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Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Nice straw man. Can we dispense with the false dichotomies?
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That wasn't my intention but I see your point. What I was trying to convey is that under the current laws and norms the issues with drugs are getting worse. I don't know if decriminalization, legalization or something else is the answer, but it's pretty clear that we can do better.
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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.
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That's true regarding prescription issues and hopefully, over time, the legalization of cannabis and the evaporating social stigma around it will help reduce that issue along with better education and perhaps more oversight into pharmaceutical lobbying.
Regarding your second point, the reason I brought up the Portugal example is because of the data. It's not a thought experiment but rather evidence to the contrary of what you're suggesting.
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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?
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Yes, I think regulation serves an important purpose. But regulation and criminalization aren't the same thing.
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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.
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Again, that's why I brought up Portugal: to look at this with open eyes rather than discuss this only in theory.
I think the conversation regarding suicide is adjacent to this but not necessarily addressing the main point.
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And just because the status quo has bad outcomes doesn't mean an alternative approach will have improved outcomes.
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Agreed. That's why I brought up an alternative that has demonstrated improved, albeit imperfect, outcomes.