The war on drugs. An outright failure?

[SomeRandom]

Decriminalisation of all drugs. Addiction treated as a medical issue. Work towards a society that people don't want to escape.

There was a famous experiment where rats were given access to cocaine and they kept going back for hit after hit, neglecting to eat or sleep as long as they could. Those rats lived in a small cage, had nothing to do, were living impoverished lives.

In another experiment the researchers gave the rats the kind of environment that rats enjoy. Space, stimulation, fun. The rats didn't really bother with the cocaine.

People are somehow surprised when they hear this.

Edit: Actually it was morphine.

Well I mean addicts often neglect even highly enjoyable lives. That some end up or even start out impoverished perhaps colours perception of addiction. But given how ineffective criminalisation has been suggests we seek a high just because it feels good. I understand why experiments usually take place upon rats. But we are not rats at the end of the day.

Though I agree about decriminalisation. Humans have been getting high since we discovered you could get high

 

[Yerda]

Well I mean addicts often neglect even highly enjoyable lives. That some end up or even start out impoverished perhaps colours perception of addiction. But given how ineffective criminalisation has been suggests we seek a high just because it feels good. I understand why experiments usually take place upon rats. But we are not rats at the end of the day.

Though I agree about decriminalisation. Humans have been getting high since we discovered you could get high

Ok. Those are fair points. There does seem to be some genetic component that predisposes some people to substance dependence. This is apparently the case even in rats.

I've known many drug users from the casual to the dependent and from what I can tell none of the heroin addicts, for example, got involved as a supplement to an already enjoyable existence. They were in a bad place and they self-medicated their way to a bit of respite too many times and could no longer function without it.

 

[SomeRandom]

Ok. Those are fair points. There does seem to be some genetic component that predisposes some people to substance dependence. This is apparently the case even in rats.

Yes. Genetics can explain substance dependence in at least some people. Environment also plays a role
Which is why I’m for rehabilitation rather than just locking people up. Sadly I do know that choice is a factor in said rehabilitation. So it may not always work. But health and mental health services should be more involved with addicts than police, imo

I've known many drug users from the casual to the dependent and from what I can tell none of the heroin addicts, for example, got involved as a supplement to an already enjoyable existence. They were in a bad place and they self-medicated their way to a bit of respite too many times and could no longer function without it.

Well heroin is a pretty strong drug. The addicts I know who can function are usually the potheads, if I’m honest. Or the ones who occasionally “dip” into soft party drugs. Or alcoholics.
Can’t say I’ve met a functional cocaine addict for example. Maybe they exist, I don’t know. I expect functional addicts who take hard drugs are perhaps rarer than those who take soft drugs.
So I can understand that environmental factors may be more prominent among hard drug users

 

[Kooky]

There does seem to be some genetic component that predisposes some people to substance dependence.

Poverty and a lack of future perspective are quite literally inheritable.

 

[Kooky]

What are you thoughts? Your solutions?
Have at it, but please be respectful

I've heard that the War on Drugs may have been a policy implemented in order for the police to be able to go after hippy "drug culture" and specifically the leftist and Black activists within it. Based on the rapid decline of that subculture's influence on US politics between 1960 and 1980, it seems as a tactic to silence subcultures and suppress their political influence, it was successful.

 

[SomeRandom]

I've heard that the War on Drugs may have been a policy implemented in order for the police to be able to go after hippy "drug culture" and specifically the leftist and Black activists within it. Based on the rapid decline of that subculture's influence on US politics between 1960 and 1980, it seems as a tactic to silence subcultures and suppress their political influence, it was successful.

Hmm that very well could be the case
I wouldn’t be surprised
Looking into the history of prohibition I can’t help but think that as long as the government finds a way to regulate a substance then make a profit, they will legalise it.
When they can’t, they pretend it’s an “enemy of the people” in order to maintain discipline and try to get a profit if they can.
My personal opinion

 

[England my lionheart]

I came of age during the “ice epidemic.” A purer form of cocaine. Caused a lot of ODs and actually altered the curriculum on drugs in our schools.
My suburb wasn’t a “hood” so to speak, but it did have drug deals. Happening out in the open in broad daylight. We all pretended not to see it.
All this to say, I have seen the consequences of drugs up close and personal.
I have also seen the war on drugs and imo it’s an abject failure. I have even grown up on media that has basically put that out as it’s central thesis (see The Wire.) It has actively harmed my community more than it helped. Probably worse in the US since we’re not quite as gung ho about it. It’s just prohibition with other substances. The gangsters get rich off the suffering of addicts and the police are trained as soldiers in a war instead of actual police

What are you thoughts? Your solutions?
Have at it, but please be respectful

Education about the product and a legal disclaimer.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Most prescription drugs or even over the counter drugs at a chemist are harmful if overdosed on .

That's true. It all depends on the molecular arrangements that makes something dangerous or beneficial.

Tap water is great as an example. Too much and your dead.

 

[We Never Know]

I came of age during the “ice epidemic.” A purer form of cocaine. Caused a lot of ODs and actually altered the curriculum on drugs in our schools.
My suburb wasn’t a “hood” so to speak, but it did have drug deals. Happening out in the open in broad daylight. We all pretended not to see it.
All this to say, I have seen the consequences of drugs up close and personal.
I have also seen the war on drugs and imo it’s an abject failure. I have even grown up on media that has basically put that out as it’s central thesis (see The Wire.) It has actively harmed my community more than it helped. Probably worse in the US since we’re not quite as gung ho about it. It’s just prohibition with other substances. The gangsters get rich off the suffering of addicts and the police are trained as soldiers in a war instead of actual police

What are you thoughts? Your solutions?
Have at it, but please be respectful

Here's a part of the problem.

"The U.S. Justice Department said, “At General Care Center, Palacios paid doctors to prescribe opioids to nearly all patients who visited the clinic, resulting in the illegal distribution of more than two million tablets of Oxycodone 30 mg and generating more than $3 million in cash that was deposited into various bank accounts associated with the clinic and Palacios.”

Patients paid $200 to $250 for an oxycodone prescription. Palacios paid the doctors $60 to $120 for each prescription."

The owner who ran a $3 million Miami pill mill and the doctors who prescribed for him

 

[SomeRandom]

Here's a part of the problem.

"The U.S. Justice Department said, “At General Care Center, Palacios paid doctors to prescribe opioids to nearly all patients who visited the clinic, resulting in the illegal distribution of more than two million tablets of Oxycodone 30 mg and generating more than $3 million in cash that was deposited into various bank accounts associated with the clinic and Palacios.”

Patients paid $200 to $250 for an oxycodone prescription. Palacios paid the doctors $60 to $120 for each prescription."

The owner who ran a $3 million Miami pill mill and the doctors who prescribed for him

 

[Revoltingest]

The War On Drugs leads to cops committing many crimes.
Reasons are incompetence &/or corruption...