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This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1436377
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1436377
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We have treated the “drug problem” the writer no way for years. Any attempts at sensible solutions are dismissed. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies have pushed Oxycodone and other substances as “miracle cures.” Let’s grow up, and start talking decriminalization, counseling, and medical care.
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I could be mistaken, but I think the overdose crisis would come to an end if people merely quit abusing drugs. Read a book, take a walk, develop a hobby. Volunteer for an animal shelter. What are there, maybe a million activities a person can engage in that do not involve doing drugs? A great many of them free of charge, not requiring transportation, you can do them right there in the confines of your residence, even if you’re home bound.
People that overdose are akin to the court defendant asking for leniency because they’re an orphan. Leaving aside they’re being tried for killing their parents.
YOU are overdosing because YOU abused drugs. But it’s society that has a problem? Drugs aren’t the problem, you are.
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When the “drug problem” was confined to ghettos and barrios there was barely a peep about it.
But now that it has spread to white communities the alarms are ringing.
It hurt when I went back home to Ambridge PA for the last time and saw the wreckage that the collapse of the steel industry left. The whole area outside of Pittsburgh is economically dead. The town once was bustling with Sears, Penneys and plenty of stores. Now they are gone and the buildings are in disrepair.
And what has stepped in to provide relief? Crack and Opioids.
What is being done to combat that? Not much.
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Hillbilly Fallacy…
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“I could be mistaken”
Don’t feel bad. So was Nancy Reagan. “Just say no” is a stupid remark.
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A drunk is handed the keys to a car.
A married woman is propositioned by her boss at a Christmas party.
A buddy asks you to help rob a bank.
“Just say no” is stupid advice to all these?
Since when the hell is saying no to making a dumb personal decision a stupid remark?
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The only time Republican politicians ever get excited is when they’re talking about fucking tax cuts for the oligarchs who own them.
George Carlin nailed it when he said: “Politicians are put their to give you the idea that you have a choice. You don’t. You have owners. And these rich fucks don’t care about you at all, at all, at all.”
When we all finally get this through our stupid heads, all of us, then things can change. Until then, we will wallow in this cesspool of financial misery fighting with one another over stupid shit while the 1% laugh their asses off.
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You really don’t get drug addiction. But go ahead and do your Church Lady “Superiority Dance”.
Too bad we can’t all be perfect.
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You wake up one morning and decide you’ve had enough, and then you just quit. It can be done. I’ve done it. For cigarettes. For alcohol. For recreational drugs. For hard drugs, back in the 70s. One day I did them, the next day I didn’t. Cold turkey for every one of them. You make the decision, then you stick to it. You just do it.
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As @geographyjones said above -
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Since you’re so good at quitting stuff, let’s see if you can quit pretension.
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We used to say, “Just say NOW!”
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I watched this in the wee hours this morning, the potential for psychedelics in treating drug and alcohol abuse is astounding.
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It was “Just say NO2” for us hepcats.
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You have a point, although it’s more complicated than just say no, I do feel that we will continue to have the problem until we understand what makes a junky a junky. It’s not of lack of education, you have to be living in a cave all your life not to know what opioids and opiates do to a person, and still people start using them well aware of the risks. And not only wild kids on YOLO mode, but grown ass adults as well.Until we figure that out and a way of treating it, or better yet prevent it the drug problem will be with us.
And no, it’s not a problem of law enforcement, as long as there is demand drugs will be in the market, and you cannot close the border, in the last few years over 500 Border Patrol agents have been arrested for collaborating with the traffickers, how many more are there? What about corrupt cops in other agencies? We can’t possibly pay cops enough that they would not be tempted by drug money.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/12/us/politics/border-agency-employees-arrested.html
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Sorry man, this is an incredibly naive take. Do you think people want to be addicts? I venture a guess that most don’t. If it were this easy, there wouldn’t be addicts.
Really. Ignorant, misinformed, lazy, and borderline insulting - and I’m not an addict.
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I understand addiction, I smoked for many years and it was amonumental effor to quit. What I don’t understand, I don’t think anybody does, or at least nobody has explained to me in layman terms, is why so many people are so willing to get started with such dangerous substances. And no, it wasn’t because they were prescribed painkillers.
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That is a good question, probably the answer is no, but then again why do they start using substances that they well know are highly addictive and extremely dangerous.
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