Everything Americans Think They Know About Drugs Is Wrong: A Scientist Explodes the Myths

[ismnotwasm]

9. I agree and disagree

This guy knows better than to challenge the basic physiology of the effect drugs have on neurotransmitter production--call it a matter of diminishing returns--and what actually causes withdrawal symptoms.

Of course you don't get hooked by one hit of crack, but I'll tell you what; rent a hotel room for a month with your drug of choice in sufficient quantities and you're going to need to detox somehow.

Heroin is highly addictive. So is cocaine. Jesus. I've cleaned up enough infected abscesses in my line of work and been to enough funerals of friends to call bullshit on that one.

Kids are taking their parents OxyContin, turn 18 and hit the heroin scene practically innocent of how to keep their shit clean. Had a kid lose his leg by digging in an abscess, hitting the femoral vein and nearly bled out. Sometimes heroin is cut with something that causes kidney failure. Sometimes street heroin isn't cut enough and you OD.

I'm a transplant nurse. We offer what we call 'high risk' organs all the time. Someone who OD'd. The recipient has a choice, and sometimes are so sick they take that choice .

You stop-- you get well--in street parlance. Your body recovers enough to make you high again.

On the other hand, we have patients who OD on Vicodin-- the culprit? The Tylenol in the Vicodin. Trashes your liver.

BUT I agree institutional poverty and institutionalized racism are the real monster.

I also agree not all drug users are dysfunctional misfits. And I definitely think drug laws need an overhaul.