What have the R̶o̶m̶a̶n̶s̶ Taliban ever done for us?

[JustKeepSwimming]

agree with prescribing methadone etc. and weaning people off.

The problem is you can't 'wean' addicts off if they aren't ready for it. Which is why the methadone programme doesn't have great results.

[vetran]

The problem is you can't 'wean' addicts off if they aren't ready for it. Which is why the methadone programme doesn't have great results.

It does, they aren't committing crime to pay for drugs.

[JustKeepSwimming]

It does, they aren't committing crime to pay for drugs.

Methadone programme is in the majority of cases the result of a court order. ie, do the programme and you will avoid prison.

You absolutely can not force an addict to undergo effective treatment against their will. It doesn't work. But they can absolutely pretend that it works.

It's a healthcare issue. Let doctors work out the best course of action. If giving safe drugs to someone prevents them committing real crimes, then so be it.

Harm reduction is the name of the game.

[vetran]

Methadone programme is in the majority of cases the result of a court order. ie, do the programme and you will avoid prison.

You absolutely can not force an addict to undergo effective treatment against their will. It doesn't work. But they can absolutely pretend that it works.

It's a healthcare issue. Let doctors work out the best course of action. If giving safe drugs to someone prevents them committing real crimes, then so be it.

Harm reduction is the name of the game.

Agree its a medical issue. I would make kicking the habit part of the court order and lock up addicts who repeatedly fail with no access to drugs and slow removal of methadone. They may not be willing to quit but if you get them off drugs and support them they may be ready sooner.

[Chris Bryce]

,,,I much rather spend £50/d on NHS prescribing controlled heroin than have an addict shoplifting/mugging/burglary-ing £500 worth of stuff each day,,,


Soft drugs should be put in the same category as alcohol/tobacco. Ensure quality, discourage underage consumption, tax.

And I suspect the extra revenue from the latter would pay for the former. win-win-win

[JustKeepSwimming]

And I suspect the extra revenue from the latter would pay for the former. win-win-win

More than likely. I think people don't appreciate how widespread recreational drug use it amongst otherwise law abiding nice folks. I have a pharmacist mate, super smart with seriously impressive credentials to his name, would never harm a fly, smokes weed regularly but doesn't touch alcohol.

Legalisation would also cripple organised/gang crime and all the issues that come with that, freeing up police/judicial resources.

Agree its a medical issue. I would make kicking the habit part of the court order and lock up addicts who repeatedly fail with no access to drugs and slow removal of methadone. They may not be willing to quit but if you get them off drugs and support them they may be ready sooner.

You might run into human rights issues. Personally I think exploration of the human conscience is a human right, if that includes certain drugs to induce a state then so be it.

However I wouldn't disagree that if someone is a diagnosed addict and that addiction is causing significant issues for society (anti social behaviour, petty crimes etc), then forced detoxication is arguably justifiable under the same rationale as forced treatment for those who are sectioned. However an order like 'You must not consume drugs' is absurd and punishing an addict for breaching that order is beyond absurd and wholly unjust.

If someone just wants to get high all day every and harms no one else? I think that should be their right.

[vetran]

More than likely. I think people don't appreciate how widespread recreational drug use it amongst otherwise law abiding nice folks. I have a pharmacist mate, super smart with seriously impressive credentials to his name, would never harm a fly, smokes weed regularly but doesn't touch alcohol.

Legalisation would also cripple organised/gang crime and all the issues that come with that, freeing up police/judicial resources.




You might run into human rights issues. Personally I think exploration of the human conscience is a human right, if that includes certain drugs to induce a state then so be it.

However I wouldn't disagree that if someone is a diagnosed addict and that addiction is causing significant issues for society (anti social behaviour, petty crimes etc), then forced detoxication is arguably justifiable under the same rationale as forced treatment for those who are sectioned. However an order like 'You must not consume drugs' is absurd and punishing an addict for breaching that order is beyond absurd and wholly unjust.

If someone just wants to get high all day every and harms no one else? I think that should be their right.

Obtaining & taking the drugs (especially in prison) is an offence so no human rights issue.Not fixing addiction is a civic requirement, they are ill.

If people are smoking legally obtained cannabis in the privacy of their own home and commit no crime based on it why should I care, in fact pot brownies sound lovely!

[SueEllen]

Obtaining & taking the drugs (especially in prison) is an offence so no human rights issue.Not fixing addiction is a civic requirement, they are ill.

Glad you are willing to put money into the criminal justice system including prisons and drug rehabilitation as the government isn't.

Prison officers - who are hard to recruit and retain - rely on the fact that offenders mostly police themselves including by being off their faces.

[vetran]

Glad you are willing to put money into the criminal justice system including prisons and drug rehabilitation as the government isn't.

Prison officers - who are hard to recruit and retain - rely on the fact that offenders mostly police themselves including by being off their faces.

indeed its broke, to fix it cleaning up addicts is the way to go.

[JustKeepSwimming]

Obtaining & taking the drugs (especially in prison) is an offence so no human rights issue.Not fixing addiction is a civic requirement, they are ill.

If people are smoking legally obtained cannabis in the privacy of their own home and commit no crime based on it why should I care, in fact pot brownies sound lovely!

Taking drugs is not an offense in and off itself.

Being gay is illegal in many countries, that doesn't mean it's not a human right.