What's worse than drug-induced decisions is a system that throws people's lives away merely because they choose to ingest substances frowned on by society, while that same system allows child molestors and other predators who commit violent crimes and other crimes that directly victimize others to walk free in a few years. The priorities of our justice system need to be adjusted . . .
DRUG INDUCED DECISIONS...not such a good thing.......
by Sparkplug 16 Replies latest jw friends
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Sparkplug
OMG it is worse than my brother said. He got 49 yers. My kids and I had a few tears to shed. we all love him so much and it is such a waste.
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Big Dog
I am all for the legalization of drugs, I agree with 144001 in that the justice system spends far too much of its resources trying to stop drug use and punishing those that do use. If drugs were cheap and available I think much of the crime associated with drugs would be eliminated, the huge profits that are reaped now from the sale of drugs lead to an incredible amount of death and mayhem as sellers seek to protect their turf and product. It seems we didn't learn much during the prohibition.
On the other hand, I don't think drug use is all that cool, and the potential for harm to others while under the influence is great.
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Big Dog
How about some of the resident stoners weighing in? Drug induced decisions, good, bad, or moot?
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Cygnus
Hi Billygoat :)
When people really start looking at addictions as diseases instead of a selfishness then perhaps there will be a change in the system. An addiction is an addiction.
I won't argue with that popular idea of labeling addiction as a disease. All I know is, usually when a disease is contracted, a person didn't have much choice. I chose to put the alcohol down my throat and then get behind the wheel. Had I hurt somebody, I couldn't conscientiously say "oh but the disease made me do it."
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144001
I won't argue with that popular idea of labeling addiction as a disease. All I know is, usually when a disease is contracted, a person didn't have much choice. I chose to put the alcohol down my throat and then get behind the wheel. Had I hurt somebody, I couldn't conscientiously say "oh but the disease made me do it."
Cyg,
You're blending two issues here. The first issue is whether alcholism and/or drug addiction is a disease, and, notwithstanding your emphasis on the role of choice in addiction, the overwhelming weight of authority is behind the concept that such addictions are a disease. The second issue is driving while intoxicated, which, although likely a common problem for drunks and drug addicts, is totally separate from the issue of whether alcholism and/or drug addiction is a disease. Addiction results from poor choices, but once it exists, there's not much choice involved for the addict. Unlike addiction, driving while intoxicated is a real choice. There are cabs, public transporation, and other means of avoiding this foolish choice that everyone knows leads to serious consequences. An alcoholic can call a cab and eliminate the problems associated with driving drunk, but a drug addict can't just call a number and make his addiction disappear.
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144001
Big Dog,
Just to clarify, I'm not necessarily in favor of blanket legalization of drugs. Some drugs that are virtually harmless, such as marijuana, ought to be legalized. However, other drugs have more serious effects, such as the current methamphetimine crisis. I don't know that I could support legalization of this drug, but regardless of my position on whether a particular drug ought to be legalized, I do think the current system is messed up. Law enforcement is too focused on the drug war (due in large part to the large windfalls local law enforcement agencies recieve when they share the property that is seized) and not focused enough on crimes that directly impact victims such as rapes, murders, and molestation, as well as the current terrorism threat. At a minimum, minimum sentencing guidelines for drug offenses ought to be repealed or subjected to serious scrutiny, and instead of focusing on punishing drug criminals, we ought to focus on giving them assistance to beat their addictions.