Geez Louise. This bugs me more than I can say. In the US we've had many prominent young famous folk who've had "accidental" overdoses on prescription drug medications. What frustrates me is, we treat those on prescription drugs as different from those on street drugs. They do the same things with the same results! Why is it so much more tragic or special or innocent if someone is addicted to prescription drugs and OD's versus someone who is addicted to crack cocaine and OD's? Shouldn't we treat them equally? IMO, we should either start vilifying the prescription drug OD'er or we should be sainting the OD'er in the street. They both had problems and they both OD'd. They both have issues, and one isn't any worse (or better) than the other.
I agree with that with regard to the individual user and their issues, but I suppose there is a difference (at least to my limited understanding) in where the money goes. Prescription drugs are a capitalist venture that presumably make pharmaceutical companies and the government that taxes them richer. Street drugs enrich criminals and also fund other illegal acitivites such as human trafficking, prostitution, child pornography, gun running, gangland warfare and even international terrorism to a degree.
I fully agree. Drugs as drugs and should be treated equally, regardless if they are prescribed or not! Although I believe the ethics behind it is that there is more safety to prescribed medication as one knows the dose, potency and such which minimalizes the chance of OD. Whereas on the street, they may contain all kinds of crazy things as well as a lack knowledge about what one is taking. Thus, why alot of OD's are accidental.
Intrinsicly, street drugs are more dangerous. However, prescription drugs have the potential to become more dangerous then street drugs. This is because many people don't realise the potential these compounds have and disregard any warning that could come with it, because it was given to them by a professional.
Drug abuse is drug abuse no matter what way you cut it. Rx drugs are often times sold on the street as well.
Yup the only exception I can think of is someone who is addicted to pain medication because they are in chronic pain. They still need help and all but to me it's a different animal.
Street drugs enrich criminals because it's illegal to sell street drugs therefore those who sell drugs on the street are criminal. [*]Street drugs fund Human Trafficking, in the same way that the sale of Plain Flour aids the sale of Watermelons. They're both sold by the same major organisations and bear nothing else in common with each other. [*]Street drugs fund prostitution in the same way that, people who criminalise prostitution make it harder for these girls to be non-criminals. [*]Street drugs fund child pornography in the same way that, blah blah blah it doesn't. Have you links to prove anything other than a mere circumstantial connection? [*]Street drugs fund gun running, in the same way that the sale of Plain Flour aids the sale of Watermelons. They're both sold by the same major organisations and bear nothing else in common with each other. [*]Street drugs fund gangland warfare in the same way that eggs are laid by chickens. Gang Warfare happens as a result of turf wars, dominions of gangs to sell drugs in their areas. You got the cause and effect fucked up there. [*]Street drugs fund international terrorism in the same way that the US is the largest international terrorist by it's own definition of terrorism.
I did mention my limited understanding, but these things do happen a lot in novels, so I figured at least some of it was true. Mmm watermelon.
There were cases back in the 70s and 60s where people were given diet pills by their doctors that turned out to be highly addictive speed, and there have also been drugs prescribed by doctors to "cure" alcoholism that were not only addictive but made people psychotic. I agree with the spirit and general gist of your original post. But there can sometimes be a big difference regarding the innocence of the user, with the prescription addict having no idea (s)he is doing something addictive. If someone buys and takes an addictive substance that (s)he knows perfectly well to be illegal and addictive, that person is, IMO, somewhat less deserving of being cut any slack than the person who was misled into addiction by their doctors, or sometimes by other marketers or addictive substances. No matter what their substance of choice. Don't know how often that actually happens, though.
I would say it's probably the same. I think there are cases when street addicts don't know about the drug they're taking and there are prescription addicts who don't know what they're taking. Should they be treated any differently? No, I don't. Because both are doing the same thing. It's just that one side gives them "permission" to be an addict and the other side reveals their addictions to the world. It's the same problem. To say that one is better than another is foolish. You have doctors in offices saying here, take this it'll make you feel better. You don't have to be in pain; it'll help you. And you can turn that around and have a pusher saying the same thing. Everyone should be informed. They should know what they're consuming and they should know the risks - whether the drug's found on the street or in doctor's offices. Just because you can get it in a pharmacy does not mean it's safe. But personally, I think I trust my health food store professionals more than I do my doctors. But that's because I read up on the drug before taking it.
If you follow Rx instructions there is a slim chance of becoming addicted. Most people with Rx addictions knowingly abuse it, doctor shop, and lie about not being addicted. An addict is an addict regardless of substance and all addicts who desire help deserve it, regardless if it's heroin or a drug given to them by a doctor.
Because the gov doesnt get any tax money from illegal drugs which makes them inherently worse. As well we have a prision pop. to maintain otherwise we lose valuable and productive prison guard jobs.
