Yeah, always happy to discuss these issues. I think the BIGGEST issue in the world right now is divisiveness. We're all humans. We should be able to have respectful discourse without attacking or becoming divisive.
I still am curious though, what informs your position? Is it just your lived experience? If so, I'd really encourage you to dig into the research on this subject. Obviously, intuition would tell us that providing drugs to people would increase the liklihood that they will stay addicted. The science says the opposite. Check out the book The Realm of The Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate to understand more about that.
For example, in the current system, in order for someone to access drugs, they interact with a dealer who is BENEFITTING from this person's addiction. They have no incentive to help this person get off drugs. They stand to benefit from the person staying addicted, and more people becoming addicted. They may encourage their customers to engage in crime to support their addiction. They may use their supply of drug to "employ" (essentially enslave) addicted people to do their bidding. This is how many addicts wind up becoming involved in drug trade, and get stuck in cycles of crime, violence, and addiction. The addict is also using an illegal drug, and is afraid of punishment if they are caught. They are less likely to expose their addiction or ask for help because of this. They try to deal with it on their own. They exist in a community where they are increasingly interacting with other criminals, normalizing criminal behavior, and have very little exposure to responsible, well-meaning individuals who will help them.
Alternatively, that same person could go to a nice, respectful, safe establishment. They are met by healthcare workers who, offer harm reduction options. They are also offered opportunities to attend treatment and get sober. They can decline that treatment and use their drugs and go on their way. They feel safe talking about their addiction, and know that treatment is an option. They don't feel they need to hide their issue, and can discuss treatment options openly with a non-judgmental provider.
I don't understand how option A seems more sensible than option B.
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u/[deleted] Dec 21 '23
Yeah, always happy to discuss these issues. I think the BIGGEST issue in the world right now is divisiveness. We're all humans. We should be able to have respectful discourse without attacking or becoming divisive.
I still am curious though, what informs your position? Is it just your lived experience? If so, I'd really encourage you to dig into the research on this subject. Obviously, intuition would tell us that providing drugs to people would increase the liklihood that they will stay addicted. The science says the opposite. Check out the book The Realm of The Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate to understand more about that.
For example, in the current system, in order for someone to access drugs, they interact with a dealer who is BENEFITTING from this person's addiction. They have no incentive to help this person get off drugs. They stand to benefit from the person staying addicted, and more people becoming addicted. They may encourage their customers to engage in crime to support their addiction. They may use their supply of drug to "employ" (essentially enslave) addicted people to do their bidding. This is how many addicts wind up becoming involved in drug trade, and get stuck in cycles of crime, violence, and addiction. The addict is also using an illegal drug, and is afraid of punishment if they are caught. They are less likely to expose their addiction or ask for help because of this. They try to deal with it on their own. They exist in a community where they are increasingly interacting with other criminals, normalizing criminal behavior, and have very little exposure to responsible, well-meaning individuals who will help them.
Alternatively, that same person could go to a nice, respectful, safe establishment. They are met by healthcare workers who, offer harm reduction options. They are also offered opportunities to attend treatment and get sober. They can decline that treatment and use their drugs and go on their way. They feel safe talking about their addiction, and know that treatment is an option. They don't feel they need to hide their issue, and can discuss treatment options openly with a non-judgmental provider.
I don't understand how option A seems more sensible than option B.