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The war on drugs kills...
http://hepatitiscresearchandnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-war-on-drugs-kills-support-don.html
"The price of this war however is not simply the cost of enforcement and incarceration."
"Globally, the HIV and hepatitis C epidemics are fuelled by the criminalization of people who use drugs. Of the 16 million people who inject drugs worldwide, around three million are living with HIV and two thirds are living with hepatitis C. Even though one third of all HIV infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa are among people who inject drugs and even though the evidence of this is quite clear, the necessary funding for specialist prevention services has not followed."
"Rather than demonizing people who use drugs, we should humanize them. Rather than jailing them, we should get them the treatment they need. Rather than punishing them, we must support them. We need to end the war on drugs and make our priority the wellbeing of people who use drugs, their families and communities."
"The price of this war however is not simply the cost of enforcement and incarceration."
"Globally, the HIV and hepatitis C epidemics are fuelled by the criminalization of people who use drugs. Of the 16 million people who inject drugs worldwide, around three million are living with HIV and two thirds are living with hepatitis C. Even though one third of all HIV infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa are among people who inject drugs and even though the evidence of this is quite clear, the necessary funding for specialist prevention services has not followed."
"Rather than demonizing people who use drugs, we should humanize them. Rather than jailing them, we should get them the treatment they need. Rather than punishing them, we must support them. We need to end the war on drugs and make our priority the wellbeing of people who use drugs, their families and communities."
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Point being this has been a learned behavior that reaches far back into history. In my mind the need to help far out ways turning otherwise healthy normal people into quilt ridden folks with nowhere to turn, need to more than educate about the pitfalls of this behavior but be willing to have a system to bring them out of the pits of hell, that have been in many ways dug by the people in power. People we have voted for over and over. Who through their greedy agendas have lined their pockets with the misery of others. And used their influence to continue and maintain the problem from the top.
I agree with you about liver education.
Three of my kids were spending a lot of time socializing in bars despite my warnings about liver damage. But in the past 3 months they have tapered off, going to movies and games instead. My daughter had a class where they spent the entire time talking about cirrhosis and she remembered me as I was just this side of decomping and who was barely functional.The class has a lot more meaning than it might have.
Three of my kids were spending a lot of time socializing in bars despite my warnings about liver damage. But in the past 3 months they have tapered off, going to movies and games instead. My daughter had a class where they spent the entire time talking about cirrhosis and she remembered me as I was just this side of decomping and who was barely functional.The class has a lot more meaning than it might have.
I agree with Rival that I don't think that pot leads to hard drugs. Smoked pot from 28-50 and never did hard drugs except drink alcohol.
Tim you are so right about the pre-sales of drugs in products prior to the FDA.
Did you know that in states that allow medical marijuana or have legalize it employers still have the right to have drug tests and the right not to employee that person....legal pot or not. Just because the state legalizes it doesn't mean the have to condone it.
It takes education. I said to the transplant nurse the other day that they should stop teaching sex ed and teach liver ed. If a person knew what could happen to them it might help or not...know it didn't do a darn thing for sex.
It takes behavioral treatment which really means a person needs to commit to finding out the reason they are doing the drugs...i.e., psych help.
When I lived in India for 2 years the mamason would fix this wonderful smoothie every night and everyone slept like babies. When I was getting ready to come back to the states I said I needed to go to the store and get one of those large canisters of powder that she added to the smoothie...they all laughed. It was Opium. So I guess unintentionally and unknown to me I did do a hard drug but not to IV it ....they use it for all sorts of things over there from rubbing on baby's teething gums to food and teas.
The laws need to be changed and/or at least uniform from state to state...programs need to be set up to help those who can not help themselves. For me...it just took being told about my HCV and my liver to help me stop smoking cold turkey. And a few more years to stop "social" drinking.
Marijuana is a touchy subject on here because some believe in it some don't. I miss it because I am a hyper person and it mellowed me out. Others need it to alleviate pain,
But I really enjoyed your articles. Thank you both.
Good article Tim.
Tim you are so right about the pre-sales of drugs in products prior to the FDA.
Did you know that in states that allow medical marijuana or have legalize it employers still have the right to have drug tests and the right not to employee that person....legal pot or not. Just because the state legalizes it doesn't mean the have to condone it.
It takes education. I said to the transplant nurse the other day that they should stop teaching sex ed and teach liver ed. If a person knew what could happen to them it might help or not...know it didn't do a darn thing for sex.
It takes behavioral treatment which really means a person needs to commit to finding out the reason they are doing the drugs...i.e., psych help.
When I lived in India for 2 years the mamason would fix this wonderful smoothie every night and everyone slept like babies. When I was getting ready to come back to the states I said I needed to go to the store and get one of those large canisters of powder that she added to the smoothie...they all laughed. It was Opium. So I guess unintentionally and unknown to me I did do a hard drug but not to IV it ....they use it for all sorts of things over there from rubbing on baby's teething gums to food and teas.
The laws need to be changed and/or at least uniform from state to state...programs need to be set up to help those who can not help themselves. For me...it just took being told about my HCV and my liver to help me stop smoking cold turkey. And a few more years to stop "social" drinking.
Marijuana is a touchy subject on here because some believe in it some don't. I miss it because I am a hyper person and it mellowed me out. Others need it to alleviate pain,
But I really enjoyed your articles. Thank you both.
Good article Tim.
Last Updated: 01/17/13 03:28:30 PM
Medical Marijuana
The Nevada Medical Marijuana Program is a state registry program within the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Nevada State Health Division. Our role is to administer the provisions of the Medical Use of Marijuana law as approved by the Nevada Legislature and adopted on 2001.
If you are interested in obtaining an application for the Medical Marijuana Program, please send a written request, along with a check or money order in the amount of $50 made payable to the Nevada State Health Division. Mail your request to:
Nevada State Health Division
ATTN: Medical Marijuana Division
4150 Technology Way, Suite 104
Carson City, Nevada 89706
All application requests and changes to existing patient/caregiver records must be submitted in writing through the US Postal Service, UPS or FedEx only. Walk in service is not available.
Your written request should include:
The address where we can mail the application
If you have a caregiver, include a request for a caregiver packet
If you are requesting an application for someone other than yourself, include that persons name and address
If you are requesting an application for a minor, include a request for a minor release
You will not be able to obtain a Medical Marijuana Card if you hold a Commercial Drivers License.
Contact Information
Nevadans diagnosed with a chronic or debilitating medical condition as defined in NRS 453A.050 and seeking a registry identification card for the medical use of marijuana, please contact the State of Nevada:
Nevada State Health Division
ATTN: Medical Marijuana Program
Address: 4150 Technology Way, Suite 104
Carson City, Nevada
Contact Phone No.: 775-687-7594
Fax No.: 775-684-4156
Please refer to the links on the left upper corner of this page for legal information, FAQs and basic facts.
I don't think legalizing MJ would in anyway lead to legitimizing other hardcore drugs but I understand the concern.
I personally hate that alcohol is readily available and would have been a prohibitionist back in the day.
It is not that I think recreational drug use of any kind is a good thing but I really want to see decriminalization.
Regarding your second post, I entirely agree.
I like programs like Delancy Street and Walden house as an alternative to prison.
I personally hate that alcohol is readily available and would have been a prohibitionist back in the day.
It is not that I think recreational drug use of any kind is a good thing but I really want to see decriminalization.
Regarding your second post, I entirely agree.
I like programs like Delancy Street and Walden house as an alternative to prison.
Sears & Roebuck Once Sold Opium, Heroin, and Cocaine
Hard to believe, but in the early 1900s, Sears & Roebuck (along with a number of other stores) sold products made with opium, heroin, and cocaine.
Until the FDA was established to regulate food and drug safety in 1930, the purchase of dangerous, narcotic medicines was not regulated and nearly as normal and commonplace as buying Aspirin or Tylenol is today. These substances were bought and sold on the open market by people who were unaware of their harmful (sometimes fatal) side effects.
Imagine waking up at night to give little Billy (a teething baby) a nice spoon full of opium or a new "safer" heroin injection to ease the pain. If you felt a little groggy, you could get a jolt to start the day from a glass of Coca Wine (a liquid cocaine beverage). When trying to loose some weight, you could purchase Dr. Rose's Obesity Powder - a fast, "safe," cocaine formula that quickly burned those unwanted pounds, nose tissue, and brain cells. Try to imagine what must have happened to many of the children and adults that used these.
Even pope Leo the 13th apparently endorsed narcotics at this dark moment in pharmaceutical history: Mariani "Wine" (yet another cocaine beverage) was said to give you immediate health, strength, energy, and vitality (as well as providing a "cure" for the influenza virus).
A heroin kit was available for around $1.50 and came with a syringe, two needles and a carrying case. Children were given Cocaine Toothache Drops that sold for 15 cents a pack. Asthma was thought to be cured by inhaling the smoke or vapor of opium.
Which brings us to the current push by marijuana users to legalize the substance around the United States. If we condone this drug, couldn't we eventually see people fighting for rights to legally use much more harmful drugs like cocaine or even heroin? By opening these doors it seems like we'd be taking a huge step back from what we've already learned was a really bad idea.
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