Quote:
Originally Posted by Vulcan
I agree with everything you say until the last paragraph. Take a walk down E. Hastings or by the Cecil. To me a lot these people would be better off in jail. They're not going to go to a treatment centre themselves and having them do some time would be good way for them to clean up, have a look at themselves and have another kick at the cat. It won't work for everyone but I think you'd be doing a lot of these people a favor.
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At the risk of derailment...
First, I don't think anyone is better off in jail. No one is better off when they are held against their will and their rights removed.
The way i look at it is like this: Locking up a Junkie is like suspending a kid who can't sit still. Sure, the perception for the classroom (society) is that the problem has been (temporarily) eliminated, but it's not doing anything to actually remedy the problem. Criminalizing drug users for being addicted drug users is a circular solution. Treat why they are drug users, or simply decriminalize their behaviour and have them try and be productive members of society.
Every addict is different, but the main issue is a lack of access to affordable, reliable supply. If heroin was as easily available as coffee, was as affordable and the supply as reliable, you'd see far more heroin addicts in business suits walking over to the VSE to speculate on currency than lying in the streets sick, pennyless and without hope.
If imagination and freedom were cherished in the education system/society, these kids would cease to be problems. This has far more reaching effect than people are willing to admit.
Think of how quickly you learned not to colour outside the lines as soon as your motorskills would allow it, or how quickly you learned not to speak out of turn, because you saw what happened to billy (he got sent to the office!). Hell, it's amazing how many times through my university career I had two answers for arts exams, the answer to get me the good grade, and the answer I felt was correct. The adaptive process to continually belong is amazing.
Talk about teaching kids to think inside the box. Slip up and it's going on your permanent record! That's like gestapo tactics of social control.