning his mind into mush.

[DAnconia55]

I feel deeply saddened for all the rascally totalitarians who want to subjugate others.

Bee Vewwwwy vewwwy quiet, I'm hunting dopers.

[DTA]

>>>>>Everytime I think about those old friends, I count my blessings that I never joined them in what I know they saw initially as just experimenting. I think mostly it was probably just an aversion to needles that kept me away. Whatever it was, I'm very thankful that when I was young and very foolish, I was never that foolish. <<<<

ScenicSOunds, you have defined the essence of REAL war on drugs.

If millions of youths worldwide were like you, those involved in drug business would be out of business in a couple of years.

Not a pleasant thought for world bankers, though.

[bassmaner]

ScenicSOunds, you have defined the essence of REAL war on drugs.

And it's the only one that could ever be "won", because it involves common sense, not government coercion.

A danger to all of us lies in the empowerment of government to impose said common sense by force. Like it or not, the propensity to alter brain chemistry with chemicals is part of human nature -- it's burned into our DNA. Only fools (and communists) deny this basic fact of life. That's why the WOsD is doomed to abject failure.

[MrLeRoy]

It's really frustrating to see that after all of our experience we still haven't been politically able to even address these issues in a rational way.

What would be a rational way to address these issues?

[Monty22]

That's the thing with drugs. They REMOVE freedom. They are the ultimate interior tyranny of the mind.

Tools of Satan perhaps. Honestly, if drugs were available legally and easy like some want, we'd have so many people 'trying' them (way more than now) that we'd have addiction and death levels beyond belief.

Sometimes I really think these people have no idea what they wish for. I know it's so they can get high (what a noble cause) without hassle, but the cost..

[MrLeRoy]

if drugs were available legally and easy like some want, we'd have so many people 'trying' them (way more than now)

Provide evidence for your claim.

[MrLeRoy]

Care to try again without the personal attack?

[Monty22]

What was the personal attack? I think the schizophrenia induced from pot usage affects your postings.

You're a crybaby too.

[MrLeRoy]

What was the personal attack? I think the schizophrenia induced from pot usage affects your postings.

You answered your own question.

Why do you think the mod removed your post #13?

[Scenic Sounds]

That's the thing with drugs. They REMOVE freedom. They are the ultimate interior tyranny of the mind.

Tools of Satan perhaps.

Well, my post (and I thought this thread) was with reference to heroin.

[rastus macgill]

You could say your friends were lost to the WOD.
If heroin were legal overdoses would be the result of suicide and accidents.Known purity and dosage would greatly diminish deaths.As to prison only for those who commit crimes against people not for those who merely abuse themselves.

[rastus macgill]

Drugs don't "do" anything they are inanimate objects.