America's new heroin addicts

[MrMarkyMark]

I feel that first part may be slightly rose-tinted. The harm of these things is not only from the secondary effects of having to find the money to pay for them. Loads and loads of people can get addicted to alcohol affordably, rich people (bankers and such) can afford coke or meth or heroin and that tends not to end well - and THEY can afford detox clinics and special care.

Plenty of evidence to support the exact opposite.
I agree about the money part, what you have to appreciate is when they were all available in the chemists it was at known, pure, often low doses.
It has to be remembered we had no drugs war, or illegal market before they made the substances illegal.
Its actually impure street drugs of unknown dosages that cause the major problems, in fact proven that is why many overdose.
Switzerland is a good example of a country where addicts are back working and playing a useful role in society, due to having access to legal heroin, crime has dropped very significantly too.


If you are interested here's one of the best, of the many books, I have read on the subject.

Chasing the Scream | The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs

[NotAllThere]

Since heroin use was decriminalised in Switzerland, and the government hands over heroin to addicts, the levels of drug related crime plummeted and addicts started living longer. Old addicts don't look cool, so another result has been that fewer younger people are getting hooked in the first place. Also, when addicts are registered, they can easily go on government rehab programs.

The overall cost of all this is far less than the cost of drug related crime.

[Mordac]

Since heroin use was decriminalised in Switzerland, and the government hands over heroin to addicts, the levels of drug related crime plummeted and addicts started living longer. Old addicts don't look cool, so another result has been that fewer younger people are getting hooked in the first place. Also, when addicts are registered, they can easily go on government rehab programs.

The overall cost of all this is far less than the cost of drug related crime.

All the UK ever managed was showing pictures of Keith Richards. Oh, and that cringeworthy Grange Hill single.

[LondonManc]

All the UK ever managed was showing pictures of Keith Richards. Oh, and that cringeworthy Grange Hill single.

The whole Zammo storyline was fantastic.

[MrMarkyMark]

All the UK ever managed was showing pictures of Keith Richards. Oh, and that cringeworthy Grange Hill single.

The most hilarious part was that they were singing that on TV, then most of them were going out and raving their little hearts out on all sorts of narcotics at the weekend, allegedly

[MrMarkyMark]

Since heroin use was decriminalised in Switzerland, and the government hands over heroin to addicts, the levels of drug related crime plummeted and addicts started living longer. Old addicts don't look cool, so another result has been that fewer younger people are getting hooked in the first place. Also, when addicts are registered, they can easily go on government rehab programs.

The overall cost of all this is far less than the cost of drug related crime.

Covered very well in the book I recommended NAT.
Seems to have all worked out very well.

[VectraMan]

At least many US states have seen sense on Cannabis. The UK policy (as with most UK policies) seems to be based on hysteria in The Daily Mail.

[SueEllen]

At least many US states have seen sense on Cannabis. The UK policy (as with most UK policies) seems to be based on hysteria in The Daily Mail.

The English policy is you are found with a small amount for personal use and are an adult you are warned. If you are found with more you are arrested as a dealer. The DM doesn't like the former as according to them Cannabis makes all teenagers and those in their early 20s who use it have mental health problems.

[MrMarkyMark]

At least many US states have seen sense on Cannabis. The UK policy (as with most UK policies) seems to be based on hysteria in The Daily Mail.

It was enough to get Gordon Brown to make mushrooms illegal and to reclassify cannabis to state it is more harmful.
Dacre simply said he would not support Labour in an upcoming election unless Gordon Brown did this.
This was in a number of personal mails to GB.

[Mordac]

The most hilarious part was that they were singing that on TV, then most of them were going out and raving their little hearts out on all sorts of narcotics at the weekend, allegedly

Sounds like the good old days at Middx & Herts* in the late 80's. I have a few tales to tell, but in deference to CUK's lawyers, I won't.

*nightclub in Harrow Weald / Stanmore area, lots of Eastenders & Grange Hill actors went there.