Comments for Swiss back heroin prescription for addicts »
Posted By STONERS 1 year ago in Health & FitnessSwiss voters on Sunday backed a scheme allowing heroin addicts to obtain the drug under prescription, angering conservatives who believe crime will rise as result.
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STONERS1 year ago
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"Advocates of the program say that allowing addicts to be prescribed heroin makes them less likely to turn to crime to pay for their habit and that the treatment can lower mortality rates."
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"Opponents of the scheme say it has done little to encourage users to give up heroin."-
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Teech1 year ago
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The Swiss have been experimenting with this program for over 4 years. Voters recently chose to make it permanently funded.
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The Swiss are very practical people. If this approach begins to cause unexpected problems, they will make adjustments or eliminate the program.
We definitely don't want to try this in the U.S. What would we do with a 95% drop in burglary, petty theft, and all the other ancillary property crimes that addicts are responsible for as they provide obscene profits to organized crime throughout the world by paying thousands for a chemical that can be provided for pennies.
Tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and the illegal habit forming chemicals are not going to go away. Taking the burden off society to pay for these expensive crimes would be a boon to us all.
Some addicts may even choose to seek treatment, some will die. Life is full of choices.
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lovemorgulComment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned1 Reply
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Tangent0011 year ago
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Actually, it helps to remove the addict from a self-perpetuating culture of crime and dependence, and provides a more supportive environment for real recovery. If an addict does not need to resort to crime to obtain their fix, they do not need to associate with others who foster and encourage continued addiction and escalating criminal behaviour.
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reallypsst1 year ago
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this issue has only one benefit and thats keeping addicts from resorting to crime ok lets look at the other side you get free heroin and its legal so what do you do with a thousand addicts waiting on line for their daily multiple fixes. Some you have to house shelter and feed also give medical attention ,they wont want rehab because its not forced or necessary because heroin is free. And after a year or so there be ten thousand addicts and many more coming from other countries, no law no morality the whole system wont support this short term fix, it doesn't work its been tried in new york !
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Tangent0011 year ago
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Any program has to be comprehensive. Just handing out free drugs is no solution at all. Women's Empowerment Project here in Denver works with 'recovering' prostitutes by offering a safe house, job training, counseling, child care assistance, legal assistance, and treatment for substance abuse.
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Boulder has an organization that distributes needle kits to addicts, but they also offer rehabilitation resources similar to WEP. Both programs have a lasting recovery rate far higher than your standard state-funded programs. Both programs have to fight hard for civic funding because of perceptions like those expressed by reallypsst.
Most state substance abuse recovery programs are locked into an AA/NA-style 12-step paradigm, which is statistically ineffective. Get dinged for a drug violation in Colorado, and NA is the only option for your mandated recovery treatment. REBT programs like LifeRing Secular Recovery, which are both cheaper and more effective, are simply not available.
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BlueAutumn_1989Comment removed: Retracted by user
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david_nwpa1 year ago
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All that said, it keeps the number of non-violent offenders in prison to a minimum, and it cleans up the parks in Switzerland. After all, nothing says "Come to Geneva" like a park bench full of junkies shooting up heroin. The dirty needles and the bad smack are killers of so many kids and young adults. This way, the drugs are in the hands of the government where they can be monitored.
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lvrofwolves1 year ago
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All in all it sounds like a good idea at first, but I wonder...what about the deaths it may cause? if a addict over doses on his own 'dime' that's one thing, on the governments, that's another. Also...what about those who take it and try and resell? or do they make them shot up right there? Really it doesn't sound like an interest in or encouraging rehab.
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What about the rapid detox procedure, where after only a few days the addicts body is completely free of the drugs so there is no physical withdraw, no need for methadone or anything like that. Can't remember where I saw a show about it, and I remember it is expensive, but in the long run, it may be the cheapest route to go.
http://www.opiates.com/rapid-detox/?gclid=CIDe0Jqy...-
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Tangent0011 year ago
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I would guess the recipient would have to shoot up on site, which would help curtail overdoses.
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Rapid detox is an option, but as you said, it is very expensive. Also, it fails to address the possible root causes of the attempt at self-medication in the first place. Many times there is depression, PTSD, and/or a history of abuse. A comprehensive program does not just deal with the addiction itself.-
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lvrofwolves1 year ago
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You're right, but addicts that really have a desire to quit, and I assume many do, but can't because the physical withdraw is just so nasty, if they could get past that, they could have a real chance at total recovery, I imagine after physical detox, there are still many programs they can go to to work on their 'head' and won't have to over come the physical part while they are getting their head on straight.
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Tangent0011 year ago
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This sort of harm reduction program has been tried in the United States on a limited basis. The philosophy addresses social ills by first reducing risk and harm for both the individual and society at large. The programs with which I am familiar show a much greater success rate than 'traditional' abstinence-only approaches.
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Tangent0011 year ago
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Not only unrealistic, but ultimately self-defeating and potentially dangerous. An AA member who 'slips' after a week or so of sobriety is far more likely to view it as a personal failure and go ahead and continue on a binge or extended bender. REBT programs, by contrast, tend to view slips as an expected part of the recovery process. After all, the person is learning new modes of behaviour, so there are bound to be some mis-steps. Participants of REBT programs are less likely to escalate drinking after a slip and are FAR more likely to stick with the program.
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amazed1 year ago
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Unfortunately, there is such a knee-jerk reaction against almost any legalization or even decriminalization of drugs, that any suggestions that might actually HELP the drug/crime problem rather than just exacerbate it is met with stiff opposition.
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In addition, the police and correction workers have an inordinate stake in drugs being kept illegal -- illegal drugs yield a higher crime rate which results in more equipment and manpower to fight this "crime wave".
Legalized drugs, combined with education, would not result in any higher usage than we have. Drugs being illegal keep few, if any people from trying them. Likewise, drugs becoming legal will entice few to try them that wouldn't before. It is the fear of addiction that keeps me from trying cocaine, not the fear of the law. That won't change once it's legal.
Both cigarette and alcohol usage is lower than they have ever been and they are still legal. This is because of attitudes that have been changed by education, not because they were made illegal. -
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rumple4skin1 year ago
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reallypsst - your infantile comment is revolting ... like saying to Black Americans that if you don't like it here go back to Africa. The action by the Swiss government is allowing 'junkies' to participate fully in the society regardless of their admitted addiction. What's the problem with this solution??
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lovemoregut - law enforcement is using valuable time to chase drug users. The U.S. is spending unbelievable money running after users, sellers, growers and ruining lives of people that need medical help. What's your experience with drugs? Do you or have you had a friend spun out on boy or girl?? Are most of your drug friends using legal but nevertheless drug - alcohol?-
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tyagi1 year ago
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There are numerous sign of heroin drug addiction. There are many kinds of drug abuses and they have several sign of heroin addiction. Some of the sign of heroin drug addiction is mentioned which are about cocaine, crack, ecstasy, heroin, marijuana, morphine and oxycontin. If you want more information about this sign of heroin drug addiction you can visit this web site.
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http://www.edrugrehabs.com/SubstanceAbuse/Brown-su...
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reallypsst1 year ago
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Did i touch a nerve sorry its called hard love,all these programs don't work without enforcement and rehabilitation being the soul aim ,you cant fix a problem by implementing a free fix it doesn't work.It only delays the pain.We really don't know how the swedes structured there program,but fueling the fire is not prudent!
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earthlingerer1 year ago
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Controlled distribution, clean substances, separation from the criminal market and the enterprises therin, and controlled non-fatal doses, all done under medical supervision pretty much fix EVERY problem associated with heroin use.
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These people don't just start using for no reason. There is some kind of serious pain that begins this in people, something that requires severe anesthesization, be it heroin, or psychiatric drugs.
Sweden? Do you have any idea how much heroin and high-quality amphetamines go to Sweden from the eastern baltic on ferries?
I'd say that if methadone, which has actually worked, along with safe injection sites, are one answer, then this heroin program is much better. You have an easily made/supplied substance, unlike synthetic and expensive methadone, which is MORE addictive than heroin.
Enforcement? You want to lock junkies up? I guess you're one of the geniuses who hasn't figured out that there is a lucrative and thriving drug trade in that business of greatest growth in the US, which is corrections services.
This program is much cheaper than imprisonment. And people can live normal lives with this kind of help. You have to remember, or at least understand... there was no drug problem until there were drug laws.
Puritans like yourself can't even live up to OUR expectations,let alone your own, considering what nonsense you spout. -
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Tangent0011 year ago
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If your 'hard love' refers to the current policy of incarceration and inadequate rehabilitation, then we will continue to see more of the same in the years to come.
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Um, 'Swedes' are from Sweden. The article has to do with the Swiss, who are from Switzerland.
As to 'fueling the fire', the program doesn't create new addicts, it removes existing addicts from socially and personally harmful behavior, allowing them to pursue recovery options.
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mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned5 Replies
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Tangent0011 year ago
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Prohibition in general is antithetical to human existence and has never worked, be it drugs or alcohol. BlueAutumn and mntnman have provided excellent links and I urge all fence-sitters to take a good long read.
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Bottom line? US policy seems geared to perpetuate and demonize addiction rather than alleviate it.
Some simple facts:
Offenders have to pay their own court costs (minimum $400) and that's if they don't defend themselves. Defense costs at minimum $4000.
Offenders have to pay processing fees (about $350).
Offenders have to pay their own AA 'counseling' fees ($50 PER SESSION).
State sponsored MANDATED AA sessions are held during the working day, effectively disqualifying recovering addicts from the bulk of job opportunities. Child care is unavailable. Once the offender moves through the system, the social support system is so overburdened, there prospects include only recidivism or abject poverty.
The system is set up for offenders to fail.
Lemme repeat that: The system is set up for offenders to fail. -
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mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned
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Paul5510 months, 2 weeks ago
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Caffeine Addiction - Caffeine Effects and Withdrawal part I
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In this article, we are going to discuss the importance of caffeine addiction and the most important facts about it, as caffeine addiction is something we all must prevent in order for us to be healthy and stay that way for years. We are also going to mention some significant facts about caffeine effects and how caffeine effects may affect our body performance considerably.
Caffeine addiction is one of the most famous types of addictions in the world, just like cocaine and marihuana. Caffeine addiction sometimes has been considered a lie, but it is a really, because caffeine is a stimulant that becomes addictive within a certain period of time. Interestingly, caffeine addiction shows up when you are not expecting it, and it does not necessarily show up because we want to
Pure caffeine is, chemically speaking, a plant-based alkaloid that stimulates the central nervous system in any living creature that intakes it. Biologically, caffeine serves as a form of pest control for certain plants like cacao trees, coffee shrubs, yuba mate and tea trees; it causes insects and other pests to fall down from the effects of over-stimulation. So, just like those pests and insects that I mentioned, caffeine also produces stimulation in our central nervous system, which usually makes us feel more energized, invigorating and active.
There is something called caffeine withdrawal, which refers to the sudden denial of us to consume caffeine, and it happens when regular consumers of caffeinated products may experience painful headaches if the body is denied caffeine. These headaches are caused by excess blood gathering in the area around the brain and sinus cavities, so without the stimulation provided by caffeine, the blood vessels shrink, restricting the blood flow. The traditional cure for caffeine withdrawal is to ingest more caffeine, which is not a healthy solution and this is also why many headache medications contain small amounts of caffeine.... to be continued
You can find more info at: http://yourcaffeineaddiction.com/ -
timadaComment removed: Hard Banned
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