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Maedhros

(10,007 posts)

33. The stigma to which you refer was hardwired into the public consciousness,

Thu Feb 5, 2015, 09:13 PM

Feb 2015

probably most effectively by the Reagan Administration (Remember "Just Say No!" and "Don't be User Friendly!&quot .

At one time, addiction was treated as a health concern. Rehabilitation was the objective. That all changed after Nixon, and addiction was thenceforth treated as a moral failing. Incarceration became the objective.

I'd prefer we approached the problem differently. Compare our "Drug War" with the way Portugal cleaned up it's horrendous drug problem by eschewing punishment and focusing on therapy:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/07/05/ten-years-after-decriminalization-drug-abuse-down-by-half-in-portugal/

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/evaluating-drug-decriminalization-in-portugal-12-years-later-a-891060.html

http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html

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Can we please stop devaluing the lives of addicts and just treat them with proven science? [View all] antigone382 Feb 2015 OP

Sorry but there is no comparison whatsoever between the two William769 Feb 2015 #1

Yep. nt geek tragedy Feb 2015 #2

I have listened and reworded the title to take away the comparison. antigone382 Feb 2015 #22

I'm sorry for your loss. Opiate use is all around the neighborhood I live in; it's so ND-Dem Feb 2015 #40

Thank you, and thanks for your contributions to this thread. n/t antigone382 Feb 2015 #60

We have just suffered a similar loss. I'm sorry you too have lost someone to this sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #43

Sorry to hear that. Thanks for your kind words :) antigone382 Feb 2015 #59

I am willing to consider your perspective, but I'd like to know your reasons. antigone382 Feb 2015 #3

If you allow for "addiction is a disease" then yeah, they are somewhat comparable Fumesucker Feb 2015 #6

It is sickening for anyone to compare Sissyk Feb 2015 #4

I have reworded and I know that was a traumatic period for many. antigone382 Feb 2015 #7

39 million people have died of AIDS, 1.5 million last year alone. William769 Feb 2015 #10

so sorry William769... spanone Feb 2015 #12

I am sorry for that. The guy I just lost was the love of my life. He fought like hell. And he lost. antigone382 Feb 2015 #14

And can be stigmatized and their deaths celebrated by haters because they are gay. freshwest Feb 2015 #38

Thanks for re-wording. Sissyk Feb 2015 #11

deleting because what I just wrote was assholish antigone382 Feb 2015 #13

Point taken on parallels; but I think you are perpetuating the very stigma I'm talking about. antigone382 Feb 2015 #16

The stigma to which you refer was hardwired into the public consciousness, Maedhros Feb 2015 #33

Exactly my point. Thank you for this information. n/t antigone382 Feb 2015 #35

Last point I'll make is that for at least one person, he *did* try, and he *did* want help. antigone382 Feb 2015 #23

It's horribly hard for addicts to stop. Chemisse Feb 2015 #26

Yeah, it's hideous, and we wouldn't accept it for very many other health conditions. antigone382 Feb 2015 #27

This is very prevalent where I live also. Chemisse Feb 2015 #28

It's like a perfect storm, and the time has come for a movement. n/t antigone382 Feb 2015 #31

yes, there's definitely a link, which is why addiction is so often found in low-income communities - ND-Dem Feb 2015 #41

It sure does make it easy for the powers-that-be to write off these lives. I see it all the time. antigone382 Feb 2015 #51

I hear ya. ND-Dem Feb 2015 #52

I don't believe it is a question of them not wanting help, or not wanting to be treated. I think sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #44

Hi sabrina! Sissyk Feb 2015 #45

I have too, Sissyk, and it is a very difficult thing to watch someone you care about sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #46

Thanks, sabrina! Sissyk Feb 2015 #47

No problem, I didn't take it that way at all. And you are right, I believe there are probably few sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #48

AA is not the most successful program phil89 Feb 2015 #53

I believe I stated the statistics on AA. And how it is VIEWED publicly. I do not believe it is sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #58

The numbers are astronomical cally Feb 2015 #5

Most definitely our culture's unhealthy attitudes towards substance abuse matter. antigone382 Feb 2015 #9

Holy hell. greatauntoftriplets Feb 2015 #8

I suggest people go and read the link because these numbers are Prescription and Over the Counter SomethingFishy Feb 2015 #15

The NPR story focused on heroin, but I am not exclusively concerned with it. antigone382 Feb 2015 #19

Prescription opiates are one of the biggest categories of abused drugs, and these and benzos were ND-Dem Feb 2015 #42

It's fucking hopeless to be a young person from a poor neighborhood right now. antigone382 Feb 2015 #50

Not hopeless, but the odds are bad. ND-Dem Feb 2015 #54

I too have lost many friends and acquaintances to drug abuse madokie Feb 2015 #17

Serious kudos on your recovery and thanks for your perspective. antigone382 Feb 2015 #20

This is why I won't take opiates or painkillers (again). I only use cannabis NightWatcher Feb 2015 #18

I know they are critically helpful to some and I don't want them taken off the market... antigone382 Feb 2015 #21

K&R! Thank you for posting. smirkymonkey Feb 2015 #24

Thanks for your support... antigone382 Feb 2015 #25

I would love to hear more about this as we are all touched by it in some way. smirkymonkey Feb 2015 #29

The "harm reduction" approach is gaining ground as an alternative antigone382 Feb 2015 #30

Yes, thank you! And I do think that 12 step programs can be helpful to a lot of people. smirkymonkey Feb 2015 #34

I feel exactly the sa we way. Shame engenders silence. antigone382 Feb 2015 #37

I am sorry for your loss. MadrasT Feb 2015 #32

You have all my respect for the strength to stay in recovery. antigone382 Feb 2015 #36

I am so very sorry for your loss. sheshe2 Feb 2015 #39

Thank you for your sympathies. I did change the wording several days ago to remove said equation. antigone382 Feb 2015 #49

The outrage is interesting. RedCappedBandit Feb 2015 #55

Well, I think there was also a difference in scale in the 1980's and I don't want to minimize that. antigone382 Feb 2015 #57

We can start doing this phil89 Feb 2015 #56

I don't fully understand your meaning. Do you mind elaborating? antigone382 Feb 2015 #61