See this is where I find myself becoming more sympathetic to the idea of legalisation.
I was always of the opinion that rehabilitation should have first priority when dealing with drug addicts. And I have long supported our free clean needle exchange, because it just seems more practical to me. People will use drugs, but that doesn’t mean we just should allow the issues that come with needle usage to go unchecked.
But I was a little tentative towards outright legalisation. But the more issues I see with the “war” the more I support the measure
I’m not sure why our government banned drugs, I’m sure it was our own versions of racism. But I think we need pragmatic solutions to drug use. Because like you said, people are always going to get high or drunk. We should ensure that such activities are as safe as possible with treatment being on hand at all times.
I recall a study that was done in Europe, I think it was, where medical professionals monitored the dosage of heroin and allowed them to inject under supervision, it greatly cut down on overdoses. What happens is that opioid users develop a tolerance to it and so start needing higher dosages of it to get high. But they don't know what their limits are, and these street drugs are often cut with other dangerous substances along with them not knowing the purity of the drug (dealers often lie or don't know themselves), so they end up accidentally overdosing and dying. They're not consciously trying to kill themselves.
But say if the heroin user was allowed to inject medical grade heroin under medical supervision with their doctor advising them - they would be much safer. It would be easier to wean them off of it, too, if they wish to stop using it. So lives would be saved right there. Even if they didn't want to stop (which should be a decision between them and their doctor), they would still be much safer.
The needle issue also effects me as a trans man. I can't get my insurance to pay for my injection supplies for testosterone because they think people will use the needles and syringes to inject illegal drugs. Go figure, as the needles used aren't for intravenous injection in the first place (they're far too large for that). So I either have to pay for it or ask my doctor to give me a supply for free. I have to ask my doctor on Tuesday for a supply when I speak to her on a phone appointment since I'm out of supplies and then the dumb pharmacy I use only gave me enough for 2 weeks, when I take my medication weekly. I have no income so can't be wasting what little money I do have on that. I've had to reuse needles thanks to my insurance and injecting with a dull needle is very painful.
I used to be straight edge (I was part of the hardcore punk scene, and still am) throughout my teens and thought that addicts were lowlifes. But I researched and came to realize how wrong I was. It is well-known that the "war on drugs" is a complete failure that has directly and indirectly caused millions of deaths over the decades. So we have to believe that our governments only carry it on for stupid and nefarious reasons.
