I was having a discussion earlier with a family friend in regards to the challenges of substance abuse. I was mentioning I have a hard time conceptualizing why people choose to use uncontrolled substances when those who are required to take controlled substances regret having to take them.
When you see people at two different ends of the spectrum it makes you wonder why? Then I also wonder why this country has spent so much money fighting a cause which is only getting worse?
It makes me further wonder why all the money spent towards drug enforcement, drug addictions, drug rehabilitation centers, cost of jails to house people for drug related offenders, drug users, drug everything are not spent towards providing cures for those people wanting to be cured. Why can't the money be spent on people who are looking to be cured so they can do something more functional with their life? People who are suffering with a sickness, disability, disease or condition for which there is no cure and who desire and often pray for the strength to just be better medically.
Divert drug industry dollars towards medicines, medical research, and cures for those individuals who have a disease for which they want to be cured. Spend money providing wheel chairs, medical devices, and medical beds, and medical support to those who need rehabilitation not because they are engaging in practices they chose to engage in but to those who are victims of medical circumstance.
Yes I'm sure a lot of people may disagree with me but I don't think locking addicts up is the key to resolving anything. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the more money which has been spent on drug enforcement the worst the problem has gotten. All it requires is a few dollars worth of gas to ride around and see the side affects on the community as a whole the impact the use of uncontrolled substances have made. The towering jail facility, how many people are housed there for drug related offenses? The outreach centers, the clinics, the homeless shelters, the rehabilitation centers, the community service boards, the parole offices, the sheriffs serving arrest warrants, the addicts asking for change all over, the smoke houses, the gathering holes, people sitting on the street curb handcuffed, business establishments where you see the employees outside getting high on their break. The drug problems in today's society have escalated out of control.
The most disheartening thing of all is when the drug users and drug pushers are incarcerated together it is just providing a networking opportunity for them to meet and greet more contacts. How is this helping? Case scenario someone goes to jail over a minor drug offense. They don't even have to luck up to meet more people who do more of the same they were incarcerated for. Is it any wonder why the problem has gotten worse instead of better. Am I missing something? Can my ignorance be cured?
I'm taking baby steps to learn more about substance abuse. Years ago I lost a close friend to substance abuse. Not that the person literally died but to me it seemed like their soul died. I just said point blank until you become saved and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and I see the change in you step on. Nowadays it seems the number of friends a person has with that archaic style mentality is slim to none.
It took me years to realize I didn't get invites to parties because there are a lot of professional people who have addictions too. They are not going to invite you to a party where everyone is using if you don't use. Thankfully by the grace of God I don't care. I would rather not get in where I fit in among a crowd of sorts. My friend base is very limited. It is not because I don't like people. Most often it is because don't like the fact I am not a user. I've seen some good people die way too young with massive heart attacks because they were heavy drug users. Drugs don't discriminate. They show no respect of person.
I say scrap all the drug enforcement initiatives as they exist today and make a difference. Spend the money towards things which will lead to growth, job opportunities, technological advancements, academic achievements, and medical advancements. Why throw good money out to bad? Drug addiction is not something you can throw money at and think it is going to go away. Locking folks up with addictions is not going to bring about a cure for them or society. It contributes greatly to the ills of society.
Most often it is not even going to cause the person to lose their taste for whatever substance they have acquired a taste for. It seems to be similar to a smoking addiction. No matter how high the cost of cigarettes they find a way to buy them and continue to use them.
Tell a smoking addict to stop smoking because their second hand smoke is harming others more than it is harming them. After mentioning it, to me it would make better sense to incarcerate someone who smokes cigarettes damaging other peoples lungs moreover than incarcerating a drug addict who is just destroying themselves.
How can you deal with a person's addiction by locking them up in a cage? What does that solve or resolve?
The money would be better spent on sending them a check to live life. Often times you can't meet a person more sociable and friendly than a person who has a substance abuse issue. I remember growing up as a child when I grew a great disdain for the smell of alcohol. I couldn't stand it when an alcoholic would get in my face with a drunkard smell all over them. I especially detested the ones who got so drunk they spit as they talk. On the flip side I would rather see more of those types of people than the escalating number of people addicted to uncontrolled substances today.
The bottom line is an addict is not going to be cured until they decide within themselves they want to be cured. Just like the old saying goes "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink". You can do things to entice them to do different until you are blue in the face. Until they are ready to make that change it is just not going to happen. Point blank and simple.
Why not help those who are looking for change. Why not help those who are suffering a lot of pain and cannot afford the controlled substances they need to take. Why not help those who helped build this country and make it what it is, namely our elderly citizens, who don't have adequate health insurance, food, or resources to live a decent and respectable life they worked hard for all their lives for.
I just don't see continually throwing good money out to bad. Drugs have become and industry and an enterprise and most importantly it has become a travesty which has escalated out of control which will be written as part of future historical accounts.
I felt like venting today because when issues hit close to home they hit close to the heart.
When you see people at two different ends of the spectrum it makes you wonder why? Then I also wonder why this country has spent so much money fighting a cause which is only getting worse?
It makes me further wonder why all the money spent towards drug enforcement, drug addictions, drug rehabilitation centers, cost of jails to house people for drug related offenders, drug users, drug everything are not spent towards providing cures for those people wanting to be cured. Why can't the money be spent on people who are looking to be cured so they can do something more functional with their life? People who are suffering with a sickness, disability, disease or condition for which there is no cure and who desire and often pray for the strength to just be better medically.
Divert drug industry dollars towards medicines, medical research, and cures for those individuals who have a disease for which they want to be cured. Spend money providing wheel chairs, medical devices, and medical beds, and medical support to those who need rehabilitation not because they are engaging in practices they chose to engage in but to those who are victims of medical circumstance.
Yes I'm sure a lot of people may disagree with me but I don't think locking addicts up is the key to resolving anything. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the more money which has been spent on drug enforcement the worst the problem has gotten. All it requires is a few dollars worth of gas to ride around and see the side affects on the community as a whole the impact the use of uncontrolled substances have made. The towering jail facility, how many people are housed there for drug related offenses? The outreach centers, the clinics, the homeless shelters, the rehabilitation centers, the community service boards, the parole offices, the sheriffs serving arrest warrants, the addicts asking for change all over, the smoke houses, the gathering holes, people sitting on the street curb handcuffed, business establishments where you see the employees outside getting high on their break. The drug problems in today's society have escalated out of control.
The most disheartening thing of all is when the drug users and drug pushers are incarcerated together it is just providing a networking opportunity for them to meet and greet more contacts. How is this helping? Case scenario someone goes to jail over a minor drug offense. They don't even have to luck up to meet more people who do more of the same they were incarcerated for. Is it any wonder why the problem has gotten worse instead of better. Am I missing something? Can my ignorance be cured?
I'm taking baby steps to learn more about substance abuse. Years ago I lost a close friend to substance abuse. Not that the person literally died but to me it seemed like their soul died. I just said point blank until you become saved and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and I see the change in you step on. Nowadays it seems the number of friends a person has with that archaic style mentality is slim to none.
It took me years to realize I didn't get invites to parties because there are a lot of professional people who have addictions too. They are not going to invite you to a party where everyone is using if you don't use. Thankfully by the grace of God I don't care. I would rather not get in where I fit in among a crowd of sorts. My friend base is very limited. It is not because I don't like people. Most often it is because don't like the fact I am not a user. I've seen some good people die way too young with massive heart attacks because they were heavy drug users. Drugs don't discriminate. They show no respect of person.
I say scrap all the drug enforcement initiatives as they exist today and make a difference. Spend the money towards things which will lead to growth, job opportunities, technological advancements, academic achievements, and medical advancements. Why throw good money out to bad? Drug addiction is not something you can throw money at and think it is going to go away. Locking folks up with addictions is not going to bring about a cure for them or society. It contributes greatly to the ills of society.
Most often it is not even going to cause the person to lose their taste for whatever substance they have acquired a taste for. It seems to be similar to a smoking addiction. No matter how high the cost of cigarettes they find a way to buy them and continue to use them.
Tell a smoking addict to stop smoking because their second hand smoke is harming others more than it is harming them. After mentioning it, to me it would make better sense to incarcerate someone who smokes cigarettes damaging other peoples lungs moreover than incarcerating a drug addict who is just destroying themselves.
How can you deal with a person's addiction by locking them up in a cage? What does that solve or resolve?
The money would be better spent on sending them a check to live life. Often times you can't meet a person more sociable and friendly than a person who has a substance abuse issue. I remember growing up as a child when I grew a great disdain for the smell of alcohol. I couldn't stand it when an alcoholic would get in my face with a drunkard smell all over them. I especially detested the ones who got so drunk they spit as they talk. On the flip side I would rather see more of those types of people than the escalating number of people addicted to uncontrolled substances today.
The bottom line is an addict is not going to be cured until they decide within themselves they want to be cured. Just like the old saying goes "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink". You can do things to entice them to do different until you are blue in the face. Until they are ready to make that change it is just not going to happen. Point blank and simple.
Why not help those who are looking for change. Why not help those who are suffering a lot of pain and cannot afford the controlled substances they need to take. Why not help those who helped build this country and make it what it is, namely our elderly citizens, who don't have adequate health insurance, food, or resources to live a decent and respectable life they worked hard for all their lives for.
I just don't see continually throwing good money out to bad. Drugs have become and industry and an enterprise and most importantly it has become a travesty which has escalated out of control which will be written as part of future historical accounts.
I felt like venting today because when issues hit close to home they hit close to the heart.
