08-16-2006, 09:45 PM | #1 |
Lord Soth
Join Date: July 25, 2002
Location: Melbourne FL
Age: 59
Posts: 1,971
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Some friends & I were talking about drug use, treatment vs. punishment. One guy said
"In England, I believe a person can be declared a legal drug addict, and purchase medical grade heroin through medical supervision. Each one is registered, known, and can purchase a predictable product that can be delivered in much safer ways. The prices are low enough to really defeat the purpose of street sales, people aren't robbing, burglarizing, and preying on people at cash machines to support their habits. IIRC, almost all of these people produce a reliable, predictable income, and pay taxes." Apparently the theory was drug use causes health problems because of the impurities (talcum powder, ground glass, etc) used to cut the stuff. Medical grade drugs can be taken in smaller, safer doses, leaving a productive citizen with a manageable problem. I've never heard of this. True? Anybody know anything about it? I'm looking for statistics on crime or health care, or documented case studies that would shed light on this. Working/not working? Does the program still exist? Opinions welcome...
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08-16-2006, 10:04 PM | #2 |
Quintesson
Join Date: September 12, 2001
Location: Ewing, NJ
Age: 42
Posts: 1,079
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I don't know about England, but the Swiss tried something like that starting in 1994, and the Dutch did something similar pretty recently.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1727532.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4607233.stm |
08-17-2006, 08:43 AM | #3 |
40th Level Warrior
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The authorities here supply the worst cases of drug addicts with their much needed shot of heroin, or methadon, whichever they need most. Here in Utrecht for instance there's a bus, called the methadon bus, which comes to a certain spot somewhere near central station, where the junkies can collect their dose, get clean injection needles while deposing their old used ones. They're using this system for quite a few years now, and it helps preventing smaller crimes, such as shoplifting and stickups. every little bit helps i suppose. They're going after their supply regardless, at least now they don't have to rob someone to get it.
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08-17-2006, 10:19 AM | #4 |
Dracolich
Join Date: January 24, 2004
Location: UK
Age: 40
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Yes, heroin addicts can get methadone here as part of their treatment, usually along with counselling/support etc.
However, the quoted paragraph makes it sound like Britain is a utopia of modern drug treatment ideas - in truth it's a horrible mismash of inconsistent policies, ineffective implementation and has no discernable impact upon drug use. A quick google turned up this link which may or may not be informative. [ 08-17-2006, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ] |
08-25-2006, 10:27 PM | #5 |
Dracolisk
Join Date: November 1, 2002
Location: Australia ..... G\'day!
Posts: 6,123
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There is a similar thing happening in kings cross Sydney. The junkies shoot up in a building surrounded by "proper Christians" whom are on hand to call for medical backup and who supply clean needles etc but not the drug (sadly). Since the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre opened people can now walk the area without tripping over OD dead bodies and into the piles of HIV infested needles that used to line the street. Also the group that run the building are on hand to gain the trust/ respect of the junkie and be there to offer counseling or treatment should it be called for.
I wish they would do more of this but the right wing oppositon party says it will close the centre if it wins the next election.
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08-25-2006, 11:33 PM | #6 |
40th Level Warrior
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Proper Christians...what the hell does that mean anyway ? Personally i don't think junkies/christians is the right combination, it's bound to end up in all sorts of meaningless conflicts.
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08-26-2006, 10:21 AM | #7 | |
Lord Soth
Join Date: July 25, 2002
Location: Melbourne FL
Age: 59
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Quote:
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08-28-2006, 12:15 AM | #8 |
Dracolisk
Join Date: November 1, 2002
Location: Australia ..... G\'day!
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What I mean (sorry for the ugly terminology) is that it is a church run center, by people who believe in helping struggling people rather than just point fingers and condemn them from the safety of the pews.
I use the term to describe people or organizations like the Salvation Army or the like, Christians who act rather than just pray. Bottom line is that it is a huge success, all the local buisness and residents are happier though they where against it at first.
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08-28-2006, 12:16 AM | #9 |
Dracolisk
Join Date: November 1, 2002
Location: Australia ..... G\'day!
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http://www.sydneymsic.com/
http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/medi...ng_Centre.html There is increasing support amongst the residents and business owners of Kings Cross for the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC), according to a report by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The report was commissioned by the NSW Department of Health. Over two-thirds (68%) of business operators agreed with the establishment of a MSIC in Kings Cross, which is up from 58% before the service opened and 63% in 2002. Eighty percent of residents who have been living in the area for more than five years agreed with the establishment of the Centre, which is up from 78 percent in 2002 and 75 percent in 2000. [ 08-28-2006, 12:20 AM: Message edited by: wellard ]
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08-28-2006, 01:59 PM | #10 |
40th Level Warrior
Join Date: July 11, 2002
Location: Chicago, IL
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Drugs are supposed to be bad for you. They're supposed to kill you. That's why we can argue that members of society shouldn't do them. Taking away the risks removes a great deal of the reason not to do them.
And, a government program means my taxes are paying for their drug use. |
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