Big Drug War News (Congressman Dan Burton on the drug war)

The Agitator ^ | 17 December 2002 | Radley Balko

[muggs]

It might be easier for some of these addicted people to hold a job if they didn't have to spend so much time hooking up with their dealer. Many people addicted to alcohol and other legal drugs manage to hold jobs. My boss has a multi-million dollar business and he is addicted to alcohol.

[tacticalogic]

Now, a LARGE part of America is addicted to prescription drugs.

Yes, they are. And I blame part of that on the drug war paradigm that gives people an unrealistic view of what drug abuse is, and what addiction is all about.

[Texaggie79]

Um, tonight, go drink as much as you can and see how happy you end up. Tomorrow night, shoot up with heroine. See wich one makes you feel happier.

[Texaggie79]

I believe that all those addicted to prescription drugs would be addicted to worse drugs if all were legalized. Have you any idea how many people were addicted to heroine before it was criminalized? We were headed down a very dark path.

[tacticalogic]

Can't. Don't have any heroin, and alcohol triggers my migranes. Was that supposed to be your source?

[MrLeRoy]

Have you any idea how many people were addicted to heroine before it was criminalized?

How many?

[Texaggie79]

DAMMIT why did y'all keep letting me say HEROINE???? I feel like an idiot now to just have caught that!

[swarthyguy]

Financing the WaronTerror with the proceeds from potsales! Irony, smoke a joint, buy a clip or a chip for the USA.

Take out the Twin Pillars of Profit and Procurement and you have increased resources available for more important and pressing tasks.

[Texaggie79]

I don't have exact numbers, but the majority of the population.

[MrLeRoy]

Can't. Don't have any heroin, and alcohol triggers my migranes. Was that supposed to be your source?

It's "evidence" liberal-style.

[Texaggie79]

I'd imagine he would have a much more difficult time if it were heroin or cocaine he were addicted to. Legal or no.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[Texaggie79]

Actually, it's evidence "lazy style". I had to format and reinstall my OS. All my fav's are gone, and I'm not about to go on a hunt for stats that I already know are true.

[MrLeRoy]

Have you any idea how many people were addicted to heroine before it was criminalized?

How many?

the majority of the population.

The majority of the population was addicted to heroin?!?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[FormerLurker]

This is not the case with hard drugs. The more you consume, the "happier"/"more energized"/"calmer" you are.

Not so. The more you consume, the closer you get to a lethal overdose. Once that threshold is crossed, it would result in a permanent state of "calmness"...

[MrLeRoy]

I had to format and reinstall my OS. All my fav's are gone, and I'm not about to go on a hunt for stats that I already know are true.

So you don't have the sense to back things up to floppy, but we're supposed to trust your recollection of stats?

[Texaggie79]

Um yes..... Opiates, pretty much. Not "shoot up in your vein" heroin.

Look it up.

[Texaggie79]

Not when KLEZ has ravished my files......

[tacticalogic]

I believe that all those addicted to prescription drugs would be addicted to worse drugs if all were legalized. Have you any idea how many people were addicted to heroine before it was criminalized? We were headed down a very dark path.

Without education we may be. But the most serious prescription drug problems involve addiction to prescription drugs in combination with alcohol. Would a return to alcohol prohibition make our situation significantly better?

[MrLeRoy]

Um yes..... Opiates, pretty much. Not "shoot up in your vein" heroin.

Look it up.

Sorry, I'm not doing your homework for you. When YOU make a claim, the burden is on YOU to provide evidence.