A Simple Truth About Drugs That Punctures Decades of Drug War Lies

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/drugs-addiction-0

What is the most dangerous activity you can engage in? If you guessed doing illegal drugs, you would be wrong. Extreme sports like big wave surfing, heli-skiing, cave diving, white-water rafting and mountain climbing all have a higher rate of risk to life and limb. Yet the question of a ban on these behaviors beloved by "adrenaline addicts" is viewed as ludicrous, even when the risk of death, say, in climbing Mount Everest once (until recently, about 1 in 3) is greater than the annual risk of dying from heroin addiction (around 1% to 4%).

Or consider mundane activities like driving: Car accidents are responsible for 1% of annual deaths nationwide. Cigarettes and alcohol do at least as much, if not more, harm to each user than heroin or cocaine. Alcohol, cocaine and heroin have a 3% to 15% rate of addiction, depending on how it is measured—and tobacco's rate is higher. Yet the risks don't align well with their legal and social status, especially when you consider that marijuana is safer than any of the legal drugs.

The reasons for this inconsistency around risk are complicated. Driving has huge personal and economic benefits. Risky sports are seen as noble challenges that foster the human will toward exploration, adventure and growth. When it comes to nonmedical drug use, however, discussion of benefits tends to be either dismissed as delusional or stifled in favor of “risk” talk.

I mention these facts not to promote drug use. That I feel compelled to immediately include such a disclaimer underlines my point: Our values shape our perception of risk and the way we make drug policy. If we recognize only the risks and ignore the benefits, we fail to understand that the real problems are addiction and harm—not the substances themselves and the people who use them.

[HiPointDem]

1. drug policy isn't about addiction, health, or harm.

[1-Old-Man]

2. I read all four paragraphs and nowhere could I fund the "simple truth" you alluded to

I understand your points, and they would sure make great backup for a simple truth, but nowhere could I find the simple truth you mentioned. What is it?

[bemildred]

3. The simple truth is that they are not all that dangerous, as dangerous things we like to do go.

And also the simple truth that they do not, in fact, necessarily ruin your life. I mean, they might, but a lot of people they do not, and for some people they are medicine, they make their lives better. And the simple truth that the drug war, like everything else in America, is about money, and it's always been about money.

[xchrom]

4. your wisdom is showing. nt

[bemildred]

6. Thank you, that is experience..

I've been friends/acquaintances with all sorts of drug users and other "outsiders", and I've always had an adventurous streak. Being crazy myself, craziness does not intimidate me, as long as it's functional crazy. I prefer to live with other people with "issues", they understand.

And back when I was young there was plenty of adventure to be had, and there are always plenty of crazy people to be acquainted with.

[xchrom]

7. here's to the subversives, the non-conformists among us.

[marmar]

5. k/r