I know and have known too many drug addicts. I volunteered at the VA hospital when I was in college and worked with several amphetamine users and a few heroin addicts; all but one had served in Vietnam. The amphetamine users, to a man, claimed they were first given speed by the military, one of the heroin addicts took classes part-time at the school I attended. Their private hell didn’t come to me, I had to go looking for it to find it. Their foolish abuse of drugs made no impact on me until I decided to get involved.
I know you feel that 19th century China is a near perfect analogue for 21st century America but what do you make of this from Forbes Magazine?
Yeah, that "Soldier's disease" thing is just utterly far-fetched, isn't it?
I know you feel that 19th century China is a near perfect analogue for 21st century America ...
Stop misstating what I said. I said Human Chinese are exactly like Human Americans. I utterly reject the dodge that culture plays a role in addiction. (Que that idiot to trot out his stupid quote on this point.)
Biochemistry is what causes addiction. If the chemicals don't bond with human receptors, no addiction to them occurs. Human Americans are the same humans as human Chinese. Stop trying to argue i'm saying something different.
...but what do you make of this from Forbes Magazine?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/07/05/ten-years-after-decriminalization-drug-abuse-down-by-half-in-portugal/
Forbes is a Libertarian, not Conservative entity. So is Cato, and so is "Reason", and so are a lot of other groups. They report things that support their Libertarian claims, and ignore things which do not.
It's funny that they think the statements made by the Socialist government of Portugal are worthy of notice when they concern drugs, but on economic policy? Not so much.
Yes, another Socialist government reporting that their new policies are working splendidly. Pardon me if I don't put much credibility into the things they say.
That report has been debunked by doctors in Portugal who treat drug addiction victims. I used to have a link to it. Let me see if I can find it.
I think this is it, but they won't let you read the article for free anymore. Here's a different article on the topic. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2815084/Portugal-decriminalised-drugs-Results-Use-teens-doubled-decade-nearly-fifth-15-16-year-olds-using-drugs.html
Liberal Democrats held up Portugal as shining example on 'drugs war'
But since legalisation the number of children users has more than doubled
In 1995 8% of teenagers had tried drugs but after new law it rose to 19%
More children under 13 have also tried cannabis since laws were relaxed
Wow. Imagine that. You legalize something, and usage increases. Who would have guessed that making something easier to get would result in more usage?
This is real rocket science here.