Prescription painkillers also carry the risk of addiction, of course, but overdoses are much less common, since the user knows exactly what they're working with.
As is often the case, when shortcuts are taken, the problem only becomes worse.
Nobody belongs in prison for possessing or using the wrong plant, liquid spirits, or medicine.
Anyone who will tolerate contraband law can't complain when other bullies impose their arbitrary laws regarding their pet nanny-state causes.
Education, not legislation, is the best way to address such issues.
If someone decides to pursue happiness by drinking, smoking tobacco or weed, or medicating themselves, that's their Right.
And if they commit actual crimes in order to facilitate their bad habit, I say "nail them to the wall".
Contraband law is Tyrannical and the ridiculous, un-American justifications for its imposition are what leads to disregard for the 4th Amendment, no-knock warrants, asset forfeiture, and every other Tyrannical adjunct that we see in the modern day.
Education, not legislation.
The Prohibitionist mind doesn't care about Liberty. In its nanny-state hysteria, Freedom is undermined for everyone.
True Freedom carries many challenges with it, and I, for one, will never embrace Tyrannical shortcuts, no matter how much emotional manipulation is employed.
End rant. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.
Vote Trump!
I take it the problem is they get hooked on opioid/benzos and get their supply cut off or it becomes too expensive. Like you said the pills are supposedly cheaper than heroin because you know what you are getting with pills. So they turn to heroin, which has flooded the market from Mexico due to the demand.
Freegards
Through the people I know, I have only heard of one heroin overdose death (and it was a mix with another drug). I have heard of multiple OD’s from pills, including one fresh from his first prescription from the hospital (technically, it was the liquid version prescribed, not the pill, but in this case, it was legal, accidental, and more likely more pain killer than he needed for his condition).
I agree with your statements. Government can only make this train wreck worse.
My son has struggled for years with Heroin addiction and finally lucked upon a doctor who tested him for low pituitary function.
several years ago my son suffered severe brain trauma from a car accident and was in a coma for weeks.
While we were joyous at his recovery what followed has been an education
his self medicating has now been replaced with the treatment from as you would say...education. .., provided by an excellent endocrinologist. My son is now thriving and free from his own methods of dealing with his addiction
Contraband law is Tyrannical and the ridiculous, un-American justifications for its imposition are what leads to disregard for the 4th Amendment, no-knock warrants, asset forfeiture, and every other Tyrannical adjunct that we see in the modern day.
It is very difficult for folks who are proven innocent to ever get their forfeited assets returned.
Word around here is that dealers are randomly giving fatal doses, so the rest of their clientele think they must be selling the really good stuff.
Good post.