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RedCappedBandit

(5,514 posts)

55. The outrage is interesting.

Mon Feb 9, 2015, 01:57 PM

Feb 2015

It simply illuminates the stigma of addiction, that people are so outraged that a comparison would be drawn between addiction as an epidemic and other diseases.

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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