General Discussion

backscatter712

(26,357 posts)

70. Take a look at Europe - they do this, and it works!

Wed Jan 4, 2012, 01:23 PM

Jan 2012

They have injection clinics in Switzerland where cocaine addicts can inject, safely, under supervision, and with no fear of being busted by the police. They also got some gentle prodding to get actual treatment to beat their addictions for good.

Guess what. The recipients of this assistance ended up able to hold down jobs, have a place to live, function pretty normally in society. Instead of being homeless, shooting up questionable products with dirty needles and dying in a gutter. More of them go into treatment, and crime rates in the area drop.

I'd say that treating addiction as a medical issue, and providing ways to treat and mitigate the issue are far less brain-damaged than the U.S.'s sixty-billion dollar per year War on Drugs that incarcerates millions for non-violent offenses.

Here's some reading - I think you'll find this interesting.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/vancouver-injection-clinics-enlightened-alternative-incarceration

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Should meth be legal? [View all] Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 OP

If pot were legal, fewer would choose meth. n/t Scuba Jan 2012 #1

Is that really an A or B equation? nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #7

Please see my post #14. Scuba Jan 2012 #15

No way. 2 completely different substances. FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #8

Please see my post #14. Scuba Jan 2012 #16

I agree. In the past, I have done both. Totally different substances. RebelOne Jan 2012 #105

I'm all for decriminalizing pot but I can't quite make that connection Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2012 #10

I think it falls under the heading of "what's available". In some cases, the user .... Scuba Jan 2012 #14

OK I understand this. I am one of those people. MJ is my anti-drug. FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #22

I agree with your hypothesis, Scuba. Uncle Joe Jan 2012 #69

The thing is though, 'decriminalized' and 'legalized' mean different things. Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #40

That's why I used "legal". Scuba Jan 2012 #48

I think we need to frame it differently, then Occulus Jan 2012 #50

My premise assumed availability, which means "legal". You're correct about .... Scuba Jan 2012 #85

I have been told by meth users 2pooped2pop Jan 2012 #35

"It is a killer," but tapwater can be just as deadly. Occulus Jan 2012 #47

what?! ceile Jan 2012 #65

I guess you could say 2pooped2pop Jan 2012 #97

I support legalizing everything. But I think you're obfuscating here RZM Jan 2012 #108

And you believe someone who's on meth? randome Jan 2012 #58

That's the *other* thing we need to fix. Occulus Jan 2012 #63

I understand where you're coming from. randome Jan 2012 #64

And that's the THIRD thing we need to address. Occulus Jan 2012 #73

I guess I should have said ex meth users 2pooped2pop Jan 2012 #98

Meth is already legal. Schedule II drug (like most amphetamines). Liberal Veteran Jan 2012 #2

Shocked the crap out of me when I found that out. Occulus Jan 2012 #26

Dosage is everything. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #56

Dosage and who gets the profits.. russspeakeasy Jan 2012 #83

Meth scares me Aerows Jan 2012 #3

I think it may actually have a lot to do with cannabis prohibition, to be honest. Occulus Jan 2012 #49

I'm sure most users give intense philosophical consideration to their drug of choice. randome Jan 2012 #59

I thought we were talking about *new* users of 'hard' drugs, Occulus Jan 2012 #66

I'm no statistical expert. randome Jan 2012 #68

That last only underscores what I'm saying. Occulus Jan 2012 #76

I think thrill-seeking plays a much bigger role than you acknowledge here. Withywindle Jan 2012 #101

The pot high and the meth high are totally different highs jmowreader Jan 2012 #127

Personally Aerows Jan 2012 #78

Yes, but only if the meth were premade in a sealed off factory bigwillq Jan 2012 #4

The reason for that is that you can control for purity levels that way Occulus Jan 2012 #28

Good post. bigwillq Jan 2012 #67

Yep patricia92243 Jan 2012 #32

I'm with you. In fact, I might be willing to hedgehog Jan 2012 #74

No. FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #5

"Trick" question in the OP. Occulus Jan 2012 #30

really it does make it difficult. 2pooped2pop Jan 2012 #37

Add the fact that some people have been getting cannabis FROM THE GOVERNMENT for many years running Occulus Jan 2012 #52

Medical pot is a no brainer Aerows Jan 2012 #80

Forfeiture laws are relatively recent. randome Jan 2012 #81

Actually Aerows Jan 2012 #84

They had a hand in making it illegal, yes. randome Jan 2012 #89

I don't use marijuana Aerows Jan 2012 #94

Racism was a huge factor too. Withywindle Jan 2012 #103

That's an important point, too Aerows Jan 2012 #106

any opinion formed about not trusting pot 2pooped2pop Jan 2012 #102

It happens to look a lot like hemp a simple pattern Jan 2012 #91

Addiction needs to beseen as a medical issue and users should not be subject to prosecution randr Jan 2012 #6

Just imagine what the Meth Dungeon on DU would look like if Meth were legal. n/t Ian David Jan 2012 #9

No...n/t orwell Jan 2012 #11

People commit horrible crimes under the influence of alcohol, too.. girl gone mad Jan 2012 #12

I have not seen any crimes committed while using alcohol that compare to the article I cited. Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #19

The U.S. Department of Justice Report on Alcohol and Crime found Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #44

Neither is it an argument to bring more horrible crimes into the mix. randome Jan 2012 #82

Your comment ignores the history of prohibition. girl gone mad Jan 2012 #93

Yes, prohibition is an utter failure and a crutch for the security state. TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #13

MJ is natural, Meth is not LynneSin Jan 2012 #17

That's a better argument. girl gone mad Jan 2012 #77

Not only no - but HELL NO negativenihil Jan 2012 #18

Seems like a sensible policy. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #21

It's only made in a "bathtub gin" way because of its prohibition. Occulus Jan 2012 #36

. negativenihil Jan 2012 #54

In reverse order: Occulus Jan 2012 #71

wait a second negativenihil Jan 2012 #90

Eh, plenty of alcohol is "tweaked" by man.. Fumesucker Jan 2012 #119

It's too destructive to legalize Yo_Mama Jan 2012 #20

True, but how much of that truth is related to dosage quality and purity? Occulus Jan 2012 #43

Meth is a class all of it's own Marrah_G Jan 2012 #23

Legal,no. Decriminalized,yes. w8liftinglady Jan 2012 #24

this is the course other countries have done Johonny Jan 2012 #135

Not a chance sharp_stick Jan 2012 #25

All drugs should be decriminalized. roody Jan 2012 #27

In a word, NO madokie Jan 2012 #29

It already is, in Coca Cola bottles L. Coyote Jan 2012 #31

Tweakers.... tjwash Jan 2012 #33

That has to be the funniest fucking thing I've watched in YEARS ROFL snooper2 Jan 2012 #42

Wow RZM Jan 2012 #110

It's already legal. Any physician can write a prescription for it. MineralMan Jan 2012 #34

I want more people to know this. Occulus Jan 2012 #39

Yes. Well, not that many people are aware of that, MineralMan Jan 2012 #41

Undoubtably. Occulus Jan 2012 #46

But not in the dosages that most people would want. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #55

Perhaps under supervision, in an environment like a methadone clinic. backscatter712 Jan 2012 #38

'Manage their addictions'? randome Jan 2012 #60

Take a look at Europe - they do this, and it works! backscatter712 Jan 2012 #70

I agree getting them rehabbed is better than throwing addicts in jail. randome Jan 2012 #72

You can lead a horse to water... backscatter712 Jan 2012 #75

Also, injection clinics allow addicts to be supervised when shooting up. backscatter712 Jan 2012 #112

Right now, 'meth' is more legal than Marijuana, do you agree with that status? Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #45

Yes. Then the pharmaceutical grade would be circulating and people wouldn't be fucking up cooks JVS Jan 2012 #51

No... one_voice Jan 2012 #53

No. WilliamPitt Jan 2012 #57

legal or not, prosecution has utterly failed as a means of controlling it's use and distribution.... mike_c Jan 2012 #61

Was the crime cited in the OP committed someplace Meth is legal? cthulu2016 Jan 2012 #62

Good point. Meth is still illegal, and its prohibition did nothing to stop him from killing. Taverner Jan 2012 #88

Yes. Making it criminal just makes it a profit center. nt bemildred Jan 2012 #79

Yes, it should be. Having it illegal did not stop him from killing. Taverner Jan 2012 #86

No. MJ should be legal and all other drugs should be decriminalized like Portugal has done. FedUpWithIt All Jan 2012 #87

Meth was legal for 25 years or so and there wasn't a huge problem. Warren Stupidity Jan 2012 #92

Yes - I think all drugs should be legal slay Jan 2012 #95

Disappointing Johnny2X2X Jan 2012 #96

yes! nt wildbilln864 Jan 2012 #99

No. ellisonz Jan 2012 #100

I think it should be made un or less necessary loyalsister Jan 2012 #104

i used to be pro-legalization of everything arely staircase Jan 2012 #107

It should remain illegal to make meth Orangepeel Jan 2012 #109

Ultimately, yes RZM Jan 2012 #111

NO Tikki Jan 2012 #113

Only for republicans. donheld Jan 2012 #114

No. It tends to destroy people - quickly and permanently bhikkhu Jan 2012 #115

Fuck No!!!!!!! the things it does to the bodies of the users, the paranoia and Ecumenist Jan 2012 #116

Yes, with support systems, sitters and dispenseries. And it should be free. joshcryer Jan 2012 #117

you are being sarcastic, right? nt arely staircase Jan 2012 #120

Nope. joshcryer Jan 2012 #121

You think all drugs should be "legalized" and just handed out? arely staircase Jan 2012 #122

The negative impacts of meth are largely attributed to well-being. joshcryer Jan 2012 #123

agreed - that the impacts of anything, drug or not, are "largely attributed to well-being" arely staircase Jan 2012 #124

Your ancedotal experience is in a society without any drug-aware safety net. joshcryer Jan 2012 #125

ok i think i got ya, i would certainly want some kind of "dispensar(y) and shit house" if we were to arely staircase Jan 2012 #128

As someone pointed out up thread, meth-like drugs are already available. joshcryer Jan 2012 #130

Seems like you'd need dosage limits in such facilities. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #132

*nod* I didn't say I wasn't for no regulations. joshcryer Jan 2012 #133

i'm for that. nt arely staircase Jan 2012 #137

pardon me, "sit" houses, got it. arely staircase Jan 2012 #134

NO rollin74 Jan 2012 #118

Absolutely not. AngryOldDem Jan 2012 #126

FUCK. NO. Anyone who thinks otherwise has never been exposed to hardcore Tweakers. cherokeeprogressive Jan 2012 #129

Four out of five dentists say yes. nt cherokeeprogressive Jan 2012 #131

Yup. Iggo Jan 2012 #136