Heroin problem: 'We're not going to arrest our way out of this'

The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus [IL] ^ | January 18, 2015 | Rachel Warmke

[Smokin' Joe]

Go back and read my original post. Those were statements I have heard from addicts, from druggies. Maybe you should engage in conversation with them. That's the sort of crap they spew.

I have heard it firsthand. Dealt with the mentality. There is no arguing with a druggie, they aren't going to look at facts, they won't sit down and compare research notes, and that was my point. That is how they justify their own particular form(s) of substance abuse.

Reason isn't involved, it's rationalization, and humans can rationalize anything from theft to slaughtering babies in the womb to more open forms of genocide.

And narrow the goalposts, because we're not just talking about pot, here, but meth, heroin, Molly, bath salts, hell, pick one. Because of that crap, I have raised grandchildren rather than put money away for a retirement I will not live to see, barring a lucky powerball ticket.

If they won't listen, they won't, not even standing next to the hole their 'friends' who OD'd are going into. Talk your lungs out. Those who will hear will, those who won't, won't. They'll chalk it up to bad luck or a stupid mistake (that they won't make, of course), anything but the drugs. Alcoholics are often the same way.

As I recall, the main character was barely getting by working two jobs, one well beneath his abilities, and went for the bigger payday; other than that bigger payday, which is a simple matter of fact and IMO not a "glorification,"

For an awful lot of people, that 'bigger payday' amounts to an attractive option. Beyond that is the matter of imagery (more powerful than reading the script), of the emotions evoked, of being powerful, rich, having all the stuff you want...That's glorification in my book, especially for the uneducated and those without vision or skills enough to better their lot. Money is a powerful draw, and the local power it can buy is just as seductive. I guess your book isn't the same edition as mine.

[ConservingFreedom]

Those were statements I have heard from addicts, from druggies. [...] we're not just talking about pot, here

Neither point was clarified by your statement, "That it is just like or no worse than alcohol? The pro-pot lobby [not other drugs and not just users] has worn that angle out." Certainly there are drugs that are worse than alcohol (and heroin is one of them).

Those who will hear will, those who won't, won't.

Agreed; it's impossible to inform the latter ... but the former do exist.

being powerful, rich, having all the stuff you want...That's glorification in my book

Of selling, but certainly not of using, which was the original topic.