Drug Addiction and our trampled rights

by shamus100 78 Replies latest members adult

• 

  BurnTheShips

  There are also some VERY silly shows on now, like A & E's Intervention. I'm not saying that interventions don't work, but to show these idiots on national television is the height of pathetic. Personally, I don't think anyone will disagree with me there.

  I myself really like that show! Those poor people. It is heartbreaking. They are in a prison, and I don't mean the clinic. I do not think the show is silly at all.

  I'm sick and tired of seeing these people running around, ruining society. Some people, not all, have NO VALID REASON why they decided to try these drugs and get addicted to them. They are addicted because they wanted to try something and now they're a bunch of criminal leeches of society. What is the answer for these people?

  If their problem is limited to dependence (and not real crime) they are ruining themselves. Not society. I don't have to hang with them, talk to them, etc. if I choose not to. It's their life. If they start stealing or killing etc, then something drastic must be done to protect the rest of us. Besides, if the drugs were legal, they would be cheaper. It isn't the government's business to regulate these things.

  Don't you personally get sick of seeing these idiots running around? Wouldn't the world be a better place if they were no longer here? Isn't there an island we can ship these morons off to?

  I pity them. They live in a special hell of their own. These addicts are stunted human beings. I hope they find healing. I think in the end, drug/alcohol addiction is a spiritual illness.

  'But this is terrible!' cried Frodo. 'Far worse than the worst that I imagined from your hints and warnings. O Gandalf, best of friends, what am I to do? For now I am really afraid. What am I to do? What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature, when he had a chance!'

  'Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With Pity.'

  I am sorry,' said Frodo. 'But I am frightened; and I do not feel any pity for Gollum.'

  'You have not seen him,' Gandalf broke in.
  'No, and I don't want to,' said Frodo. 'I can't understand you. Do you mean to say that you, and the Elves, have let him live on after all those horrible deeds? Now at any rate he is as bad as an Orc, and just an enemy. He deserves death.'
  'Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many - yours not least. In any case we did not kill him: he is very old and very wretched. The Wood-elves have him in prison, but they treat him with such kindness as they can find in their wise hearts.'

  Burn
• 

  avishai

  Unfortunately, 12 step programs have often become a cult in and of themselves. Now, before you jump on me, I realize they work for some people, and more power too 'em. My problem is that, like some other cults, some 12 step programs offer themselves as "THE ONLY WAY TO GET SOBER!!" and are religiously based. I've heard 12 steppers say "Hey, if there were a pill we could take and stop this, we would!!" But when there IS a pill that comes around the pike (certain anti-depressants for gambling addiction, naltrexone for alcoholism, etc.) it's "oh, those things don't work," Or "you still need us in conjunction with those" or they bash other support groups that are'nt 12 step or deity based.
• 

  jgnat

  I did not infer that your son cannot bring children into this world and live a normal life.

  But you decried your sister for doing so, and have thought that due to the imposition they put on society, if their addiction is not "valid", we kill them. That does interfere with their basic rights, does it not?
• 

  RAYZORBLADE

  I'd say the largest impact of drug addictions: impact on others.

  Of course it impacts the addicted individual, but man oh man ... just watching the effects someones addiction has on others, it's almost like there's an exponent beside the addicted persons name. Family, friends, co-workers, lovers, spouses, neighbours and fellow citizens.

  Living and working in Canada's largest metropolitan area, I've seen the rapid change in our inner core.

  I must admit, I did NOT like getting jumped by 3 crackheads back in July 2007 . I've been approached by drug addicts in groups, demanding money so many times I cannot count. I did not like getting my personal belongings stolen, even if they were locked up securely (not secure enough). Hate having my mode of transportation (bicycle) vandalized and burned. Hated having these addicts entering my place of work and wreaking havoc on my patrons. It wears you down, very fast. Any compassion you had or wished to hang on to, runs out of your feet, real fast.

  Compassion fatigue? Perhaps.

  You get this happening to you enough times; stopping to ponder for those few seconds before the attack on that persons addiction, is difficult. I've tried, but you go into protectionary mode and self-defense.

  For a long while I was very supportive of interventions/harm-reduction. I still am. But when things in your neighbourhood deteriorate at such a staggering rate, you have to wonder: who rules this neighbourhood? Which tail is wagging what animal or being?

  By the way, the crackheads found out that I can and WILL fight back, and man oh man did I ever. I turned into a mini-twister, yelling and throwing punches and kicks in a fury. Those 'poor' addicted folks, ran in every direction. I had my and dialed 911 immediately. Ironically enough, when the police came, the attackers were still present; the police could do little: I was not injured. Basically they took a report and told me to be 'careful'.

  I can understand some of Shamus' frustrations. Him having had to watch a sibling deteriorate, while the children watched and endured.

  I have relatives in my family that have serious addiction problems.

  They are now, beyond arms length. You get sick of the lies, the stories, the broken promises and endless rain of tears.

  YET, you're are told to be forgiving and compassionate. We all should be, but I'll tell you ... it gets bloody difficult.

  The impacts are all too real and long lasting.

  Trust is hard to regain; non-addicted persons become suspicious of peoples' motives. We don't stop on the street anymore to see if anyone needs help; you don't stop when says for the 10th time in one block, "excuse me...", because we know what it is all about. The legitimate request, sad to say, is unknown.

  I remember when you could walk around this city, for the most part, and if someone said, "excuse me", it was probably a legitimate request for directions, the time, or to simply say, "have a nice day".

  Toronto is getting harder and harder. Not that people aren't friendly, they've just been exhausted of any compassion or general concern when addicts have monopolized street level common courtesy as a means to achieve their goal.

  Nice to hear and read of success stories. But man oh man are they few and far between.

  Congratulations to anyone who has beat an addiction and/or a family members has received some sort of rehabilitation.
• 

  zenpunk

  I am a recovering addict with 90 days clean tomorrow...I became an addict because of my father's molestation and the WT Bullsh$t. I had so much pain I didn't know how to cope with life. And, after leaving the organization, I didn't know how to live in the "world". My life has been a blessing in recovery. And I hate that I will bear the label "junkie" for life in the eyes of people who could not possibly understand my journey....
• 

  shamus100

  Jgnat,

  I've already apologized to you. That's all that I can do.

  I draw no relation to my irresponsible statement and the unfortunate problems that plague your life. Again, I am sorry. I wish nothing but the best for you and your son.

  I am not speaking anymore of my nieces and nephews, particularly the one that was sexually molested because of her drug behavior and her drug friends. The only reason why this was mentioned was so that people knew where I was coming from. If that's not good enough, then I can't do or say anything more.

  Ray,

  Any person tries to break into my house, or tries to beat me up would be very sorry indeed. I have an axe under my bed, and would wecome anyone busting my door down.
• 

  IP_SEC

  If drugs werent contraband they would/could be dirt cheap. No one would be breaking into your house to steal so they could get money to buy drugs.

  The war on drugs creates criminals out of non-criminals.

  The war on drugs is your problem.
• 

  jgnat

  I mention my family because I want public policy statements to have a human face. Not because I am looking for sympathy or am personally offended. There are no cheap, simple solutions. People like my son must be considered when people discuss sweeping reforms.
• 

  shamus100

  I agree with you 100% there, Jgnat.
• 

  avishai

  Personal responsibility needs to be addressed too, though. Seriously. If you have an addiction, get help. If it's a disease, fine, but if it's "making" you break the law, or abuse someone, get help. It's not OK to just sit around and say "I'm an addict, I'm sick, I can't help it." Bullshit. Get help, it's available in many facets. It's like someone who is mentally ill, does stuff that's messed up when they don't take their meds. "Oh, I feel fine now." Nope, take your meds. You have to take care of yourself, take your therapy, meds, etc. if your sick. It's like JW's who won't take medical treatment. If they don't, and bad stuff happens, what do you expect?