Policy makers ignore alcohol in drug combat

The Daily Herald (UT) ^ | January 31, 2003 | Rick Soulier

[MrLeRoy]

Give this guy credit for consistency---which is more than most Drug Warriors can claim. His basic point is irrefutable: alcohol is a deadly, addictive mind-altering drug that fits the criteria by which the War On Some Drugs has been defended.

[MrLeRoy]

Wod_list ping

[dennisw]

#1 So when will you be shooting up some heroin to demonstrate that hard drugs are no worse than alcohol? 

#2 How come you never post about anything but drugs?

[robertpaulsen]

"Pretend for a minute that humankind had not discovered alcohol until Drexel distilled it in 2000."

Pretend for a minute that you live in the real world. You know, the world where alcohol plays and has played a significant role in health, religious ceremonies, social customs, and societal acceptance.

[Wolfie]

I hope this guy doesn't get his way. I often enjoy a good beer with my bong hits.

[MrLeRoy]

#1 So when will you be shooting up some heroin to demonstrate that hard drugs are no worse than alcohol?

I already rebutted this stupid argument in http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/834463/posts?page=53#53, to which you never replied; how cowardly and dishonest of you to repost it here.

#2 How come you never post about anything but drugs?

That is a lie; see, for example, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/833634/posts?page=26#26.

[MrLeRoy]

alcohol plays and has played a significant role in health,

Provide evidence that alcohol plays a significant role in health.

religious ceremonies, social customs,

Relevance?

and societal acceptance.

Alcohol plays a significant role in societal acceptance? Now you're just babbling.

[dennisw]

Are you stoned or something? That makes one post out of fifty you made that is not about drugs. You are one strange critter.

[FreeTally]

You know, the world where alcohol plays and has played a significant role in health, religious ceremonies, social customs, and societal acceptance.

You forgot to mention alcohol's major role in domestic abuse, bar fights, broken homes, liver disease, car wrecks and early deaths. Something most illegal drugs are not close to being involved in on the same scale as alcohol.

But you knew that.....

[Eagle Eye]

#1 So when will you be shooting up some heroin to demonstrate that hard drugs are no worse than alcohol?

Uh, after you. But don't hold your breath.

[FreeTally]

You are one strange critter.

Not as strange as those who obsess about the topics of other's posts.

And not nearly as strange as those posters who only frequent threads with "drugs" or "libertarians" in the titles to flame them.

[robertpaulsen]

"Something most illegal drugs are not close to being involved in on the same scale as alcohol."

Sounds to me like they've got some catchin' up to do! Legalization should help.

[MrLeRoy]

Are you stoned or something?

I use no drugs, including the deadly addictive drugs alcohol and tobacco.

That makes one post out of fifty you made that is not about drugs.

Here are more:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/833929/posts?page=36#36
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/831272/posts?page=34#34
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/828093/posts?page=62#62

[MrLeRoy]

Sounds to me like they've got some catchin' up to do! Legalization should help.

Not much. From the U.S. Department of Justice's National Criminal Justice Reference Service (publication NCJ 145534): "Of all psychoactive substances, alcohol is the only one whose consumption has been shown to commonly increase aggression. [...] Marijuana and opiates temporarily inhibit violent behavior [...] There is no evidence to support the claim that snorting or injecting cocaine stimulates violent behavior. [...] Anecdotal reports notwithstanding, no research evidence supports the notion that becoming high on hallucinogens, amphetamines, or PCP stimulates violent behavior in any systematic manner."

[uncbob]

You forgot to mention alcohol's major role in domestic abuse, bar fights, broken homes, liver disease, car wrecks and early deaths. Something most illegal drugs are not close to being involved in on the same scale as alcohol.

You forgot to mention highways littered with beer cans, bottles thrown on lawns and parking lots filled with puke , urine and broken glass

[robertpaulsen]

Amazing how a little "cut and paste" addressed every issue that FreeTally raised in post #9.

Keep up (what you think is) the good work.

[MrLeRoy]

Amazing how a little "cut and paste" addressed every issue that FreeTally raised in post #9.

Who said it did? Amazing how you've addressed NONE of the issues I raised in post #7.

[FreeTally]

Legalization should help.

No evidence of this other than anecdotes and hyperbole.

[robertpaulsen]

"Amazing how you've addressed NONE of the issues I raised in post #7.

Why should I? Like it would make a difference to you? I'll give you an example of how you waste my time. Let's take the first one.

"Provide evidence that alcohol plays a significant role in health."

First of all, I said alcohol plays and has played a significant role in health, so already you're mis-quoting me. Alcohol has played a significant role as a disinfectant and the making of tinctures and elixers. It is used today as a disinfectant and in medicines such a cough syrups and sleep aids.

So what is your problem with that? Do you deny a long history of alcohol and health? Isn't is safe to say that alcohol has been used, and is being used, by our society in a health related capacity?

What's the first thing you think of when you hear medical disinfectant? Not significant?

So, did I waste my time, or are you convinced?

[Ken H]

Agree or disagree, at least this is being done at the State level, where such policies should be decided.