tweakabelle -> RE: Global leaders call for a major shift to decriminalize drugs (6/2/2011 8:08:34 AM)
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ORIGINAL: WantsOfTheFlesh quote:
ORIGINAL: tweakabelle quote:
WOTF Hard liquor is one thing, yeah its highly damaging. Yet many hard drugs are more addictive and just as or almost as damaging. In Australia in 2003: c15,500 tobacco deaths attributed to tobacco c1,100 deaths attributed to alcohol c280 deaths attributed to heroin/polydrug use.* AFAIK these figures are pretty typical of Western countries. If we can agree that nothing is more damaging to health than death, then your claim that "many hard drugs are more addictive and just as or almost as damaging [as alcohol]" is wildly inaccurate. Tobacco is by far the most damaging drug going. Alcohol consumption causes almost 4 times as many deaths as heroin/polydrug use. Many times more people are addicted to alcohol than any illicit drug. By way of contrast 0 deaths were caused by cannabis use. I find it's a good idea to acquaint myself with the relevant facts before making grandiose claims WOTF. May I recommend the same course of action to you? Tweak I reckon your figures are correct as its similar elsewhere. [;)] Where I disagree is with da impact of decriminalising hard drugs. Reckon it would be reasonable to assume substances that are even more addictive will have huge social and health implications. With addiction (where there is not mortality) there is still damage to quality of life and health. There is no need to assume anything at all. Assuming things is guaranteed route to error. This area has been researched to the nth degree. Virtually all the studies point in the same direction. What you do need to do is, after thoroughly researching the issue, is to define your goals. The area can be seen as a health issue, a legal issue, a moral issue ...... Each view will generate a different goal. For me it's primarily a health issue and the goal of public policy should be about maximising public health and minimising deaths. If you agree with this perspective, it makes no sense whatsoever to maintain totally discredited policies such as prohibition. The only question is: what form should decriminalisation take?
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