Are drugs REALLY a problem?
Discussion
I will say firstly I'm probably not very well placed to decide but I have an opinion.
There's been a " War" on drugs for many years.
I don't know if this has reduced use ( I'm talking about Cannabis, Cocaine, Heroin etc) but from my perspective I don't see much of the effects of drug use as I go about my normal day.
Is the use/prevalence overstated? Are the effects as bad as portrayed? Are people using as freely as the media might have us beleive and are drugs that easy to get hold of? I know some die from abuse but is it that many in relation to the numbers using?
There's been a " War" on drugs for many years.
I don't know if this has reduced use ( I'm talking about Cannabis, Cocaine, Heroin etc) but from my perspective I don't see much of the effects of drug use as I go about my normal day.
Is the use/prevalence overstated? Are the effects as bad as portrayed? Are people using as freely as the media might have us beleive and are drugs that easy to get hold of? I know some die from abuse but is it that many in relation to the numbers using?
Purity14 said:
Depends where you live, I live in a city centre.
I get asked every day if i want to buy some drugs, just from walking from my car to my apartment.
They approach you and ask you if you need anything, if you say no, then they say "okay" if you ask "like what?" or "what do you mean?" They will tell you what they have.
I also get asked if i can spare some change twice or three times in that period.
I also see someone sleeping rough every morning on the way to work.
What city do you live in, if you dont mind me asking?I get asked every day if i want to buy some drugs, just from walking from my car to my apartment.
They approach you and ask you if you need anything, if you say no, then they say "okay" if you ask "like what?" or "what do you mean?" They will tell you what they have.
I also get asked if i can spare some change twice or three times in that period.
I also see someone sleeping rough every morning on the way to work.
Addictive compounds are, unsurprisingly, very profitable. The decision on legality has historically been basically do we profit from it? Alcohol has been made here forever - legal with high duty; Heroin was from the East - illegal; Tobacco from the Americas - legal with duty; Hemp would put cotton (Americas) out of business - illegal. I'm sure you get the picture.
But, making things illegal doesn't stop people doing them. Or selling them. Thus the phoney "War".
There are winners in the phoney War, not just the providers of the legal drugs but the law enforcement agencies funded to the Moon and back to oppose the (very profitable) illegal drug trade. These current "winners" like the status quo.
So, drugs remain illegal. As a result taking the drugs, producing the drugs, and selling the drugs are all more dangerous than they would be if they were legal. Yet they are still easily available and commonly used. The situation is a tragic farce.
But, making things illegal doesn't stop people doing them. Or selling them. Thus the phoney "War".
There are winners in the phoney War, not just the providers of the legal drugs but the law enforcement agencies funded to the Moon and back to oppose the (very profitable) illegal drug trade. These current "winners" like the status quo.
So, drugs remain illegal. As a result taking the drugs, producing the drugs, and selling the drugs are all more dangerous than they would be if they were legal. Yet they are still easily available and commonly used. The situation is a tragic farce.
Edited by grumbledoak on Thursday 26th June 20:23
Working in education, I've seen firsthand the very negative impact serious drug abuse can have on the users, their families and of course, their children. I then had an even greater insight into this world when I joined the police as a Special Constable. It will probably come as no surprise to most people, that many of these hard core drug users live in truly sickening conditions.
The children who are often most at risk are those exposed to a combination of adversities over a prolonged period of time - e.g. parents with mental health problems, poverty and domestic abuse all of which are exacerbated when parents have a drug problem. I remember attending a course in 2013 where I learned that almost 300 children had lost a parent or other key figure in their life due to drug abuse during the previous year. Statistically, that figure may well seem low but in my head, it was shocking.
The children who are often most at risk are those exposed to a combination of adversities over a prolonged period of time - e.g. parents with mental health problems, poverty and domestic abuse all of which are exacerbated when parents have a drug problem. I remember attending a course in 2013 where I learned that almost 300 children had lost a parent or other key figure in their life due to drug abuse during the previous year. Statistically, that figure may well seem low but in my head, it was shocking.
Thankyou4calling said:
I'm not keen on Donkey rides or roller coasters .
You don't need to bother with that. You could just curl up and take crack.http://www.wave965.com/news/local/10-million-lotte...
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/12/when-...
Second highest crack use, highest alcohol incapacity rate, twice the normal mental health admission, highest suicide rate, highest family breakdown, 1 in 67 children in care. So yeah - kind of is a problem.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-drTpJN2KNQ
Personally, although I don't take them, I think drugs should be legalised to reduce crime and help people who become addicted get help.
My main reason for thinking drugs should stay illegal is because I think more people would take them if they were legal - maybe not now but in 10 years when a new generation is born where drugs are legal and normal. Yes many can take it and get on fine but there are lots that end up too far gone and become a drain on their family and society.
aside from that I can see a lot of benefits.
unfortnatley i think what proves my point are 'legal highs' - many people - especially young, are taking them because they think the fact that they are not banned like class A drugs means they must somehow be safer. the effects of legal highs are much worse than what may be reported. people falling serious ill every week is not uncommon and that was just in my local area!
aside from that I can see a lot of benefits.
unfortnatley i think what proves my point are 'legal highs' - many people - especially young, are taking them because they think the fact that they are not banned like class A drugs means they must somehow be safer. the effects of legal highs are much worse than what may be reported. people falling serious ill every week is not uncommon and that was just in my local area!
I'm 47 now. In my late teens and early 20s, there were a few of my mates that got into coke and heavy weed use. It turned them into complete and utter t
ts of the highest order, complete berks. Today, without exception, they are fully rounded, decent family men with good and in some cases, very good, and responsible jobs. If I pointed them out, you'd not believe their distant past.
Alcohol. This has taken the lives of two other friends. It will take the life of at least one more sooner rather than later and has wrecked the life of another irreversibly.The impact this has had on their families and friends including me, cannot be understated.
The need for moderation of both is obvious but I do wonder if we worry too much about the wrong things.
ts of the highest order, complete berks. Today, without exception, they are fully rounded, decent family men with good and in some cases, very good, and responsible jobs. If I pointed them out, you'd not believe their distant past.Alcohol. This has taken the lives of two other friends. It will take the life of at least one more sooner rather than later and has wrecked the life of another irreversibly.The impact this has had on their families and friends including me, cannot be understated.
The need for moderation of both is obvious but I do wonder if we worry too much about the wrong things.
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