Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Slinger
Continuing with the "Just say No!" and "druggies are criminals" mentality have been negative factors in the current opioid epidemic in Canada and the US.
The status quo is not working and we should be looking at other solutions.
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Nice straw man. Can we dispense with the false dichotomies?
Most of the people who get hooked on opioids start with drugs prescribed by doctors. I'm not clear on how making those drugs even more readily available will reduce addiction.
I'll ask you the same question: Do you think regulating and restricting the availability of drugs serves any purpose? Do you think codeine, percocet, and Tylenol 4s should be available at convenience stores?
I'm not even saying we shouldn't decriminalize drugs. I'm just saying we'd better go in with open eyes, and recognize that it's going to make it easier for people to kill themselves - either the fast way and the slow way - and we still live in a society that tries to deter suicide.
And just because the status quo has bad outcomes doesn't mean an alternative approach will have improved outcomes.