This is the very dear subject to many people including myself even though I don't have any children. To reduce the access and therefore harm of drug use early on in development is important. Even though some may call me pro-drug, I am simply pro-right to choose however, children haven't developed proper ability to make informed decisions yet along with the brain is still doing lots of work to get ready for adulthood ahead and if drug use can be prevented before the age of around 18-20 depending on the drug and even older for some other one like heroin, cocaine, alcohol and amphetamines.
Hallucinogens could likely be take safely by individuals around even 16 under the right circumstances and for personal growth rather then just getting "fucked up". Cannabis certainly could be used at the age of 16 for beneficial reasons instead of leading teenagers to drink which is even worse for the brain development. We know of serious implications of development being impeded by alcohol in the womb, why would it be any different while the youth is developing? Some children are drinking as young as 6-8 years old, imagine the harm to the brain.
It seems it is impossible for us to manage to stop youth from using drugs which includes alcohol, caffeine, sugar and even video games. We however, need to find ways to reduce the harm and help them use them in a moderate fashion rather then just going overboard on them as at that age, they haven't learned impulse control yet like an adult. It isn't the same for a adult to smoke meth or a youth as the youth doesn't have the experience of life yet and can't determine appropriate responses to something so powerful.
Remember when you were young, 17 years old and you got dumped for the first time. It was intense. It was horrible, unlivable and yet you did. You got through it and survived and even though the next dumping wasn't nice, it certainly wasn't as powerful as the first. Think of having a drug while 17 for the first time, it is going to hit you like a ton of bricks and due to biology and lack of experience to understand this effect, you will think you want more and more as drugs do trigger our pleasure-reward system as does sex, food, and exercise.
A recent brain scan showed a person on heroin and another on sex and both were identical. It isn't the drug we get high on or the activity, it is our brain. This for a young person who hasn't gotten much life experience yet takes this event of drug the drug for the first time to be much more powerful then if they were to use it while an adult over the age of 25 years old when the brain is completed its entire development and impulse control is at full throttle. The brain will realize the drug use isn't all it is cracked up to be and much prefer to be enjoying the activities it already enjoys like life.
However, if this 25 year old doesn't like life and is depressed, unhappy with work and not really in love, the drugs have a different effect too. It is more like as a child and the 25 year old will want to use again and again just like the youth. Luckily, they are easier to intervene with and hopefully manage to get through the blip in the road. For a youth, the blip in the road is more like a giant wall as they haven't learned to climb over it yet.
Harm to children is real and sadly they are using drugs despite programs like DARE that only like to the children. Yes, DARE tells us marijuana is harmful and in the same breath talk about injecting heroin which really is not comparable in any way. We need to teach them self control, self love and goal setting. But do we?
Reduce drug addiction in the future we need to think of the children now. DARE doesn't work. We are not reducing addiction but only seeing it going up especally for video games. This isn't something that they are just going to grow out of as they won't know what to grow into. They will lack direction, interests and social skills. We need to love and find compassion to love who aren't coping well in our society and this really is to be expected as we see childhood trauma rising not decreasing and this is the route of all addiction.
If we end childhood trauma, we can reduce and even end addiction. Bold statement but true!!
December 8, 2009
November 25, 2009
Reducing harm of lost work on the brain
Don Drummond, chief economist for TD Financial Group, will discuss productivity and the GDP at a Toronto Board of Trade breakfast Wednesday morning, but not in the way you would expect. His audience will be the Psychology Foundation of Canada and he will be talking about the toll that unemployment and mental illness take on the Canadian economy.
Mental illness costs the Canadian economy about $33 billion each year – about 2.1 per cent of GDP – in absenteeism and lost productivity. Disability from mental illness amounts to 4 to 12 per cent of all payroll costs, and mental health claims are the fastest growing category of disability costs for employers and insurance companies. And yet the connection between the economy and mental health is often called into question.
What I question about this quote is namely the total amount they list as the issue?
$33 billion only includes missed work and reduced ability to work yet it doesn't include those who have lost their jobs and are now beginning to get mentally ill due to lost homes, lost nutrition, increases health problems and lost love which are all vital to our well-being and recovery from the problems of economic demise that some people in this country are seeing.
We need to focus on helping these individuals with not only economic support but also support relating to their general well-being such as happiness. These could be supports that provide recreational sports for the family to attend in community settings at reduced prices to help keep our communities active and socializing through this economic downturn. It is more important then we know.
We should also be funding work projects for all not just construction projects as this only gets back to work a small part of an entire country. It is more then just construction workers that have lost their jobs.
What is the cost to the country of the lost homes, lives to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses that result from lost identity as was mentioned in the article? This can take over the brain and change it at a biological level making it very difficult to bounce back without the support, love and compassion of those around them. We all need to help take care of each through this tough time and sadly, it doesn't seem to be happening with our government and their delay in deciding what to do about EI. What is there to decide?
What other help has been provided to those whom have lost their jobs in this economic recession? What about those who can't feed their family? There has been marked increase in food bank visits this year while they are more strapped then ever? Is this the face of a caring and loving government who is listening to its citizens? You decide!
Mental illness costs the Canadian economy about $33 billion each year – about 2.1 per cent of GDP – in absenteeism and lost productivity. Disability from mental illness amounts to 4 to 12 per cent of all payroll costs, and mental health claims are the fastest growing category of disability costs for employers and insurance companies. And yet the connection between the economy and mental health is often called into question.
What I question about this quote is namely the total amount they list as the issue?
$33 billion only includes missed work and reduced ability to work yet it doesn't include those who have lost their jobs and are now beginning to get mentally ill due to lost homes, lost nutrition, increases health problems and lost love which are all vital to our well-being and recovery from the problems of economic demise that some people in this country are seeing.
We need to focus on helping these individuals with not only economic support but also support relating to their general well-being such as happiness. These could be supports that provide recreational sports for the family to attend in community settings at reduced prices to help keep our communities active and socializing through this economic downturn. It is more important then we know.
We should also be funding work projects for all not just construction projects as this only gets back to work a small part of an entire country. It is more then just construction workers that have lost their jobs.
What is the cost to the country of the lost homes, lives to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses that result from lost identity as was mentioned in the article? This can take over the brain and change it at a biological level making it very difficult to bounce back without the support, love and compassion of those around them. We all need to help take care of each through this tough time and sadly, it doesn't seem to be happening with our government and their delay in deciding what to do about EI. What is there to decide?
What other help has been provided to those whom have lost their jobs in this economic recession? What about those who can't feed their family? There has been marked increase in food bank visits this year while they are more strapped then ever? Is this the face of a caring and loving government who is listening to its citizens? You decide!
November 5, 2009
reducing harm of alcohol
In the recent past there has been much up-rise after the dismissal of David Nutt: Drug Adviser for the UK for indicating that alcohol is more harmful then cannabis, LSD and MDMA. All he is doing is practicing harm reduction by both telling the facts about the drugs and not going on myths. Nutt was going in the right direction but due to undue influence his presence is not welcome as he will end the drug war and thus for whatever reason the UK are becoming increasingly paranoid about drugs and their uses there although they have horrible problems with alcohol including violence.
This brings us to the harms of alcohol. I am not going to say we should prohibit it due to how bad it is but rather that we should put more controls on it while lessening those on the other less harmful drugs so that when people turn to using, they turn to something that won't hurt them as much.
We have to admit that drug use is part of being human and there isn't anything wrong with that. We have to begin to be truthful like Nutt was for speaking his mind about alcohol and that yes, it too is a drug and it is harmful. Most of our problems in society surrounding drugs is alcohol and tobacco.
While tobacco has received increased controls such as not being able to be visible to children, the next step is to be removed from having actors smoking all the time and having other tobacco products available without having the added chemicals. Tobacco is a natural plant like cannabis, opium and coca and has purpose however, the way our use has become has lead to it becoming very toxic and more addictive then simply just nicotine on it's own.
To begin reducing the harm done from alcohol, we have to stop promoting it. We shouldn’t do this for any drug, it should not be portrayed on TV as having great powers to turn you into a fashion model and a plastic surgeon as Captain Morgan claims “he” can do for you. We need to begin admitting that alcohol is a drug just like the illegal ones and therefore, we need to come to rational and pragmatic ways of dealing with drug use, abuse and addiction in society.
This brings us to the harms of alcohol. I am not going to say we should prohibit it due to how bad it is but rather that we should put more controls on it while lessening those on the other less harmful drugs so that when people turn to using, they turn to something that won't hurt them as much.
We have to admit that drug use is part of being human and there isn't anything wrong with that. We have to begin to be truthful like Nutt was for speaking his mind about alcohol and that yes, it too is a drug and it is harmful. Most of our problems in society surrounding drugs is alcohol and tobacco.
While tobacco has received increased controls such as not being able to be visible to children, the next step is to be removed from having actors smoking all the time and having other tobacco products available without having the added chemicals. Tobacco is a natural plant like cannabis, opium and coca and has purpose however, the way our use has become has lead to it becoming very toxic and more addictive then simply just nicotine on it's own.
To begin reducing the harm done from alcohol, we have to stop promoting it. We shouldn’t do this for any drug, it should not be portrayed on TV as having great powers to turn you into a fashion model and a plastic surgeon as Captain Morgan claims “he” can do for you. We need to begin admitting that alcohol is a drug just like the illegal ones and therefore, we need to come to rational and pragmatic ways of dealing with drug use, abuse and addiction in society.
October 25, 2009
thoughts on CSSDP Confernce
The weekend sure had it ups and downs for me but overall it was fantastic. I finally was among like minded people and wasn’t feeling like I needed to lie about anything like I normally do. I certainly felt much more able to “come out of the closet” not just as a person who uses drugs but also a person with a serious and persistent mental health problem.
Yesterday was one of the hardest days I have had with my anxiety in a long time. I was able to go to a conference on Concurrent Disorders in May that was three days with little problem but this conference shock me. The I feel was due to the negative past run in with a member of the CSSDP that was there along with having speakers that I really wanted to impress. I don’t really care about the opinions of the people at the conferences for mental health and addiction but this conference, these people have been my idols for years and I really wanted to impress them.
What Rick Doblin said in his talk spoke to me and he actually mentioned brain scans and having scans of people who use drugs with holes in their brain. Well, I of course did not and I knew he would be intrigued by this.
Dr. Gabor Mate spoke of addiction and its causes which are two things and it isn’t the drug ever otherwise everyone who used it would become addicted and this doesn’t happen. Finally, someone is speaking my language although people would likely assume I am speaking his but I knew this watching friends use while others abused and my friends tended to be from all over the place rather then just one group. I even once met a intern doctor at St. Paul's coming down from mushrooms on the yaletown walk while I was smoking a joint. She worked the next day. We are all drugs users and that was repeated over and over at the conference. Drug use is not addiction.
The conflict that I had with the member in the group specifically said that I couldn't say that as firstly his friends who smoke pot wouldn't think of themselves as drug users. Well, they are...
Addicts have lost two things: belonging and connection. Belonging is having a purposeful and healthy life that contribute to society, family and self. The other is spirituality in the sense that we are all connected and therefore, not every truly alone yet for addicts, they are alone and the pain is unimaginable and that is what drugs or activities provide is a “chemical” feeling of belonging or connection rather then one that is creating by being a healthy environment.
The morning talk of Drugs & Healing that included the panelists, Rick Doblin, Dr. Gabor Mate, Phillipe Lucas, & Kenneth Tupper. They spoke of Ayauasca being a medicine that helps people face the demons in their past to allow them to move beyond being frozen in time due to the trauma. There will be research using this medicine to help aboriginal women on the DTES recover from the excessive trauma they have experienced.
It was so refreshing that I am not the only one who is realizing these facts about addiction and neuroscience.
Rick Doblin invited me to write about my MDMA experiences when using it for my treatment of PTSD and how it saved my life. I am trying to arrange to be in his study here in Vancouver for using MDMA for PTSD along with a friend of mine. You know who you are, I won't say any names. I was serious, girl when I said I would get you in! Plus, I want to do it to and I could only do this with you. We also need to find two men that we trust to do it with us.
I did talk to Rick but not Dr. Gabor Mate about my brain scans. The scans he mentioned were Dr. Amen’s and he said Dr. Amen wasn’t scientific as it was purely for business. I couldn’t argue with that however, on the same note, you can’t blow it off entirely as just being about profit. Dr. Amen puts the context of your scans into your life with a three hour history that goes through it all. I also did indicate that I saw Dr. Amen and that even he admitted that he couldn’t prove that the scans weren’t like that before the drugs and the drugs were an attempt to try to fill in those holes. I think Dr. Amen was doing it more for political reasons rather then due to believing it as they never pressured me to stop the drugs.
In fact, they understood why I continue to use them even after being put on all the supplements. Yes, I still use drugs. OMG and no I am not an addict and never have been aside from tobacco for 20 years which I quit almost 3 years ago now. He did say he was happy to hear they had helped me. It was really interesting to hear this point of view as I tend to be so scientific. I knew it was profit for the AMEN clinics but some people really are in it to help others while being placed into a capitalistic world. We need money to survive and he is still subject to the pressures of the profit medical model in the USA. I still think regardless of the profit factor of Dr. Amen and his drug scans, he has generally helped people.
The second awesome thing was talking to Dr. Gabor Mate. I did ask him about potentially providing support with my self help guide that I wrote and sent to Vancouver Coastal Health both for helping clients and maybe even educating the staff. He said not right now but send me an email in April after he writes his book and he can potentially be interested. This is something.
In the afternoon, it was just Dr. Mate with only about 15 other people, it was really an honor. He got to the heart of everything so naturally without even having to “think” about it and it was like being in the presence of “god”. I even thought during his presentation “Buddha is in front of me.” It was incredible. He even quoted from Understanding the Mind which is written by Thich Nhat Hanh. He also wrote the book I read time to time when I need gentle reminders of how to just be - Buddha Mind, Buddha Body.
I know some friends on facebook still believe that drugs cause addiction, please understand it isn’t true. Stress damages the brain causing it to seek tools to help itself albeit sometimes misguided. We are just animals and they too use drugs and abuse them and even become addicted but this is only under stress. Prohibition increases this stress!!
Cocaine isn’t addictive, heroin isn’t either but the person who uses them might have a vulnerability to having a particular type of reaction to the use of usually certain types of drugs (some prefer stimulants, others depressants) or activity (gambling, sex, internet, TV) due to past experiences (childhood) resulting in developmental damage (structural, chemical and more changes to the brain) resulting in the reaction of feeling love and belonging that had been missing in their lives up until that moment.
Please believe me, it isn’t ever the drug. Happy people who use heroin and cocaine will not become addicted.
Others I talked to Dana Larsen whom I overheard talking about coca leaves and how nutritious they were (that was such a satisfaction as I wish I could grow them as I need both stimulation and better nutrition - medicinal coca - how is that so different then medicinal marijuana). I talked to Tara Lyons, Gillian Maxwell, Warren Michelow, Phillipe Lucas, Caleb Chepesiuk, Ann Livingstone, Marliss Taylor, Nathan Seckinger and the former Drug Policy Coordinator in Vancouver, Donald MacPherson and Deb Harper.
I missed Kirk Tousaw, Mark Haden, Libby Davies, Rielle Capler, Evan Wood, Judith Grant, and I think that is it. I said Hi to David Malmo-Levine but by that time I was unable to talk which was really disappointing as we both have a very big interest in the decriminalization of drug use in Portugal, how it has been implemented and the effects it might have on drug users who don't abuse or have any potential of developing addiction due to not having any vulnerability.
This was much longer then intended but I type so fast and think faster so...it usually is inevitable. If I try to edit, it just gets longer. I have way to many words floating around in my head all the time. You can by the way become addicted to meditation as the drug or activity doesn't matter, it is the person. This is what Dr. Gabor Mate as everyone kept asking about the stereotypical things like withdrawal. He as I always have said you can't equate physical dependence to addiction as they aren't the same things. Physical withdrawal is not what makes people keep using drugs, it is just a fact of pharmacology and how drugs react to our chemical bodies. We adapt to its presence and this isn't indicative of an addiction problem.
We do not need decriminalization of marijuana we need legalized, regulated and controlled distribution, production of all psychoactive drugs and support for those who use psychoactive drugs, abuse them and are addicted to them.
We need to end Prohibition as forcing people to not do something doesn’t work.
Yesterday was one of the hardest days I have had with my anxiety in a long time. I was able to go to a conference on Concurrent Disorders in May that was three days with little problem but this conference shock me. The I feel was due to the negative past run in with a member of the CSSDP that was there along with having speakers that I really wanted to impress. I don’t really care about the opinions of the people at the conferences for mental health and addiction but this conference, these people have been my idols for years and I really wanted to impress them.
What Rick Doblin said in his talk spoke to me and he actually mentioned brain scans and having scans of people who use drugs with holes in their brain. Well, I of course did not and I knew he would be intrigued by this.
Dr. Gabor Mate spoke of addiction and its causes which are two things and it isn’t the drug ever otherwise everyone who used it would become addicted and this doesn’t happen. Finally, someone is speaking my language although people would likely assume I am speaking his but I knew this watching friends use while others abused and my friends tended to be from all over the place rather then just one group. I even once met a intern doctor at St. Paul's coming down from mushrooms on the yaletown walk while I was smoking a joint. She worked the next day. We are all drugs users and that was repeated over and over at the conference. Drug use is not addiction.
The conflict that I had with the member in the group specifically said that I couldn't say that as firstly his friends who smoke pot wouldn't think of themselves as drug users. Well, they are...
Addicts have lost two things: belonging and connection. Belonging is having a purposeful and healthy life that contribute to society, family and self. The other is spirituality in the sense that we are all connected and therefore, not every truly alone yet for addicts, they are alone and the pain is unimaginable and that is what drugs or activities provide is a “chemical” feeling of belonging or connection rather then one that is creating by being a healthy environment.
The morning talk of Drugs & Healing that included the panelists, Rick Doblin, Dr. Gabor Mate, Phillipe Lucas, & Kenneth Tupper. They spoke of Ayauasca being a medicine that helps people face the demons in their past to allow them to move beyond being frozen in time due to the trauma. There will be research using this medicine to help aboriginal women on the DTES recover from the excessive trauma they have experienced.
It was so refreshing that I am not the only one who is realizing these facts about addiction and neuroscience.
Rick Doblin invited me to write about my MDMA experiences when using it for my treatment of PTSD and how it saved my life. I am trying to arrange to be in his study here in Vancouver for using MDMA for PTSD along with a friend of mine. You know who you are, I won't say any names. I was serious, girl when I said I would get you in! Plus, I want to do it to and I could only do this with you. We also need to find two men that we trust to do it with us.
I did talk to Rick but not Dr. Gabor Mate about my brain scans. The scans he mentioned were Dr. Amen’s and he said Dr. Amen wasn’t scientific as it was purely for business. I couldn’t argue with that however, on the same note, you can’t blow it off entirely as just being about profit. Dr. Amen puts the context of your scans into your life with a three hour history that goes through it all. I also did indicate that I saw Dr. Amen and that even he admitted that he couldn’t prove that the scans weren’t like that before the drugs and the drugs were an attempt to try to fill in those holes. I think Dr. Amen was doing it more for political reasons rather then due to believing it as they never pressured me to stop the drugs.
In fact, they understood why I continue to use them even after being put on all the supplements. Yes, I still use drugs. OMG and no I am not an addict and never have been aside from tobacco for 20 years which I quit almost 3 years ago now. He did say he was happy to hear they had helped me. It was really interesting to hear this point of view as I tend to be so scientific. I knew it was profit for the AMEN clinics but some people really are in it to help others while being placed into a capitalistic world. We need money to survive and he is still subject to the pressures of the profit medical model in the USA. I still think regardless of the profit factor of Dr. Amen and his drug scans, he has generally helped people.
The second awesome thing was talking to Dr. Gabor Mate. I did ask him about potentially providing support with my self help guide that I wrote and sent to Vancouver Coastal Health both for helping clients and maybe even educating the staff. He said not right now but send me an email in April after he writes his book and he can potentially be interested. This is something.
In the afternoon, it was just Dr. Mate with only about 15 other people, it was really an honor. He got to the heart of everything so naturally without even having to “think” about it and it was like being in the presence of “god”. I even thought during his presentation “Buddha is in front of me.” It was incredible. He even quoted from Understanding the Mind which is written by Thich Nhat Hanh. He also wrote the book I read time to time when I need gentle reminders of how to just be - Buddha Mind, Buddha Body.
I know some friends on facebook still believe that drugs cause addiction, please understand it isn’t true. Stress damages the brain causing it to seek tools to help itself albeit sometimes misguided. We are just animals and they too use drugs and abuse them and even become addicted but this is only under stress. Prohibition increases this stress!!
Cocaine isn’t addictive, heroin isn’t either but the person who uses them might have a vulnerability to having a particular type of reaction to the use of usually certain types of drugs (some prefer stimulants, others depressants) or activity (gambling, sex, internet, TV) due to past experiences (childhood) resulting in developmental damage (structural, chemical and more changes to the brain) resulting in the reaction of feeling love and belonging that had been missing in their lives up until that moment.
Please believe me, it isn’t ever the drug. Happy people who use heroin and cocaine will not become addicted.
Others I talked to Dana Larsen whom I overheard talking about coca leaves and how nutritious they were (that was such a satisfaction as I wish I could grow them as I need both stimulation and better nutrition - medicinal coca - how is that so different then medicinal marijuana). I talked to Tara Lyons, Gillian Maxwell, Warren Michelow, Phillipe Lucas, Caleb Chepesiuk, Ann Livingstone, Marliss Taylor, Nathan Seckinger and the former Drug Policy Coordinator in Vancouver, Donald MacPherson and Deb Harper.
I missed Kirk Tousaw, Mark Haden, Libby Davies, Rielle Capler, Evan Wood, Judith Grant, and I think that is it. I said Hi to David Malmo-Levine but by that time I was unable to talk which was really disappointing as we both have a very big interest in the decriminalization of drug use in Portugal, how it has been implemented and the effects it might have on drug users who don't abuse or have any potential of developing addiction due to not having any vulnerability.
This was much longer then intended but I type so fast and think faster so...it usually is inevitable. If I try to edit, it just gets longer. I have way to many words floating around in my head all the time. You can by the way become addicted to meditation as the drug or activity doesn't matter, it is the person. This is what Dr. Gabor Mate as everyone kept asking about the stereotypical things like withdrawal. He as I always have said you can't equate physical dependence to addiction as they aren't the same things. Physical withdrawal is not what makes people keep using drugs, it is just a fact of pharmacology and how drugs react to our chemical bodies. We adapt to its presence and this isn't indicative of an addiction problem.
We do not need decriminalization of marijuana we need legalized, regulated and controlled distribution, production of all psychoactive drugs and support for those who use psychoactive drugs, abuse them and are addicted to them.
We need to end Prohibition as forcing people to not do something doesn’t work.
October 24, 2009
Harm of Public Policy
Having public policy in society is very important and this couldn’t apply more then to the consumption of psychoactive drugs in society. Often it is assumed that when individuals talk about ending prohibition they envision a future with children injecting heroin and peddlers on every street but this assumption is sadly, incorrect. People who believe in ending prohibition like myself want a regulated and controlled market rather then the unregulated and uncontrolled market of drugs that currently exists. It isn’t because we don’t want control on the drugs, it is because we do. This control will result in ethical, respectful and scientific ways of distributing drugs which obviously would have to include the production of it as well.
We also need to think about the consumption aspect of it, where would it be allowed? Who would be allowed to use it? What could be ways of establishing a licencing practice similar to like automobile driving which is much more dangerous then sitting at home smoking a joint and even snorting a line of cocaine.
A regulated market provided by both governmental and non-governmental agencies would be required. It would require likely years of implementation with both help from all levels of government, communities and businesses including the currently illegal business which include selling marijuana, hallucinogens, cocaine, and more. We can move beyond cops busting down doors and lawyers trying to make sense of this ineffective method with more realistic and pragmatic policies that hell people rather then hurt. Even with the laws of murder, murder doesn’t cease to exist and sadly with the laws of some drug use being prohibited, murder increases as can be seen right now with the violence in Mexico.
Criminalization of particular behaviours that don’t result in harm to another only crushes the sense of belonging for those who engage in this behaviour. It applied to women while not able to vote, own property or do particular jobs. You only now see women really rising to the challenge to being equal and even after years of fighting, we are still not truly as the ousting from societies and more still exists regardless of how smart or powerful women are becoming. There still is no female as president but yes, a black man will do.
The criminalization of human behaviour that doesn’t harm others isn’t anything new and it includes being gay, not being of particular religion beliefs, of colors, and other behaviors labeled as deviant in society but really are just variances on a spectrum of human behaviour. Murder is a very harmful human behaviour directly to another person that causes great hurt to society as a whole and as yet, we do not understand why the human being behaves in this fashion but until this can be “cured” we put them in jail as we have no other means of protecting society from individuals who may kill again. This goes with for those who hurt others in some way purposely with intention of benefiting from this act. However, people who use drugs, they don’t want to hurt anybody and people who become addicted, are very sick people due to having a potentially life-threatening brain disorder which has many causes, none of which are the individuals fault or the drugs.
Abuse and addiction of drugs is a medical problem with biological roots along with psychological, sociological and cultural/spiritual influences. If the biology is messed, all the other areas of the person's life will be seriously impeded on and unable to function thus leading to maladaptive drug abuse and addiction along with an assortment of problems related to health. Public policy needs to be aware of this and treat those who abuse or are addicted to with special consideration as to their needs for the disability they have. By criminalizing addiction to some drugs, we will never develop any sort of cohesion in society that allows for drug use to stabilize and become less of a social problem then it is currently.
Public policy is creating our social problem of addiction along with how our biology works. When we lack control over our circumstances (prohibition creates this), we begin to do more irrational and dangerous actions as we become more desperate due to the law not preventing people from using drugs but it does cause people to have to lie about it. It is no different then when women would lie and pretend to be a man, today, gay men lie and say they like women and so forth. Drug users lie because we force them to. If prohibition is taken out of the equation of public policy, harm of drugs will go down as the distribution of them becomes established. it is related to feeling internal shame of which is extremely detrimental to the person which transfers to the community and so on, think of the DTES of Vancouver, BC.
A future involves being allowed to grow the coca plant to enable you to chew on the leaves instead of snorting it is as coca leaves aren’t available only cocaine isolated as it is easier to ship and cheaper resulting in bigger profits for the amount of cargo. A regulated market can take this away as people are able to go to a governmental agency that provides known doses of a variety of psychoactive drugs including tobacco and alcohol as they too need to be regulated more effectively to reduce the promotion of the substances. This shouldn’t be allowed as this greatly increases the use. To top it all off, the promotion of these drugs encourages its use as really, most people should be smoking marijuana not drinking alcohol. It is much safer on a daily basis for thirty years. Alcohol can’t be consumed in that fashion without serious health consequences due to its neurotoxicity.
The system won’t be perfect obviously and people will become addicted to drugs no matter what but really the solution is harm reduction as it allows for people to belong again and connect with who they are along with others. It crushes the harm of prohibition as it is no longer demonized as being wrong when it is just a human behaviour that goes wrong sometimes when people are sick.
A future can also recognize that drug use is a tool that we use just like our cars, houses and laundry machines. It has good and bad consequences and for some things, our tools are harder to understand and put into categories. Drug use is very hard and most can’t think of people using drugs without becoming addicted but this is really the norm. Policies need to recognize that drug users aren’t criminals unless they are doing something illegal like drink alcohol and drive.
We need to regulate and try to put some sort of order on our world but this attempted order can’t be more harmful then what it is trying to control.
We also need to think about the consumption aspect of it, where would it be allowed? Who would be allowed to use it? What could be ways of establishing a licencing practice similar to like automobile driving which is much more dangerous then sitting at home smoking a joint and even snorting a line of cocaine.
A regulated market provided by both governmental and non-governmental agencies would be required. It would require likely years of implementation with both help from all levels of government, communities and businesses including the currently illegal business which include selling marijuana, hallucinogens, cocaine, and more. We can move beyond cops busting down doors and lawyers trying to make sense of this ineffective method with more realistic and pragmatic policies that hell people rather then hurt. Even with the laws of murder, murder doesn’t cease to exist and sadly with the laws of some drug use being prohibited, murder increases as can be seen right now with the violence in Mexico.
Criminalization of particular behaviours that don’t result in harm to another only crushes the sense of belonging for those who engage in this behaviour. It applied to women while not able to vote, own property or do particular jobs. You only now see women really rising to the challenge to being equal and even after years of fighting, we are still not truly as the ousting from societies and more still exists regardless of how smart or powerful women are becoming. There still is no female as president but yes, a black man will do.
The criminalization of human behaviour that doesn’t harm others isn’t anything new and it includes being gay, not being of particular religion beliefs, of colors, and other behaviors labeled as deviant in society but really are just variances on a spectrum of human behaviour. Murder is a very harmful human behaviour directly to another person that causes great hurt to society as a whole and as yet, we do not understand why the human being behaves in this fashion but until this can be “cured” we put them in jail as we have no other means of protecting society from individuals who may kill again. This goes with for those who hurt others in some way purposely with intention of benefiting from this act. However, people who use drugs, they don’t want to hurt anybody and people who become addicted, are very sick people due to having a potentially life-threatening brain disorder which has many causes, none of which are the individuals fault or the drugs.
Abuse and addiction of drugs is a medical problem with biological roots along with psychological, sociological and cultural/spiritual influences. If the biology is messed, all the other areas of the person's life will be seriously impeded on and unable to function thus leading to maladaptive drug abuse and addiction along with an assortment of problems related to health. Public policy needs to be aware of this and treat those who abuse or are addicted to with special consideration as to their needs for the disability they have. By criminalizing addiction to some drugs, we will never develop any sort of cohesion in society that allows for drug use to stabilize and become less of a social problem then it is currently.
Public policy is creating our social problem of addiction along with how our biology works. When we lack control over our circumstances (prohibition creates this), we begin to do more irrational and dangerous actions as we become more desperate due to the law not preventing people from using drugs but it does cause people to have to lie about it. It is no different then when women would lie and pretend to be a man, today, gay men lie and say they like women and so forth. Drug users lie because we force them to. If prohibition is taken out of the equation of public policy, harm of drugs will go down as the distribution of them becomes established. it is related to feeling internal shame of which is extremely detrimental to the person which transfers to the community and so on, think of the DTES of Vancouver, BC.
A future involves being allowed to grow the coca plant to enable you to chew on the leaves instead of snorting it is as coca leaves aren’t available only cocaine isolated as it is easier to ship and cheaper resulting in bigger profits for the amount of cargo. A regulated market can take this away as people are able to go to a governmental agency that provides known doses of a variety of psychoactive drugs including tobacco and alcohol as they too need to be regulated more effectively to reduce the promotion of the substances. This shouldn’t be allowed as this greatly increases the use. To top it all off, the promotion of these drugs encourages its use as really, most people should be smoking marijuana not drinking alcohol. It is much safer on a daily basis for thirty years. Alcohol can’t be consumed in that fashion without serious health consequences due to its neurotoxicity.
The system won’t be perfect obviously and people will become addicted to drugs no matter what but really the solution is harm reduction as it allows for people to belong again and connect with who they are along with others. It crushes the harm of prohibition as it is no longer demonized as being wrong when it is just a human behaviour that goes wrong sometimes when people are sick.
A future can also recognize that drug use is a tool that we use just like our cars, houses and laundry machines. It has good and bad consequences and for some things, our tools are harder to understand and put into categories. Drug use is very hard and most can’t think of people using drugs without becoming addicted but this is really the norm. Policies need to recognize that drug users aren’t criminals unless they are doing something illegal like drink alcohol and drive.
We need to regulate and try to put some sort of order on our world but this attempted order can’t be more harmful then what it is trying to control.
October 23, 2009
The basic user
It isn't anything new for people to argue, "but the addicts, the addicts" when I talk about using drugs not abusing them or becoming addicted. It is also a fact that yes, we have no idea exactly how many users are out there as the only people that get counted as using drugs are those who either visit the ER due to problems associated with their drug abuse or enter some type of treatment program either in or outpatient.
However, the lack of research into the total number of users out there in comparison to those experiencing problematic substance use or addiction doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. Some research indicates that there are as many as 12 users of cocaine for every addict to cocaine. That is less then 10% of people who develop any sort of dependence on cocaine. This is the same for all drugs including alcohol.
Some research is done into simple use instead of only focusing on addiction but not much. One man is Peter Cohen at the University of Amsterdam. His research indicates that even the drugs claimed to be most addictive like heroin, they don’t show ongoing rates of use in those who do use them. This means that most people who use it don’t eventually develop serious and debilitating addiction as is claimed by most.
Although I am not denying addiction exists and never have, I am arguing it isn’t the drug however, but rather the person and their environment. Drugs don’t just suddenly result in physical dependence as this goes against scientific pharmacology. It is the person that craves that love and belonging that the drug can artificially create as that person isn’t finding it in healthy and natural ways.
Drug use by most is not about finding artificial happiness but rather using it to benefit their lives while still loving life. It isn’t about escaping or not wanting to be sober for people who use but rather it is for growing, experience, fun, social bonding and more. Drugs are nothing but tools.
I can argue that cars kill and we need to prohibit them but for the most part, we use them as a tool that can have harm. Drugs are no different!
However, the lack of research into the total number of users out there in comparison to those experiencing problematic substance use or addiction doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. Some research indicates that there are as many as 12 users of cocaine for every addict to cocaine. That is less then 10% of people who develop any sort of dependence on cocaine. This is the same for all drugs including alcohol.
Some research is done into simple use instead of only focusing on addiction but not much. One man is Peter Cohen at the University of Amsterdam. His research indicates that even the drugs claimed to be most addictive like heroin, they don’t show ongoing rates of use in those who do use them. This means that most people who use it don’t eventually develop serious and debilitating addiction as is claimed by most.
Although I am not denying addiction exists and never have, I am arguing it isn’t the drug however, but rather the person and their environment. Drugs don’t just suddenly result in physical dependence as this goes against scientific pharmacology. It is the person that craves that love and belonging that the drug can artificially create as that person isn’t finding it in healthy and natural ways.
Drug use by most is not about finding artificial happiness but rather using it to benefit their lives while still loving life. It isn’t about escaping or not wanting to be sober for people who use but rather it is for growing, experience, fun, social bonding and more. Drugs are nothing but tools.
I can argue that cars kill and we need to prohibit them but for the most part, we use them as a tool that can have harm. Drugs are no different!
October 22, 2009
Reducing harm and drug use on earth
http://www.straight.com/article-265288/canadas-war-drugs-bucks-global-trend
This was a great article about how the drug war really isn't winning anything aside from choas and mayhem surrounding us. Not only is it doing this but it is increasing addiction rates otherwise, why would Portugal's rates of abuse be going down?
Although this is no doubt a great article it still misses a key point to drug consumption that all articles miss and that is what about the drug user?
Even cocaine, heroin, LSD and others have users who do not abuse. How should they be helped with forced treatment? I have heard through rumor from a good source that those arrested for simple possession of marijuana are being forced into treatment in the decriminalization measures implemented back in 2001.
To me, this is not decriminalization as you are still being assumed to be doing something wrong as you need treatment for this wrongness. It however, is not wrong to use drugs, abuse and become addicted to is more being sick then wrong but use isn't being sick or doing anything wrong. Using drugs is as natural as having sex or eating and sadly, we are moralizing something after years of moral entrepreneurship by groups from all over the world.
We are scapegoating drugs to be a problem in society but really they are a symptom that something is wrong, not the problem itself.
Drug abuse and addiction goes up when people are unhappy. Happy people don't smoke crack or inject heroin. They may decide to use LSD, cocaine or pot for fun due to the effects it gives them but the next day is back to their lives and the happiness they feel just from living soberly. Drug addicts can't feel this as it has been taken from them and drugs give them that happiness and belonging we all crave so deeply.
This weekend is a weekend of my idols at the CSSDP in Vancouver, BC at the SFU Campus in Burnaby. People like Dr. Gabor Mate, Mark Haden, Kirk Tousaw, Rielle Capler and more. I am so excited. I have met these people aside from Dr. Mate and Rielle Capler and this is going to be an honor. Who thinks it is cheesy if I take my copy of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts to be signed?
Think about what prohibition does to the world, not just to the drug dealers and users. It hurts us all!
This was a great article about how the drug war really isn't winning anything aside from choas and mayhem surrounding us. Not only is it doing this but it is increasing addiction rates otherwise, why would Portugal's rates of abuse be going down?
Although this is no doubt a great article it still misses a key point to drug consumption that all articles miss and that is what about the drug user?
Even cocaine, heroin, LSD and others have users who do not abuse. How should they be helped with forced treatment? I have heard through rumor from a good source that those arrested for simple possession of marijuana are being forced into treatment in the decriminalization measures implemented back in 2001.
To me, this is not decriminalization as you are still being assumed to be doing something wrong as you need treatment for this wrongness. It however, is not wrong to use drugs, abuse and become addicted to is more being sick then wrong but use isn't being sick or doing anything wrong. Using drugs is as natural as having sex or eating and sadly, we are moralizing something after years of moral entrepreneurship by groups from all over the world.
We are scapegoating drugs to be a problem in society but really they are a symptom that something is wrong, not the problem itself.
Drug abuse and addiction goes up when people are unhappy. Happy people don't smoke crack or inject heroin. They may decide to use LSD, cocaine or pot for fun due to the effects it gives them but the next day is back to their lives and the happiness they feel just from living soberly. Drug addicts can't feel this as it has been taken from them and drugs give them that happiness and belonging we all crave so deeply.
This weekend is a weekend of my idols at the CSSDP in Vancouver, BC at the SFU Campus in Burnaby. People like Dr. Gabor Mate, Mark Haden, Kirk Tousaw, Rielle Capler and more. I am so excited. I have met these people aside from Dr. Mate and Rielle Capler and this is going to be an honor. Who thinks it is cheesy if I take my copy of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts to be signed?
Think about what prohibition does to the world, not just to the drug dealers and users. It hurts us all!
October 2, 2009
Letter to Honourable Rob Nicholson
Dear Honourable Rob Nicholson,
I am writing to you today to express my frustration at the governments way of managing the case of Marc Emery. We need to not only be sovereign from other countries which includes the power of the USA but also have to be scientific in our approach to regulating marijuana.
By supporting prohibition you are not only supporting your citizens being forced to consume higher risk psychoactive substances then cannabis, supporting organized crime and continued power to the corporate powers selling alcohol (false advertising saying alcohol is entirely safe - try working in a detox for 2 years, addiction to it isn't even close to safe. Please consider that by having all psychoactive drugs sold the way they are being it is harming the people you are trying to provide Justice for and this includes tobacco and alcohol. It is great to see the change to covering up the names of brands to youth to the public.
I am a law abiding citizen and in fact just took the LSAT last month. I also happen to be a medicinal medical marijuana user (thus making me not a law-abiding citizen - arrest me if you must), concurrent disorder specialist, substance use and harm reduction consultant who is starting a company providing services to lawyers on how to help include the law with their conditions along with taking full consideration of the client's disability. I have 15 years of eduction on mental health and addiction issues along with 27 years of being a mental health services consumer, my first time was when I was 7 years old. My parents thought my talking about wanting to die wasn't normal and they were right. I have been diagnosed with everything under the sun including the very serious and life-threatening, Bipolar Disorder and psychotic episodes. I have 19 years of experience with pharmaceuticals and still do need them but still use marijuana as that old reliable friend I know is there if my mind goes bendy and I need to think about protecting myself as what I have is life-threatening but my marijuana use isn't to help myself isn't. I can't just shut off my mental health problems although I have tried. I can manage my brain disorder but sadly, this does involve using drugs and marijuana is the safest that I am on. I have all of my doctors full support with my continued use.
I want to tell you this personal information as I am "coming out of the closet" as being a psychoactive substance and mental health services consumer as maybe then it can put some emotion to this plea for Marc. I also want to stress, I am a professional in the mental health and addiction field and I worked on the DTES for 4 years with the worst addicts in Canada. I loved them and they loved me. I wonder what would have happened to these people if they could have had access to effective and respectful treatment. That is my goal with my business, Smart Brain Industries. I do not condone drug addiction or abuse but I do condemn the assumption that all drug use (illicit) is wrong. It isn't even if it isn't for medical purposes as this can be beneficial too. Anything recreational is good for our health, no? Why play games then or engage in hobbies? If all drug use harmed then yes, it would make sense to have all psychoactive drugs illegal but this isn't the case. It lands on a spectrum and most people if not about 80% of people who choose to use any drug, do it with little harm to themselves or others. However, the prohibition of the substance makes the harm more likely as unknown dose or substance is consumed thus leaving the user powerless even if they normally wouldn't have experienced any harm.
Mental illness and marijuana for some may not go together but neither does alcohol and some people. We all react badly to some substances but this doesn't make it bad for the other people to use it, just we have to be careful. Almost like an allergy to it. We don't outlaw peanuts from being sold in grocery stores but we do control it very closely on its distribution, production and treatment for problems when they arise. Every substance on this planet has its advantageous and disadvantageous. We need to regulate drugs in a manner that takes science into consideration along with the rights of individuals in comparison to the protection of society. The use of marijuana is very safe in comparison to other products available on any market as even with marijuana illicit, it still has never killed one person ever on this planet unlike our legal commonly used psychoactive drugs. How is this possible considering even legal drugs kill people like Aspirin and Tylenol?
Please keep Marc in Canada. He not only is not a criminal but a successful entrepreneur who did great things for the economy and culture of Canada. I have had the pleasure of meeting him a few times and he would never hurt a sole. In addition, he even declared his income and never lied to the Canadian government about what he was doing. He is a brave man who deserves our support now as he needs it desperately. Another reason I am so compelled to write about this subject is that the USA is currently a country that is beginning to lose its grasp on how to treat its own citizens. I am worried that Marc will disappear in that system as many other individuals have done in that country. If you feel that yes, he broke the law, he needs to serve his time to society, that is of course, the law and I can understand it. However, keep him in Canada please. He needs to be in a country that will be safe and we can keep very close watch of his whereabouts.
Even if you disagree with Marc's use of marijuana or selling of it of its seeds, it doesn't make it harmful to society. His actions have benefited Canada. Please see this. He is a Hero in this country. He deserves to be protected from the USA's assault of power on other countries. We do not go into their country to get criminals that sell guns to criminals yet how many gun manufactures are there in USA?
You and I both know that Marc Emery never hurt anybody. We have murders and rapists and fraudulent individuals walking away with millions of dollars without so much of a scratch yet Marc is not only being put in jail but in the USA which is not the Canadian system. Why does he need to go to USA to do his time?
Sincerely,
Colleen Fish
604-561-2142
SMART BRAIN Industries
New Westminster, BC
I am writing to you today to express my frustration at the governments way of managing the case of Marc Emery. We need to not only be sovereign from other countries which includes the power of the USA but also have to be scientific in our approach to regulating marijuana.
By supporting prohibition you are not only supporting your citizens being forced to consume higher risk psychoactive substances then cannabis, supporting organized crime and continued power to the corporate powers selling alcohol (false advertising saying alcohol is entirely safe - try working in a detox for 2 years, addiction to it isn't even close to safe. Please consider that by having all psychoactive drugs sold the way they are being it is harming the people you are trying to provide Justice for and this includes tobacco and alcohol. It is great to see the change to covering up the names of brands to youth to the public.
I am a law abiding citizen and in fact just took the LSAT last month. I also happen to be a medicinal medical marijuana user (thus making me not a law-abiding citizen - arrest me if you must), concurrent disorder specialist, substance use and harm reduction consultant who is starting a company providing services to lawyers on how to help include the law with their conditions along with taking full consideration of the client's disability. I have 15 years of eduction on mental health and addiction issues along with 27 years of being a mental health services consumer, my first time was when I was 7 years old. My parents thought my talking about wanting to die wasn't normal and they were right. I have been diagnosed with everything under the sun including the very serious and life-threatening, Bipolar Disorder and psychotic episodes. I have 19 years of experience with pharmaceuticals and still do need them but still use marijuana as that old reliable friend I know is there if my mind goes bendy and I need to think about protecting myself as what I have is life-threatening but my marijuana use isn't to help myself isn't. I can't just shut off my mental health problems although I have tried. I can manage my brain disorder but sadly, this does involve using drugs and marijuana is the safest that I am on. I have all of my doctors full support with my continued use.
I want to tell you this personal information as I am "coming out of the closet" as being a psychoactive substance and mental health services consumer as maybe then it can put some emotion to this plea for Marc. I also want to stress, I am a professional in the mental health and addiction field and I worked on the DTES for 4 years with the worst addicts in Canada. I loved them and they loved me. I wonder what would have happened to these people if they could have had access to effective and respectful treatment. That is my goal with my business, Smart Brain Industries. I do not condone drug addiction or abuse but I do condemn the assumption that all drug use (illicit) is wrong. It isn't even if it isn't for medical purposes as this can be beneficial too. Anything recreational is good for our health, no? Why play games then or engage in hobbies? If all drug use harmed then yes, it would make sense to have all psychoactive drugs illegal but this isn't the case. It lands on a spectrum and most people if not about 80% of people who choose to use any drug, do it with little harm to themselves or others. However, the prohibition of the substance makes the harm more likely as unknown dose or substance is consumed thus leaving the user powerless even if they normally wouldn't have experienced any harm.
Mental illness and marijuana for some may not go together but neither does alcohol and some people. We all react badly to some substances but this doesn't make it bad for the other people to use it, just we have to be careful. Almost like an allergy to it. We don't outlaw peanuts from being sold in grocery stores but we do control it very closely on its distribution, production and treatment for problems when they arise. Every substance on this planet has its advantageous and disadvantageous. We need to regulate drugs in a manner that takes science into consideration along with the rights of individuals in comparison to the protection of society. The use of marijuana is very safe in comparison to other products available on any market as even with marijuana illicit, it still has never killed one person ever on this planet unlike our legal commonly used psychoactive drugs. How is this possible considering even legal drugs kill people like Aspirin and Tylenol?
Please keep Marc in Canada. He not only is not a criminal but a successful entrepreneur who did great things for the economy and culture of Canada. I have had the pleasure of meeting him a few times and he would never hurt a sole. In addition, he even declared his income and never lied to the Canadian government about what he was doing. He is a brave man who deserves our support now as he needs it desperately. Another reason I am so compelled to write about this subject is that the USA is currently a country that is beginning to lose its grasp on how to treat its own citizens. I am worried that Marc will disappear in that system as many other individuals have done in that country. If you feel that yes, he broke the law, he needs to serve his time to society, that is of course, the law and I can understand it. However, keep him in Canada please. He needs to be in a country that will be safe and we can keep very close watch of his whereabouts.
Even if you disagree with Marc's use of marijuana or selling of it of its seeds, it doesn't make it harmful to society. His actions have benefited Canada. Please see this. He is a Hero in this country. He deserves to be protected from the USA's assault of power on other countries. We do not go into their country to get criminals that sell guns to criminals yet how many gun manufactures are there in USA?
You and I both know that Marc Emery never hurt anybody. We have murders and rapists and fraudulent individuals walking away with millions of dollars without so much of a scratch yet Marc is not only being put in jail but in the USA which is not the Canadian system. Why does he need to go to USA to do his time?
Sincerely,
Colleen Fish
604-561-2142
SMART BRAIN Industries
New Westminster, BC
August 29, 2009
Prohibition for all drugs or none...one or the other!
The problem with only pursuing decriminalization or legalization of marijuana is that it still assumes that the prohibition of the other drugs is justified while it is not. In fact the prohibition of anything aside from crimes with victims really is unjust and harms those who engage in the activity without harming others. All of our actions can be harmful. I can drive a car into another human being but we don't make driving illegal. I can rape another human but we don't make sex illegal. These activities which can act as drugs do on the brain are not prohibited but rather regulated just as all drugs should be regardless of how much harm it may lead to as it isn't the drug that results in that but rather how that drug is used. Similar to how the car is used or even sex. Sex can be weapon, entertainment, healthy, reproduction, intoxicant and it can be an addiction. We don't make it illegal though.
When we pursue the prohibition of something it makes those who engage in this activity even if little harm is being done a criminal and engaging in illegal activity. A person who buys sex for example is not committing any harm to a person unless that person is transmitting diseases, lying to their wife/husband or not in the profession by choice. Every activity that humans naturally engage in which includes having sex and doing drugs needs to be controlled to ensure the reduction of harm is attained.
Through having a controlled market for all things not just cannabis, sex for sale and gambling but everything such as more control over media (advertising, media, etc) (more constraints on false advertising resulting from lots of commercials involving unhealthy foods and promoting harmful drug use like excessive alcohol consumption)thus leading to brainwashing. We need to stop thinking that drugs are harmful while other things are safe like alcohol, advertising, video games and more. These activities can be safe but they can be very harmful too and we seem to be denying that at the societal level including even policies regarding governmental activity.
Who regulates? The government but sadly, the government is made up of corrupt and dishonest individuals who are only in it for money meaning the government needs to impose policies on itself regarding the separation of business and government too, not just religion and government. The involvement of businessmen (few women) are skewing the governmental practices and resulting in it being about friends and money not the wellness of the country it is trying to govern. Democracy isn't just about having a vote but actually having your needs being upheld not the needs of the few. We all have fundamental rights the government should be willing to do anything to protect but they neglect to do this because the government is not made up of those who are speaking for the many but rather the few.
How can we change this? I don't know but prohibition of everything has to stop unless it is rape, murder, sex slavery, organ theft, governmental deregulation on itself and theft and fraud. Assault and public intoxication should not be tolerated any longer especially at bars. This one of the number one reasons men die. WE can't continue to condone the inappropriate use of drugs regardless of what it is. However, nobody knows what appropriate use is which is where my self-help guide called Using your Brain and Psychoactive Substances: A Holistic and Empowering approach to regaining control over your life. It isn't finished yet but I have been working hard at it since March of this year and am done writing it just it needs editing at which I apparently am not very good at.
Hope all is well!
When we pursue the prohibition of something it makes those who engage in this activity even if little harm is being done a criminal and engaging in illegal activity. A person who buys sex for example is not committing any harm to a person unless that person is transmitting diseases, lying to their wife/husband or not in the profession by choice. Every activity that humans naturally engage in which includes having sex and doing drugs needs to be controlled to ensure the reduction of harm is attained.
Through having a controlled market for all things not just cannabis, sex for sale and gambling but everything such as more control over media (advertising, media, etc) (more constraints on false advertising resulting from lots of commercials involving unhealthy foods and promoting harmful drug use like excessive alcohol consumption)thus leading to brainwashing. We need to stop thinking that drugs are harmful while other things are safe like alcohol, advertising, video games and more. These activities can be safe but they can be very harmful too and we seem to be denying that at the societal level including even policies regarding governmental activity.
Who regulates? The government but sadly, the government is made up of corrupt and dishonest individuals who are only in it for money meaning the government needs to impose policies on itself regarding the separation of business and government too, not just religion and government. The involvement of businessmen (few women) are skewing the governmental practices and resulting in it being about friends and money not the wellness of the country it is trying to govern. Democracy isn't just about having a vote but actually having your needs being upheld not the needs of the few. We all have fundamental rights the government should be willing to do anything to protect but they neglect to do this because the government is not made up of those who are speaking for the many but rather the few.
How can we change this? I don't know but prohibition of everything has to stop unless it is rape, murder, sex slavery, organ theft, governmental deregulation on itself and theft and fraud. Assault and public intoxication should not be tolerated any longer especially at bars. This one of the number one reasons men die. WE can't continue to condone the inappropriate use of drugs regardless of what it is. However, nobody knows what appropriate use is which is where my self-help guide called Using your Brain and Psychoactive Substances: A Holistic and Empowering approach to regaining control over your life. It isn't finished yet but I have been working hard at it since March of this year and am done writing it just it needs editing at which I apparently am not very good at.
Hope all is well!
August 24, 2009
Preventing Crime, Really?
Many people go on about having to get tough on crime and ending gang violence yet the policies that they are implementing goes against exactly what is needed when helping to reduce crime not only to prevent people from becoming future victims but also to prevent the "bad guy" from being a victim of having a malfunctioning brain.
It is being shown now through neuroscience that for those who are violent or are considered evil in nature, it is their brain that is leading them to this highly maladaptive and harmful actions. In some cases, yes it may be advantageous to be violent but not evil and even in times that call for violent actions, there are still lines to be crossed that lead individual's into actions considered evil.
Politicians are often called to become tough on crime and this is what Stephen Harper in Canada seems to be delivering the problem is, his action to reduce crime is not likely going to result in any true end to harmful crimes to society. Longer sentences can't reduce a crime that has already occurred so therefore, how do minimum sentences truly reduce the need or drive for humans to committee these acts?
When we consider attempting to reduce gang violence such as paying for the removal of gang tattoos while on the other end increasing the penalties for growing marijuana or dealing drugs which is exactly what these gangs get rich off doing and continue their motivation to be violent especially towards one another.
Gangs serve something very important not only to each member of the gang but also for the supply of prohibited drugs and activities that are in demand and are not always harmful if used but when prohibition comes into play, it changes everything. Do you think of Al Capone as being similar to Molson Canadian? Well they are, they both provide a drug that people want. Why is it for those who bought from Al Capone they were criminals but when they buy it in a liquor store they aren't?
We all want things and it shouldn't be prohibited but rather regulated and controlled so that Molson Canadian's can go on with business ethically while individuals like Al Capone who could kill others were in charge of its distribution. Is it any wonder why people went blind on products bought during the prohibition of alcohol? Who could you call to complain? Today, if we bought alcohol sold to us by Molson Canadian that resulted in blindness, we could certainly sue resulting in likely becoming very rich as any alcohol content issues would be criminal. Alcohol does eventually cause liver problems but this is only with the abuse of the product, not the actual using of the product.
The people who sell products need to ensure they are safe to use as otherwise this would result in liabilities unless otherwise known to that individual such as abuse of alcohol can result in serious harm. When we buy alcohol today, it isn't to get drunk but to have a glass of wine or two for nice relaxation and social function gathering. Yeah, or some people (a lot) drink a bottle and stumble home only to find out they were at home. When Molson Canadian distributes their products, it isn't their intention you use in this fashion just as it isn't a auto dealers belief you are going to go speeding down the wrong side of the highway on purpose.
If we want to prevent crime, we need to distribute drugs or provide activities we may not like in society but trying to prevent it only makes it worse. The example of abstinence only being taught in USA has not reduced pregnancy or STIs, only worsened them. WE can't stop teens from having sex, just as they couldn't stop me either. It wasn't about hearing a message about it being wrong, it didn't matter as I wanted to do it just like everyone else I knew when I was that age and this doesn't change as we get older either. In fact, it likely just goes up well for women it does. Too bad guys, its a lot of fun!!
Anyways, if my having sex with a guy I liked without marriage was illegal even while an adult, it would get very risky and harmful as people would do it anyways. There would be many people in jail, just like there is for drugs. In addition, if people were to be able to have sex with people that they liked without marriage yet it was only legal for the guy to engage in this while women still went to jail, it would be a little weird as only 50% of the transaction is legal. This is the same for drugs. If we decriminalize, then we only are able to buy drugs but only if talking to Al Capone.
So all you people who support ending gang violence, I suggest you look beyond prohibition and think about preventing the crime before it occurs rather than just increasing the financial reward of gang members for the crimes they commit such as prostitution, drug use, drug dealing and murder. The murder comes in when one wants to monopolize the profits (like Al Capone - $100 Million a year and this was the 20s and 30s) as able to then charge exaggerated rates.
You are only fueling their profits meaning if you support Harper, you support increased violence, gangs, and harms due to the continued war on drugs. We need it to end for us to make any real end to evil type of crime like Murder, Sexual Assault, Kidnapping, Fraud, Assault and lots of white-collar crime that is rampant around the world. Have we also forgotten sex slavery? Or Stolen Cars? Or Illegal Firearms? How about the millions lost in fraud through the governments and corporations due to poor investing and lack of foresight in terms of this economic crisis.
How would the billions of dollars been better spent on research and understanding the abuse of drugs rather then demonizing all drug use aside from Al Capone's favorite, well not anymore? This only harms as it is not true. How has the pharmaceutical drug use gone totally out of control and yet we understand less about these drugs then we do cocaine, heroin, LSD, cannabis and other plant-type drugs being used by animals as well. The harm is not there yet they search and had to focus on the harms of addiction not the use of the drug.
The idea of the stereotyped cocaine or heroin user is not true in that they are thin, poor, miserable, unemployed, stealing or selling their bodies and more although there are individuals who are cocaine users who also have these traits, it can't be blamed solely on the cocaine use as many other variables are at play and the cocaine may correlate with these types of variables including having an unhealthy brain.
For those that are violent or are in gangs, we need to figure out a way for them not to choose this path and this includes learning more about what makes a brain become violent and how to help ensure that people always feel like they belong and are loved as that is the benefit it gives individuals who choose to be members. Members of gangs have past childhoods filled with violence including not knowing violence isn't the only way to live, they are often rejected or are neglected by their families and thus take up home in gangs and this also provides financial and safety for the person which is not being provided through the parents or other caregivers.
We are not going to help reduce crime and gangs by increasing time spent in jail, this only gives them more time to network as to them this way of life isn't something to reject, they can't, they have no choice. They know nothing else. It is brought to them through family, culture and lack of belonging (regardless of anything) as this is due to the lack of family for some and even culture. We need identity and reason for life to get out of bed everyday and gangs provide this void.
The brain is filling the void of loneliness, neglect, rejection, hate, anger, fear and safety for violence, money, power and the closest thing to what appears to be a family and culture. The brain literally knows that it is far away from what family, love and caring is as sadly, for the gang members who do try to exit, they find out it wasn't about helping but about slave labor for providing products and services to people who want it even if done unethically and using abuse and violence to get it. As even the leaders believe it is a family.
I am not going to say however, these individuals lack values as they don't. It is just that for some reason, their brain misjudges what is acceptable and not and this includes loyalty, dedication, respect and honesty as without these qualities you would never survive in gang - of course, this loyalty, honesty and respect is only between members but regardless, they can keep a secret aside from the few blabber mouths but those members usually don't last long.
We need to research how to help those who are filled with a void or are being rejected from society or their families to heal rather then join organized crime along with spending millions on establishing a regulated market thus putting gangs out of business and freeing up lots of time of police to spend time tracking the bad guys so even us drug users who need protection from the bad guys too can feel safer knowing someone is on the job.
When I think police are out there trying to prevent users from getting drugs, I think my god, when are they going to find out we always find it? Seriously people, we put effort into it as it is fun just like we put effort into getting laid, going skydiving, camping, biking, shoping and more. It is all fun and rewarding to us however, when any of this gets out of wack, like shopping too much, problems occur like spending too much time at the mall or money. How is this different from using drugs people? come on wake up - it isn't about decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana it is about regulating drugs and activities regardless of personal views on the matter.
Of course, this doesn't include legalizing sex slavery as there is harm to people which doesn't occur all the time with drug use or doing activities like gambling but it can! We can't make an activity illegal because it might harm us that means we have to be locked in bed forever...seriously people, we need balance into today's world and this involves science - well good science based on science rather then emotion or money!
thanks everyone enjoy I hope to all you gang members, you start your own business growing coca plants to supply the government for soon to be regulated cocaine distribution. If you sell coca leaves, I will even take that. But no guns, jokes or games and if you do, I will call the police on you. right so grow your own coca or opium (in giant underground dungeons thus changing this into opium tea for sale at a local shop) thus when legalized, making you some good money.
How is this use wrong? We shouldn't be harming those trying to provide a service or drug we desire while at the same time allowing murders to get away with just that murder. Watch out, her comes Molson Canadian kicking Coors ass down the street, oh wait, no that is Al Capone and a distribution rival - can't have that can you? Oh no wait, it is Coors merging with Molson Canadian to better provide the very same drug Al Capone was trying to sell to his customers who were very afraid just as I am when I buy cocaine...or not really but it sounded good.
If gangs didn't provide something important to society which is prohibited services and substances(aside from mom and pop operations for pot but they don't sell cocaine I am thinking), then why are they rich? Why do people continue to support their not only existence but expansion of power around the globe? Why do they fight and kill people to provide something they know will sell at 15xs what it is worth? Not only are the dealers willing to continue having gang violence to provide this service but millions of people will pay for the product at 15xs what it is really worth if not illegal. That is demand and it isn't addiction but rather just people wanting to have a good time.
Most people don't abuse drugs but some will yet it isn't illegal to drink. We can abuse heroin and yet some don't, but it is illegal to use. Why?
It is being shown now through neuroscience that for those who are violent or are considered evil in nature, it is their brain that is leading them to this highly maladaptive and harmful actions. In some cases, yes it may be advantageous to be violent but not evil and even in times that call for violent actions, there are still lines to be crossed that lead individual's into actions considered evil.
Politicians are often called to become tough on crime and this is what Stephen Harper in Canada seems to be delivering the problem is, his action to reduce crime is not likely going to result in any true end to harmful crimes to society. Longer sentences can't reduce a crime that has already occurred so therefore, how do minimum sentences truly reduce the need or drive for humans to committee these acts?
When we consider attempting to reduce gang violence such as paying for the removal of gang tattoos while on the other end increasing the penalties for growing marijuana or dealing drugs which is exactly what these gangs get rich off doing and continue their motivation to be violent especially towards one another.
Gangs serve something very important not only to each member of the gang but also for the supply of prohibited drugs and activities that are in demand and are not always harmful if used but when prohibition comes into play, it changes everything. Do you think of Al Capone as being similar to Molson Canadian? Well they are, they both provide a drug that people want. Why is it for those who bought from Al Capone they were criminals but when they buy it in a liquor store they aren't?
We all want things and it shouldn't be prohibited but rather regulated and controlled so that Molson Canadian's can go on with business ethically while individuals like Al Capone who could kill others were in charge of its distribution. Is it any wonder why people went blind on products bought during the prohibition of alcohol? Who could you call to complain? Today, if we bought alcohol sold to us by Molson Canadian that resulted in blindness, we could certainly sue resulting in likely becoming very rich as any alcohol content issues would be criminal. Alcohol does eventually cause liver problems but this is only with the abuse of the product, not the actual using of the product.
The people who sell products need to ensure they are safe to use as otherwise this would result in liabilities unless otherwise known to that individual such as abuse of alcohol can result in serious harm. When we buy alcohol today, it isn't to get drunk but to have a glass of wine or two for nice relaxation and social function gathering. Yeah, or some people (a lot) drink a bottle and stumble home only to find out they were at home. When Molson Canadian distributes their products, it isn't their intention you use in this fashion just as it isn't a auto dealers belief you are going to go speeding down the wrong side of the highway on purpose.
If we want to prevent crime, we need to distribute drugs or provide activities we may not like in society but trying to prevent it only makes it worse. The example of abstinence only being taught in USA has not reduced pregnancy or STIs, only worsened them. WE can't stop teens from having sex, just as they couldn't stop me either. It wasn't about hearing a message about it being wrong, it didn't matter as I wanted to do it just like everyone else I knew when I was that age and this doesn't change as we get older either. In fact, it likely just goes up well for women it does. Too bad guys, its a lot of fun!!
Anyways, if my having sex with a guy I liked without marriage was illegal even while an adult, it would get very risky and harmful as people would do it anyways. There would be many people in jail, just like there is for drugs. In addition, if people were to be able to have sex with people that they liked without marriage yet it was only legal for the guy to engage in this while women still went to jail, it would be a little weird as only 50% of the transaction is legal. This is the same for drugs. If we decriminalize, then we only are able to buy drugs but only if talking to Al Capone.
So all you people who support ending gang violence, I suggest you look beyond prohibition and think about preventing the crime before it occurs rather than just increasing the financial reward of gang members for the crimes they commit such as prostitution, drug use, drug dealing and murder. The murder comes in when one wants to monopolize the profits (like Al Capone - $100 Million a year and this was the 20s and 30s) as able to then charge exaggerated rates.
You are only fueling their profits meaning if you support Harper, you support increased violence, gangs, and harms due to the continued war on drugs. We need it to end for us to make any real end to evil type of crime like Murder, Sexual Assault, Kidnapping, Fraud, Assault and lots of white-collar crime that is rampant around the world. Have we also forgotten sex slavery? Or Stolen Cars? Or Illegal Firearms? How about the millions lost in fraud through the governments and corporations due to poor investing and lack of foresight in terms of this economic crisis.
How would the billions of dollars been better spent on research and understanding the abuse of drugs rather then demonizing all drug use aside from Al Capone's favorite, well not anymore? This only harms as it is not true. How has the pharmaceutical drug use gone totally out of control and yet we understand less about these drugs then we do cocaine, heroin, LSD, cannabis and other plant-type drugs being used by animals as well. The harm is not there yet they search and had to focus on the harms of addiction not the use of the drug.
The idea of the stereotyped cocaine or heroin user is not true in that they are thin, poor, miserable, unemployed, stealing or selling their bodies and more although there are individuals who are cocaine users who also have these traits, it can't be blamed solely on the cocaine use as many other variables are at play and the cocaine may correlate with these types of variables including having an unhealthy brain.
For those that are violent or are in gangs, we need to figure out a way for them not to choose this path and this includes learning more about what makes a brain become violent and how to help ensure that people always feel like they belong and are loved as that is the benefit it gives individuals who choose to be members. Members of gangs have past childhoods filled with violence including not knowing violence isn't the only way to live, they are often rejected or are neglected by their families and thus take up home in gangs and this also provides financial and safety for the person which is not being provided through the parents or other caregivers.
We are not going to help reduce crime and gangs by increasing time spent in jail, this only gives them more time to network as to them this way of life isn't something to reject, they can't, they have no choice. They know nothing else. It is brought to them through family, culture and lack of belonging (regardless of anything) as this is due to the lack of family for some and even culture. We need identity and reason for life to get out of bed everyday and gangs provide this void.
The brain is filling the void of loneliness, neglect, rejection, hate, anger, fear and safety for violence, money, power and the closest thing to what appears to be a family and culture. The brain literally knows that it is far away from what family, love and caring is as sadly, for the gang members who do try to exit, they find out it wasn't about helping but about slave labor for providing products and services to people who want it even if done unethically and using abuse and violence to get it. As even the leaders believe it is a family.
I am not going to say however, these individuals lack values as they don't. It is just that for some reason, their brain misjudges what is acceptable and not and this includes loyalty, dedication, respect and honesty as without these qualities you would never survive in gang - of course, this loyalty, honesty and respect is only between members but regardless, they can keep a secret aside from the few blabber mouths but those members usually don't last long.
We need to research how to help those who are filled with a void or are being rejected from society or their families to heal rather then join organized crime along with spending millions on establishing a regulated market thus putting gangs out of business and freeing up lots of time of police to spend time tracking the bad guys so even us drug users who need protection from the bad guys too can feel safer knowing someone is on the job.
When I think police are out there trying to prevent users from getting drugs, I think my god, when are they going to find out we always find it? Seriously people, we put effort into it as it is fun just like we put effort into getting laid, going skydiving, camping, biking, shoping and more. It is all fun and rewarding to us however, when any of this gets out of wack, like shopping too much, problems occur like spending too much time at the mall or money. How is this different from using drugs people? come on wake up - it isn't about decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana it is about regulating drugs and activities regardless of personal views on the matter.
Of course, this doesn't include legalizing sex slavery as there is harm to people which doesn't occur all the time with drug use or doing activities like gambling but it can! We can't make an activity illegal because it might harm us that means we have to be locked in bed forever...seriously people, we need balance into today's world and this involves science - well good science based on science rather then emotion or money!
thanks everyone enjoy I hope to all you gang members, you start your own business growing coca plants to supply the government for soon to be regulated cocaine distribution. If you sell coca leaves, I will even take that. But no guns, jokes or games and if you do, I will call the police on you. right so grow your own coca or opium (in giant underground dungeons thus changing this into opium tea for sale at a local shop) thus when legalized, making you some good money.
How is this use wrong? We shouldn't be harming those trying to provide a service or drug we desire while at the same time allowing murders to get away with just that murder. Watch out, her comes Molson Canadian kicking Coors ass down the street, oh wait, no that is Al Capone and a distribution rival - can't have that can you? Oh no wait, it is Coors merging with Molson Canadian to better provide the very same drug Al Capone was trying to sell to his customers who were very afraid just as I am when I buy cocaine...or not really but it sounded good.
If gangs didn't provide something important to society which is prohibited services and substances(aside from mom and pop operations for pot but they don't sell cocaine I am thinking), then why are they rich? Why do people continue to support their not only existence but expansion of power around the globe? Why do they fight and kill people to provide something they know will sell at 15xs what it is worth? Not only are the dealers willing to continue having gang violence to provide this service but millions of people will pay for the product at 15xs what it is really worth if not illegal. That is demand and it isn't addiction but rather just people wanting to have a good time.
Most people don't abuse drugs but some will yet it isn't illegal to drink. We can abuse heroin and yet some don't, but it is illegal to use. Why?
August 20, 2009
Harm of wrong information
So today, I have come across more incorrect information by people trying to sprout their opinions that have no basis in facts. I too may do this from time to time after all we are all human however, if I don't know the facts, I do my best not to discuss the topic but rather listen to the experts ideas on the matter and do more research ensuring that this information is supported by the majority of experts and is not just the ignorant words of a few who like to believe their own crap.
The harm is huge in regards to actions like this. If you don't know the truth, please don't say anything instead listen and learn. It is okay to not know everything, we couldn't possibly ever achieve this, however, we can know a lot about very little meaning we become experts in one topic but don't understand another. Example, I am an expert on drugs, harm reduction and mental health but don't know shit about making mega-structures so I enjoy watching the show on National Geographic. I however, am not going to now think I know everything and try to get a job doing it. Watching this program doesn't make me an expert but it increases my awareness and appreciation for the hard work others do on this.
Please stop spreading false information especially on facebook!!
The harm is huge in regards to actions like this. If you don't know the truth, please don't say anything instead listen and learn. It is okay to not know everything, we couldn't possibly ever achieve this, however, we can know a lot about very little meaning we become experts in one topic but don't understand another. Example, I am an expert on drugs, harm reduction and mental health but don't know shit about making mega-structures so I enjoy watching the show on National Geographic. I however, am not going to now think I know everything and try to get a job doing it. Watching this program doesn't make me an expert but it increases my awareness and appreciation for the hard work others do on this.
Please stop spreading false information especially on facebook!!
August 19, 2009
Brain washing harm
Sadly, in our world there are two types of misinformation spread. The first type is the information that is actually believed to be accurate at the time and is honestly said to attempt to improve things however, false regardless. It is at that time (500 BC or was it 2005 AD) without a doubt for that time to be accurate such as the idea we were at the centre of the universe or that the earth was flat. At that time, we simply didn't have the awareness to know that this couldn't possibly be true. However, as we learned these ideas were obviously impossible to continue to believe (aside from the universe) unless you didn't wonder why we could walk in opposite directions and end up becoming face to face again.
The second type of misinformation is that related to brainwashing. It is information that is known to be false but is still promoted as being true for personal gain. This allows the person who is promoting the false information to take advantage as they know the true knowledge thus having power over those who are receiving the brainwashing information.
The first reason is beyond our control as when we thought the earth was flat, we hadn't seen the rest of it yet, how could we know? When we thought we were the center of the Universe, how could we know we weren't? All we knew were Stars, Suns, and out of this came the gods. This was our way of understanding although incorrect.
Today however, we know know that the earth isn't flat and that we aren't what we thought, as cool as we had hoped (not center of Universe!).
The problem and harm that we are able to prevent is the perpetuation of brain washing and this includes the use of media as a way of fear mongering and helping corporations make money.
those who don't believe in global warming are mistaken greatly and this is due to the very powerful and directed attack at the scientists who are finding all the problems we are causing to poison this planet thus which will eventually not end in the planet going somewhere but rather us and the continued belief in the idea that we are going to be saved by anything is greatly mistaken as just as the millions if not possibly even trillions of types of living creatures that has gone extinct before us. Do you think they thought a "god" was going to save them?
Or domination of TV and other types of information spreading technology that prevents those who know the truth from speaking out and that these people have the credibility to actually really know the truth or at least as close as possible for today as even the things we think today one day may be comparable to our thinking the earth was flat.
We need to begin to have the politics and policies of society be based on science rather than ideology and greed of both money and power. Oppression allows that otherwise we are all equal as animals just wanting to survive and have a life rather than take another individuals life to benefit our own (not kill, slavery) and this includes brain washing mass amounts of people. It isn't about being tough on crime it is about what causes crime in the first place and currently our policies are only making it worse rather than better.
How can we end this? By aiming to spread correct information rather than just what you think. We need to realize that what we think isn't true 99.99999% of the time and as such we have to stop thinking it is, again....fits into the 99.999999999999% for sure!
Let it go people, global warming is happening - we are addicted to drugs, money, oil, sex, video games, and more. and to top it all off, it is all because of corporations harming and abusing others by brain washing in all areas of our lives
firstly we have to stop letting them control the government in this fashion and take it back thus bringing proper regulation and control to the things that are there to help us such as food, clothing and cars - they shouldn't be poisoning us to make others money...why did it get like this? because they lied and they continue to through advertising, media and more...please begin to question is this right, do you need this? are you sure? how can scientists think that but others say no? while these scientists are only media newspersons not anyone who knows anything about anything
seriously people quit being so fucking stupid! Wake up you are really being lied to - don't believe me, go do research by not watching TV - go to a library or something, seriously - or wow there is a thing called wikipedia and it is good!!
The second type of misinformation is that related to brainwashing. It is information that is known to be false but is still promoted as being true for personal gain. This allows the person who is promoting the false information to take advantage as they know the true knowledge thus having power over those who are receiving the brainwashing information.
The first reason is beyond our control as when we thought the earth was flat, we hadn't seen the rest of it yet, how could we know? When we thought we were the center of the Universe, how could we know we weren't? All we knew were Stars, Suns, and out of this came the gods. This was our way of understanding although incorrect.
Today however, we know know that the earth isn't flat and that we aren't what we thought, as cool as we had hoped (not center of Universe!).
The problem and harm that we are able to prevent is the perpetuation of brain washing and this includes the use of media as a way of fear mongering and helping corporations make money.
those who don't believe in global warming are mistaken greatly and this is due to the very powerful and directed attack at the scientists who are finding all the problems we are causing to poison this planet thus which will eventually not end in the planet going somewhere but rather us and the continued belief in the idea that we are going to be saved by anything is greatly mistaken as just as the millions if not possibly even trillions of types of living creatures that has gone extinct before us. Do you think they thought a "god" was going to save them?
Or domination of TV and other types of information spreading technology that prevents those who know the truth from speaking out and that these people have the credibility to actually really know the truth or at least as close as possible for today as even the things we think today one day may be comparable to our thinking the earth was flat.
We need to begin to have the politics and policies of society be based on science rather than ideology and greed of both money and power. Oppression allows that otherwise we are all equal as animals just wanting to survive and have a life rather than take another individuals life to benefit our own (not kill, slavery) and this includes brain washing mass amounts of people. It isn't about being tough on crime it is about what causes crime in the first place and currently our policies are only making it worse rather than better.
How can we end this? By aiming to spread correct information rather than just what you think. We need to realize that what we think isn't true 99.99999% of the time and as such we have to stop thinking it is, again....fits into the 99.999999999999% for sure!
Let it go people, global warming is happening - we are addicted to drugs, money, oil, sex, video games, and more. and to top it all off, it is all because of corporations harming and abusing others by brain washing in all areas of our lives
firstly we have to stop letting them control the government in this fashion and take it back thus bringing proper regulation and control to the things that are there to help us such as food, clothing and cars - they shouldn't be poisoning us to make others money...why did it get like this? because they lied and they continue to through advertising, media and more...please begin to question is this right, do you need this? are you sure? how can scientists think that but others say no? while these scientists are only media newspersons not anyone who knows anything about anything
seriously people quit being so fucking stupid! Wake up you are really being lied to - don't believe me, go do research by not watching TV - go to a library or something, seriously - or wow there is a thing called wikipedia and it is good!!
August 14, 2009
Why prohibition doesn't end and how this is really causing society a great deal of harm
Today, I just watched Dana Larsen talking about being banned from the federal convention for the NDP Party for so-called offering to sponsor students to attend the convention. These student obviously had to be members of the NDP party to attend as delegates that this "sponsoring" to exist. In addition, all the was covered was travel expenses, nothing more. My question is firstly, is this allowed by other members of the party for the convention or was this the "unconventional" and thus frowned upon or viewed as paying people while otherwise everyone are volunteers.
However, that aside, I am not sure its not being used as an excuse regardless even if its not normally done. I do feel this as Dana has done these conventions before, it is the end prohibition booth that is not wanted rather than Dana violating policies.
What prohibition doesn't do in anyway is achieve what it sets out for which is to end drug use. What prohibition does achieve is causing people who are good and moral people harm by being exposed to exposure to unconstitutional searches, propaganda promoting the use of currently not prohibited drugs including alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs thus leading to increases in use and therefore, potential for harm and addiction and finally, this war achieves innocent lives to be lost both to the victims of the actual war but also the indirect victims that are not commonly discussed and these victims are those whom are already ill.
These victims include people who are in environments that are toxic such as trauma, poverty, malnutirtion, discrimination and other nasty environmental influences that lead people to seek out and treat their pain. when I write this I say people more in the sense of natural instinct of the brain which means that not only does physical pain lead to people wanting to medicate this pain but also when those who experience "pain in the brain" if you will, they do the same. Take drugs and if this is immoral than we need to make all painkillers prohibited as well along with cutting services to thousands of people under pain management services.
We in a sense need a "pain in the brain" management program and I put that into quotations as "pain" really is metaphorical for what I mean at a biological level. It is something that can't be controlled but instead of being in our physical body, it is in our brain likely due to "scars" of what the environment is doing to it. This is at a chemical level and no amount of free will can change this as when your brain isn't working correctly, its not the person's fault. It is the problem of whats around them and this includes taking drugs including alcohol and tobacco which are legal psychoactive substances.
What we need from the political parties is the recognition that this is the case and making drugs prohibited is like making a pain management clinic illegal. We are not talking about handing heroin out to people who have had a bad day, we are talking about providing controlled and regulated medications to help the person who has a serious brain disorder to be in less pain as a result of their disorder, disease or disability (whatever you want to call it). The mental health problems that are experienced often cause great pain in those who experience them but not so much in the physical sense as my knee hurts but rather more, everything hurts from bones to skin, toes to top of the head, it hurts. Aches, all the time with no escape just as person experiences after experiencing an injury due to a car accident or something like that. They have an ache all the time either potentially preventing them to walk properly along with the pain of nerve injury and such.
A person with mental health issues have this in the brain. In the case of the knee injury we know the cause but for the brain, it isn't always so cut and dry. The brain is a complex organ that interacts greatly with its environment which shapes it and allows it to either it function properly or it doesn't. When the brain doesn't work properly, neither do we. This likely includes being aware of our actions, knowing what we want or even abusing drugs or not.
Many people take drugs but only a small amount get addicted. Why? Prohibition doesn't matter, what matters is weather the brain wants to either experience something different or fun (those who are healthy use drugs too and this is normally why) or the brain wants to escape the pain that it is feeling due to the hurt "knee". It isn't their fault just as much as the person who was in the car accident, it is just we understand the car accident better or more easily. However, either way, it is true and we need to accept that drug use is going to exist in our society whether it is abuse or addiction and most often, just plain old use without any harm.
Prohibition is prohibiting good treatment for those with drug abuse problems along with harming those who choose to use drugs aside from those that may be legal even though are not less harmful than those prohibited.
We need to get the political parties to drop prohibition and realizing it is bad policy. We are following something new, a way of providing to both drug users while helping drug abusers to actually recover from a serious brain disorder. We need a sensible drug policy which brings me to the point, we need a policy that works and we need political parties to recognize this and without it, what can we do? How can we get prohibition when our own governmental systems are actually out to get us? We need to stop this and stop trying to end drug use and begin to end drug addiction.
If we want to end drug addiction we have to stop prohibition. It is the only choice and not really discussed.
However, that aside, I am not sure its not being used as an excuse regardless even if its not normally done. I do feel this as Dana has done these conventions before, it is the end prohibition booth that is not wanted rather than Dana violating policies.
What prohibition doesn't do in anyway is achieve what it sets out for which is to end drug use. What prohibition does achieve is causing people who are good and moral people harm by being exposed to exposure to unconstitutional searches, propaganda promoting the use of currently not prohibited drugs including alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs thus leading to increases in use and therefore, potential for harm and addiction and finally, this war achieves innocent lives to be lost both to the victims of the actual war but also the indirect victims that are not commonly discussed and these victims are those whom are already ill.
These victims include people who are in environments that are toxic such as trauma, poverty, malnutirtion, discrimination and other nasty environmental influences that lead people to seek out and treat their pain. when I write this I say people more in the sense of natural instinct of the brain which means that not only does physical pain lead to people wanting to medicate this pain but also when those who experience "pain in the brain" if you will, they do the same. Take drugs and if this is immoral than we need to make all painkillers prohibited as well along with cutting services to thousands of people under pain management services.
We in a sense need a "pain in the brain" management program and I put that into quotations as "pain" really is metaphorical for what I mean at a biological level. It is something that can't be controlled but instead of being in our physical body, it is in our brain likely due to "scars" of what the environment is doing to it. This is at a chemical level and no amount of free will can change this as when your brain isn't working correctly, its not the person's fault. It is the problem of whats around them and this includes taking drugs including alcohol and tobacco which are legal psychoactive substances.
What we need from the political parties is the recognition that this is the case and making drugs prohibited is like making a pain management clinic illegal. We are not talking about handing heroin out to people who have had a bad day, we are talking about providing controlled and regulated medications to help the person who has a serious brain disorder to be in less pain as a result of their disorder, disease or disability (whatever you want to call it). The mental health problems that are experienced often cause great pain in those who experience them but not so much in the physical sense as my knee hurts but rather more, everything hurts from bones to skin, toes to top of the head, it hurts. Aches, all the time with no escape just as person experiences after experiencing an injury due to a car accident or something like that. They have an ache all the time either potentially preventing them to walk properly along with the pain of nerve injury and such.
A person with mental health issues have this in the brain. In the case of the knee injury we know the cause but for the brain, it isn't always so cut and dry. The brain is a complex organ that interacts greatly with its environment which shapes it and allows it to either it function properly or it doesn't. When the brain doesn't work properly, neither do we. This likely includes being aware of our actions, knowing what we want or even abusing drugs or not.
Many people take drugs but only a small amount get addicted. Why? Prohibition doesn't matter, what matters is weather the brain wants to either experience something different or fun (those who are healthy use drugs too and this is normally why) or the brain wants to escape the pain that it is feeling due to the hurt "knee". It isn't their fault just as much as the person who was in the car accident, it is just we understand the car accident better or more easily. However, either way, it is true and we need to accept that drug use is going to exist in our society whether it is abuse or addiction and most often, just plain old use without any harm.
Prohibition is prohibiting good treatment for those with drug abuse problems along with harming those who choose to use drugs aside from those that may be legal even though are not less harmful than those prohibited.
We need to get the political parties to drop prohibition and realizing it is bad policy. We are following something new, a way of providing to both drug users while helping drug abusers to actually recover from a serious brain disorder. We need a sensible drug policy which brings me to the point, we need a policy that works and we need political parties to recognize this and without it, what can we do? How can we get prohibition when our own governmental systems are actually out to get us? We need to stop this and stop trying to end drug use and begin to end drug addiction.
If we want to end drug addiction we have to stop prohibition. It is the only choice and not really discussed.
August 11, 2009
the harm from Police
Well, it is official, even though the cops may be there to serve and protect, it is more just each other rather than the citizens they are hired to protect. This is the corruption that fills the police forces around the world (including DEA) that help to end drug use. It is the harm to the citizens of societies everywhere as this isn't a national problem, it is global. We have a global war being fought and all it is doing is making the drug cartels rich while hurting innocent people everywhere.
This inability to properly investigate the problems within the police forces is not acceptable as it isn't either within the political systems. Are there people making sure the tax $ gets to where it should and if it doesn't, who investigates this properly? The police sure don't and neither does the government as they are the ones that took it. We are seriously lacking basic checks on the services that are supposed to be there for us not just those who are either police or politicians who routinely get away with crimes including violent and fraudulent ones costing tax payers millions of dollars.
The harm of police comes from giving them too much power when being hired to serve and protect along with idea they have that drug users are criminals rather than the innocent citizens they really are. These laws that are forcing police to commit unconstitutional acts often leading them to thinking they can do what they like. We need to end the harm to all and this includes the harm that comes from having the police investigate themselves.
Peer-reviewed journals in science is their for a reason, it is to make sure the research and experiments are sound and ethical which is done by an established board that has no affiliation with the research. If they are not passed, the research is not done and the scientist has to go back to the drawing board.
This isn't the case for police however, as it is after the fact. And they get suspended paid leave. No other job in the world is like this as if you fuck up, your fired without pay or reference or anything. Why are they protected while others (regular citizens) have to pay for years when they commit a crime (both are guilty of the crime)?
This is a crime in and of itself which is being supported by the legal system which is appalling. It needs to stop and become honest and be independent all around including investigations of lawyers, judges and even other legal affiliated individuals. Along with an entire department of the government that funds these independent investigations, they have begin a governmental agency that investigates the distribution of the tax dollars in ensuring they go where they should be and not to friends or buddies as the problem is within the police service as well.
These services of course would be provided by non-affiliated members who can prove they do not know the people in any of the said departments within the governmental system. We need to stop the friend system. It is bad for us all as most of use aren't all friends with these people. We are just normal people up against powerful police commissions. That simply isn't fair for a regular guy being able to protect themselves against a power hungry lying police officer which there are many!!
Thanks Colleen
SMART BRAIN INDUSTRIES
This inability to properly investigate the problems within the police forces is not acceptable as it isn't either within the political systems. Are there people making sure the tax $ gets to where it should and if it doesn't, who investigates this properly? The police sure don't and neither does the government as they are the ones that took it. We are seriously lacking basic checks on the services that are supposed to be there for us not just those who are either police or politicians who routinely get away with crimes including violent and fraudulent ones costing tax payers millions of dollars.
The harm of police comes from giving them too much power when being hired to serve and protect along with idea they have that drug users are criminals rather than the innocent citizens they really are. These laws that are forcing police to commit unconstitutional acts often leading them to thinking they can do what they like. We need to end the harm to all and this includes the harm that comes from having the police investigate themselves.
Peer-reviewed journals in science is their for a reason, it is to make sure the research and experiments are sound and ethical which is done by an established board that has no affiliation with the research. If they are not passed, the research is not done and the scientist has to go back to the drawing board.
This isn't the case for police however, as it is after the fact. And they get suspended paid leave. No other job in the world is like this as if you fuck up, your fired without pay or reference or anything. Why are they protected while others (regular citizens) have to pay for years when they commit a crime (both are guilty of the crime)?
This is a crime in and of itself which is being supported by the legal system which is appalling. It needs to stop and become honest and be independent all around including investigations of lawyers, judges and even other legal affiliated individuals. Along with an entire department of the government that funds these independent investigations, they have begin a governmental agency that investigates the distribution of the tax dollars in ensuring they go where they should be and not to friends or buddies as the problem is within the police service as well.
These services of course would be provided by non-affiliated members who can prove they do not know the people in any of the said departments within the governmental system. We need to stop the friend system. It is bad for us all as most of use aren't all friends with these people. We are just normal people up against powerful police commissions. That simply isn't fair for a regular guy being able to protect themselves against a power hungry lying police officer which there are many!!
Thanks Colleen
SMART BRAIN INDUSTRIES
August 10, 2009
The use of drugs in society isn't our problem!
Drugs are being scapegoated for the problems in society for years. Sadly, this isn't the problem and as a result our problems continue. Just having the presence of drugs being used in society isn't problematic within itself as use does not harm the user or others. In fact, this use may be beneficial in many ways. In the past society claims that the very use in itself is immoral and a sign of weakness within the person as being "unable" to manage life. The problem with this argument is that lots of very strong people who are brilliant and lead amazingly productive and wonderful lives use drugs. The list is endless but some include John Hopkins (injected heroin daily), Carl Sagan and Stephen King.
What is problematic is when those with past trauma issues or other mental health problems use drugs. Often these people are more prone to the negative effects of these drugs, have a higher desire to use again due to the especially good feelings (aka escape from their problems) as well as they don't learn as well as individuals without these problems. It of course is not their fault but rather the dysfunction of their brain due to damage either by trauma (hit on the head, abuse, neglect), genetic or potentially a current toxic environment such as exposure to chemicals, stress and/or lack of nutrition/exercise.
The attempt at eradicating drugs is not only harming those who end up abusing or addicted to them (including alcohol, tobacco and caffeine) but also those who are simply using the drugs as they are being hunted daily by police even though they are really hurting no person. In addition, when we are simply putting efforts into preventing individuals from using the drugs we are neglecting to acknowledge the real reason why we use drugs and that is for many reasons including beneficial ones.
We all use drugs and this is a fact and it can't be denied. To attempt to prevent individuals from using some but not others that are potentially harmful is not pragmatic and realistic. It is leading to harmful effects as not only are those who use drugs being harmed (some countries kill people for drugs) but it is harming those who don't use drugs as when we are attempting to prevent addiction simply by trying to stop people from having access to the substance, we are not dealing with the real underlying issue of why they are trying to get the drug.
When those with past trauma and other mental health issues are prevented access to psychoactive substances while still having their problems remain unresolved, they will revert to altering their brain or what we call consciousness to escape the pain they are feeling due to their brain disorder. It has been recorded in many places around the world that individuals who are experiencing a great deal of dislocation,trauma, or neglect they will revert to using dangerous methods of altering their brain chemistry and this includes using inhalants such as gasoline or nail polish remover. Some will drink methanol instead of ethanol which is toxic but does give the same type of psychoactive effect as what we drink normally. Methanol is found in mouthwash and hand sanitizer.
We can never get rid of drug us however, we can help these people who have past trauma issues and mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and personality disorders all of which are associated with high rates of drug use. This in itself should decrease drug abuse as the reason for abusing the drug will go away.
People abuse drugs when they are under stress they can't feel they can manage such as a loss (job/passion, loved one, security), neglected (isolated, lack of peer connections or family), abused (sexual, assault, emotional) and deficiency (nutrition, water, exercise). This is because these things hurt they brain, if you want to think about it in the physical sense, it scars it and makes it simply not work as well and as such, the brain seeks out assistance. It is the natural thing for it to do, not a weak thing as sometimes when we are healthy and happy, these same tools can be used for remarkable things.
When the brain is healthy, it can use these tools in a controlled and healthy fashion. Thus, crime, apathy, all of that nonsense that is assocaited with drug use is actually not an issue for these individuals. They are able to remain in control and able to have a good life that is productive in how they see fit and that is good for society. For those individuals however that have an unhealthy brain due to it being scarred by the past like having no legs for some or arms or eyes, it makes these things very difficult to obtain as the brain is in pain and it literally hurts which is something those with healthy brains can not know how it feels as it is not like having a bad day or even losing a person that they loved. It is likely more like being at war but inside the brain.
I would like to encourage people to think of us as brains as that is all we are and we are really not in control even with the conscious thoughts we have. We can't change what the environment does to our brain through abuse, neglect, stress or what genes we are born with that may predisposed us to not being able to handle stress, neglect, abuse or deficiencies as well but what we can do is change how we help those who do struggle. Rather than labels such as lazy or stupid or criminals, we need to think about ways to help these people not want to abuse drugs in the first place rather than trying to prevent them access.
In terms of how to handle those who are abusing or addicted, we need to provide a respectful and empowering distribution system that still provides the individual with the drug of choice in known doses and safer administration routes (swallow rather than smoke or inject) as regardless, these people will be at different places in their treatments for their brain disorders and as such to help on their path to recovery, drug use can be done even by those whom are addicted or abusing by helping them use in ways that does less harm to them as well as others.
Illicit drugs are extremely expensive and having to pay for these if abusing or addicted is very expensive and this cost society not just the individual.
It is not going to help use to try to prevent those who have a drive to use from access especially since there is always a way of altering consciousness and they do include much more harmful ways then the currently illicit psychoactive substances.
It has been disappointing the coverage of the media on this topic as it is still sprouting the same crap it was decades ago when science knows this not to be true. In fact, it is really irrelevant as to the harms of the drug as the currently legal ones are much more harmful than the illicit and this includes cocaine and heroin. Yes, alcohol is worse. Nicotine itself likely isn't too harmful but the current distribution routes are such as through our chemical laden cigarettes that include formaldehyde and hundreds more. Why are we arguing about the harm of cannabis when it is nothing in comparison to the current cigarette products available?
The argument really should be that we have control over our autonomy and this includes consciousness. The choice to use cannabis, cocaine, heroin, MDMA, amphetamines, and the hallucinogens to alter my consciousness is my choice and as long as this choice is conscientious it is not in the true sense of what the law should define be wrong and thus it should not be illegal to either buy or sell.
The argument of decriminalization is still not allowing those who choose to use the drug to do so in a safe fashion as what they are buying still exists on the black market and as such, this is causing great problems as it currently does. In other words, it is changing nothing. In addition, I heard that in Portugal that they are forcing those given a ticket for possession into treatment. This is not confirmed, (if you know for sure, please let me know) but if this is true, this is very bad and again, does nothing to address the fact that drug use in itself is not wrong however, abusing and addiction leads to harm but still in itself is not immoral but rather a sign of illness.
Drug use is normal while drug abuse and addiction is the exception. Only about 5-15% will abuse or become serious addicted to any drug and it doesn't matter which one except tobacco is shown to be about 35% addiction likely due to pharmacological reasons. The other 85% of users shouldn't be attacked as they are being today. This is causing an extremely harmful allocation of funds in terms of governmental spending.
To paint a picture of a world with a legal drug market. This market would of course be regulated which means that to produce, sell and buy you need to qualify for permits to do so meaning that those who make the product, distribute it and purchase it who can do this as a restaurant may need permits for operation in terms of health regulations. This could be called the Non-Medical Psychoactive Drug Regulation Department.
It would include individuals that are trained and knowledgeable in psychoactive drug use and this doesn't necessarily mean the pharmaceutical drugs. It would be ideal if the government hired people to control the distribution based on the amount of harm the drug may pose when used. This means that those drugs with potential for more harm require individuals with more training and knowledge and also higher controls on distribution which also means not everyone may be able to just walk into a store and buy it if over a certain age (as alcohol is currently). For the drugs that have potential for more harm, licenses may be required such as a "drivers license". These drugs can result in harm just as driving may and as such, it isn't a right but rather a privilege.
For psychoactive drugs that are currently illegal, many have potentially excellent medical uses and as such a department needs to be established that distributes separately from the recreational department called the Medical Psychoactive Drug Regulation Department. This includes currently what would be called prescription medications. As some overlap obviously as is currently the case, the two departments are linked but have different missions. It is important to recognize the seperation within the regulated market as it could be very helpful for scientific purposes in terms of maintaining the ability to keep track of why and how people are using drugs as it is the way the drug is used that makes the difference as well, if the person has either physical or brain issues, it might could help how we study people with specific conditions using particular medications (including of course the currently illegal drugs including heroin, cocaine and heroin).
Regulated market including how to help those best when they begin to abuse or show signs of potential addiction issues is best for society and not preventing the simple sue of drugs as that is a basic constitution issues. WE have the right not only to our consciousness but also our medicines. Many currently illegal drugs provide medical benefit. Please help end the drug war as it is nothing more than a war on people!!!
What is problematic is when those with past trauma issues or other mental health problems use drugs. Often these people are more prone to the negative effects of these drugs, have a higher desire to use again due to the especially good feelings (aka escape from their problems) as well as they don't learn as well as individuals without these problems. It of course is not their fault but rather the dysfunction of their brain due to damage either by trauma (hit on the head, abuse, neglect), genetic or potentially a current toxic environment such as exposure to chemicals, stress and/or lack of nutrition/exercise.
The attempt at eradicating drugs is not only harming those who end up abusing or addicted to them (including alcohol, tobacco and caffeine) but also those who are simply using the drugs as they are being hunted daily by police even though they are really hurting no person. In addition, when we are simply putting efforts into preventing individuals from using the drugs we are neglecting to acknowledge the real reason why we use drugs and that is for many reasons including beneficial ones.
We all use drugs and this is a fact and it can't be denied. To attempt to prevent individuals from using some but not others that are potentially harmful is not pragmatic and realistic. It is leading to harmful effects as not only are those who use drugs being harmed (some countries kill people for drugs) but it is harming those who don't use drugs as when we are attempting to prevent addiction simply by trying to stop people from having access to the substance, we are not dealing with the real underlying issue of why they are trying to get the drug.
When those with past trauma and other mental health issues are prevented access to psychoactive substances while still having their problems remain unresolved, they will revert to altering their brain or what we call consciousness to escape the pain they are feeling due to their brain disorder. It has been recorded in many places around the world that individuals who are experiencing a great deal of dislocation,trauma, or neglect they will revert to using dangerous methods of altering their brain chemistry and this includes using inhalants such as gasoline or nail polish remover. Some will drink methanol instead of ethanol which is toxic but does give the same type of psychoactive effect as what we drink normally. Methanol is found in mouthwash and hand sanitizer.
We can never get rid of drug us however, we can help these people who have past trauma issues and mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and personality disorders all of which are associated with high rates of drug use. This in itself should decrease drug abuse as the reason for abusing the drug will go away.
People abuse drugs when they are under stress they can't feel they can manage such as a loss (job/passion, loved one, security), neglected (isolated, lack of peer connections or family), abused (sexual, assault, emotional) and deficiency (nutrition, water, exercise). This is because these things hurt they brain, if you want to think about it in the physical sense, it scars it and makes it simply not work as well and as such, the brain seeks out assistance. It is the natural thing for it to do, not a weak thing as sometimes when we are healthy and happy, these same tools can be used for remarkable things.
When the brain is healthy, it can use these tools in a controlled and healthy fashion. Thus, crime, apathy, all of that nonsense that is assocaited with drug use is actually not an issue for these individuals. They are able to remain in control and able to have a good life that is productive in how they see fit and that is good for society. For those individuals however that have an unhealthy brain due to it being scarred by the past like having no legs for some or arms or eyes, it makes these things very difficult to obtain as the brain is in pain and it literally hurts which is something those with healthy brains can not know how it feels as it is not like having a bad day or even losing a person that they loved. It is likely more like being at war but inside the brain.
I would like to encourage people to think of us as brains as that is all we are and we are really not in control even with the conscious thoughts we have. We can't change what the environment does to our brain through abuse, neglect, stress or what genes we are born with that may predisposed us to not being able to handle stress, neglect, abuse or deficiencies as well but what we can do is change how we help those who do struggle. Rather than labels such as lazy or stupid or criminals, we need to think about ways to help these people not want to abuse drugs in the first place rather than trying to prevent them access.
In terms of how to handle those who are abusing or addicted, we need to provide a respectful and empowering distribution system that still provides the individual with the drug of choice in known doses and safer administration routes (swallow rather than smoke or inject) as regardless, these people will be at different places in their treatments for their brain disorders and as such to help on their path to recovery, drug use can be done even by those whom are addicted or abusing by helping them use in ways that does less harm to them as well as others.
Illicit drugs are extremely expensive and having to pay for these if abusing or addicted is very expensive and this cost society not just the individual.
It is not going to help use to try to prevent those who have a drive to use from access especially since there is always a way of altering consciousness and they do include much more harmful ways then the currently illicit psychoactive substances.
It has been disappointing the coverage of the media on this topic as it is still sprouting the same crap it was decades ago when science knows this not to be true. In fact, it is really irrelevant as to the harms of the drug as the currently legal ones are much more harmful than the illicit and this includes cocaine and heroin. Yes, alcohol is worse. Nicotine itself likely isn't too harmful but the current distribution routes are such as through our chemical laden cigarettes that include formaldehyde and hundreds more. Why are we arguing about the harm of cannabis when it is nothing in comparison to the current cigarette products available?
The argument really should be that we have control over our autonomy and this includes consciousness. The choice to use cannabis, cocaine, heroin, MDMA, amphetamines, and the hallucinogens to alter my consciousness is my choice and as long as this choice is conscientious it is not in the true sense of what the law should define be wrong and thus it should not be illegal to either buy or sell.
The argument of decriminalization is still not allowing those who choose to use the drug to do so in a safe fashion as what they are buying still exists on the black market and as such, this is causing great problems as it currently does. In other words, it is changing nothing. In addition, I heard that in Portugal that they are forcing those given a ticket for possession into treatment. This is not confirmed, (if you know for sure, please let me know) but if this is true, this is very bad and again, does nothing to address the fact that drug use in itself is not wrong however, abusing and addiction leads to harm but still in itself is not immoral but rather a sign of illness.
Drug use is normal while drug abuse and addiction is the exception. Only about 5-15% will abuse or become serious addicted to any drug and it doesn't matter which one except tobacco is shown to be about 35% addiction likely due to pharmacological reasons. The other 85% of users shouldn't be attacked as they are being today. This is causing an extremely harmful allocation of funds in terms of governmental spending.
To paint a picture of a world with a legal drug market. This market would of course be regulated which means that to produce, sell and buy you need to qualify for permits to do so meaning that those who make the product, distribute it and purchase it who can do this as a restaurant may need permits for operation in terms of health regulations. This could be called the Non-Medical Psychoactive Drug Regulation Department.
It would include individuals that are trained and knowledgeable in psychoactive drug use and this doesn't necessarily mean the pharmaceutical drugs. It would be ideal if the government hired people to control the distribution based on the amount of harm the drug may pose when used. This means that those drugs with potential for more harm require individuals with more training and knowledge and also higher controls on distribution which also means not everyone may be able to just walk into a store and buy it if over a certain age (as alcohol is currently). For the drugs that have potential for more harm, licenses may be required such as a "drivers license". These drugs can result in harm just as driving may and as such, it isn't a right but rather a privilege.
For psychoactive drugs that are currently illegal, many have potentially excellent medical uses and as such a department needs to be established that distributes separately from the recreational department called the Medical Psychoactive Drug Regulation Department. This includes currently what would be called prescription medications. As some overlap obviously as is currently the case, the two departments are linked but have different missions. It is important to recognize the seperation within the regulated market as it could be very helpful for scientific purposes in terms of maintaining the ability to keep track of why and how people are using drugs as it is the way the drug is used that makes the difference as well, if the person has either physical or brain issues, it might could help how we study people with specific conditions using particular medications (including of course the currently illegal drugs including heroin, cocaine and heroin).
Regulated market including how to help those best when they begin to abuse or show signs of potential addiction issues is best for society and not preventing the simple sue of drugs as that is a basic constitution issues. WE have the right not only to our consciousness but also our medicines. Many currently illegal drugs provide medical benefit. Please help end the drug war as it is nothing more than a war on people!!!
July 28, 2009
Harm is not from the drugs but rather the brain disorders that cause the addiction to the drugs!
The harm of drugs is really never absolutely present or not present. It is all related to how we use the drugs and therefore, harm only happens when drugs are used in a harmful manner similar to that of a car. The car is used all the time with very little harm. In my life, I have only been two accidents that weren't my fault and due to my learning about evasive maneuvering in drivers training, nobody was hurt.
However, with drugs and this includes alcohol, we don’t have using training. We go out their blindly with little idea as to what we are doing or what could happen. When we are young we drink and we do it very dangerously - this includes even after we reach legal drinking age as we don't have any instruction as to the harms of drinking. Binge drinking is very harmful to the brain but due to it being legal, it gives many individuals the illusion that any use is safe use but this simply is not true.
Many youth or young adults experience alcohol overdoses (aka poisoning) and other problems associated with substance use but as they learn how to use the drug (mid 20s), often these problems disappear unless of course, the individual has other problems as well such as trauma, lower education, poverty, and under/unemployment, then the drug use (no matter what drug is used - alcohol, tobacco, prescription meds, etc) will become abuse and then develop into addiction which likely could become chronic as they remain addicts throughout their 30s and older potentially if not able to access proper treatment which includes likely 9/10 addicts as current treatment don't work due to incorrect assumptions about addiction such as it is a moral issue rather than a brain disorder.
However, this progression of drug use to addiction is not the norm in fact, it is very not normal otherwise, 3/4 people would be drug addicts rather than 1/10. Therefore, to be really able to reduce harm of the drug abuse and addiction in society, we need to stop trying to prevent the 9/10 people who try it from trying it and instead provide support, education and “treatment” for those 1/10 people who do develop a problem.
Treatment was in quotations due to it being not really treatment for the drug addiction but rather the brain disorder that is causing the addiction in the first place and the toxic environment the individual is likely in. The people who become drug addicts are abused sexually almost 100% if not 100%. You will be hard pressed to find a chronic addict who doesn’t have a history of sexual abuse and it is often chronic and by a trusted family member or other person close to the family or authority.
To truly fight addiction, we need to help the addicts. We need to stop focusing our efforts on stopping the availability of the drug and instead regulate the availability and have medical personal professionally trained to help distribute and educate users on using substances. In addition, we then have these professionals also trained in providing proper interventions to those who are abusing the drugs. This includes all drugs including alcohol and tobacco as the harm that results from these are astronomical. I think though coffee, chocolate and tea is okay to not have medical professionals distributing it.
In addition, due to the regulated market, the 9/10 people who use drugs will be able to obtain them safely, without fear of what is in them and fear of the person who is distributing them as sadly, due to the black market, drug distribution is left up to those who are more prone to dishonesty and greed not unlike those who run corporations to get away from personal responsibility. They also will be able to obtain accurate information about the drugs so they are able to make educated decisions about their use thus reducing harm to themselves due to mistakes.
The cure for our problem with drugs in society is simple, one) regulate and two) provide proper services aimed at those who have brain disorders (including addiction). If the services were provided for these people correctly without worry about funding, it would return the investment ten fold as they would get to be human beings again rather than sick, traumatized, injured people who are in pain like no person can imagine and sadly are draining the health and legal systems. Trauma hurts us all not just those it happens to!
When we cut funding to those with mental health and addiction issues (brain disorders) we are slowly breaking down society. This is the threat to society as we know it, not the actual drugs themselves as again 9/10 people will never develop problems but those 1/10 people can make so many problems for the rest of the 9/10 people due to not having proper treatment and support, not due to the simple addiction of the drug. They hurt, why are we making them hurt more?
However, with drugs and this includes alcohol, we don’t have using training. We go out their blindly with little idea as to what we are doing or what could happen. When we are young we drink and we do it very dangerously - this includes even after we reach legal drinking age as we don't have any instruction as to the harms of drinking. Binge drinking is very harmful to the brain but due to it being legal, it gives many individuals the illusion that any use is safe use but this simply is not true.
Many youth or young adults experience alcohol overdoses (aka poisoning) and other problems associated with substance use but as they learn how to use the drug (mid 20s), often these problems disappear unless of course, the individual has other problems as well such as trauma, lower education, poverty, and under/unemployment, then the drug use (no matter what drug is used - alcohol, tobacco, prescription meds, etc) will become abuse and then develop into addiction which likely could become chronic as they remain addicts throughout their 30s and older potentially if not able to access proper treatment which includes likely 9/10 addicts as current treatment don't work due to incorrect assumptions about addiction such as it is a moral issue rather than a brain disorder.
However, this progression of drug use to addiction is not the norm in fact, it is very not normal otherwise, 3/4 people would be drug addicts rather than 1/10. Therefore, to be really able to reduce harm of the drug abuse and addiction in society, we need to stop trying to prevent the 9/10 people who try it from trying it and instead provide support, education and “treatment” for those 1/10 people who do develop a problem.
Treatment was in quotations due to it being not really treatment for the drug addiction but rather the brain disorder that is causing the addiction in the first place and the toxic environment the individual is likely in. The people who become drug addicts are abused sexually almost 100% if not 100%. You will be hard pressed to find a chronic addict who doesn’t have a history of sexual abuse and it is often chronic and by a trusted family member or other person close to the family or authority.
To truly fight addiction, we need to help the addicts. We need to stop focusing our efforts on stopping the availability of the drug and instead regulate the availability and have medical personal professionally trained to help distribute and educate users on using substances. In addition, we then have these professionals also trained in providing proper interventions to those who are abusing the drugs. This includes all drugs including alcohol and tobacco as the harm that results from these are astronomical. I think though coffee, chocolate and tea is okay to not have medical professionals distributing it.
In addition, due to the regulated market, the 9/10 people who use drugs will be able to obtain them safely, without fear of what is in them and fear of the person who is distributing them as sadly, due to the black market, drug distribution is left up to those who are more prone to dishonesty and greed not unlike those who run corporations to get away from personal responsibility. They also will be able to obtain accurate information about the drugs so they are able to make educated decisions about their use thus reducing harm to themselves due to mistakes.
The cure for our problem with drugs in society is simple, one) regulate and two) provide proper services aimed at those who have brain disorders (including addiction). If the services were provided for these people correctly without worry about funding, it would return the investment ten fold as they would get to be human beings again rather than sick, traumatized, injured people who are in pain like no person can imagine and sadly are draining the health and legal systems. Trauma hurts us all not just those it happens to!
When we cut funding to those with mental health and addiction issues (brain disorders) we are slowly breaking down society. This is the threat to society as we know it, not the actual drugs themselves as again 9/10 people will never develop problems but those 1/10 people can make so many problems for the rest of the 9/10 people due to not having proper treatment and support, not due to the simple addiction of the drug. They hurt, why are we making them hurt more?
July 7, 2009
Reducing Harm to the Earth
Our earth is always going to be here well at least it will be longer then we are even if humans destroy this planet with our addictions to oil and consumerism. I watched a great documentary, The 11th Hour, by Leonardo DiCaprio on how we can change our world and get off Oil and consumerism.
We are such as wonderful species. We are capable of great amazing things such as art, music, love and compassion but on the same end, we are capable of such horrific things, murder, rape, hate and greed. We are being consumed by these horrific things and it is destroying us as a species.
This movie gave me hope as humans are amazing animals with such potential and it seems that there are many people who are excited and willing to help save the planet we need to survive. We can do this and it needs to involve the leaders taking responsibility (corporations and politicians) to admit they are not doing what is in the best interests of the entire human population and they are going to change. If they can’t do this then we as a people need to rise up and take back this power. How? I do not know but it can begin with spreading the truth about the environment, the drug war, economy, and our health. We need to stop letting people control others. We need to start asking ourselves, is what I do healthy for myself and the earth?
Driving to work 2 hours a day each way is not healthy for both us or our earth. Our earth is sick and we are too. WE need to stop blinding ourselves to the pain of our world. Please rise up and increase your awareness of more then just your immediate world. Quote by Chorpa - People are doing the best they can do with the awareness they have.” I feel this is absolutely true but sadly, in today's world of written word and the speed of transfer of knowledge, it is no longer an excuse to not be aware. It is our own responsibility to get educated with facts and truthful knowledge rather than the myths, assumptions and stereotypes that fill this worlds media and even educational system. We are in a special time. We can help ourselves, we can increase our awareness and we can save ourselves.
Please don’t think of only reducing harm to yourself and your family, think of the earth. Even in the drug war, the spreading of the chemicals used to eradicate fields of coca or opium is spreading sickness to our earth as these fields are natural and healthy for earth and us. Love ourselves and the earth!!
We are such as wonderful species. We are capable of great amazing things such as art, music, love and compassion but on the same end, we are capable of such horrific things, murder, rape, hate and greed. We are being consumed by these horrific things and it is destroying us as a species.
This movie gave me hope as humans are amazing animals with such potential and it seems that there are many people who are excited and willing to help save the planet we need to survive. We can do this and it needs to involve the leaders taking responsibility (corporations and politicians) to admit they are not doing what is in the best interests of the entire human population and they are going to change. If they can’t do this then we as a people need to rise up and take back this power. How? I do not know but it can begin with spreading the truth about the environment, the drug war, economy, and our health. We need to stop letting people control others. We need to start asking ourselves, is what I do healthy for myself and the earth?
Driving to work 2 hours a day each way is not healthy for both us or our earth. Our earth is sick and we are too. WE need to stop blinding ourselves to the pain of our world. Please rise up and increase your awareness of more then just your immediate world. Quote by Chorpa - People are doing the best they can do with the awareness they have.” I feel this is absolutely true but sadly, in today's world of written word and the speed of transfer of knowledge, it is no longer an excuse to not be aware. It is our own responsibility to get educated with facts and truthful knowledge rather than the myths, assumptions and stereotypes that fill this worlds media and even educational system. We are in a special time. We can help ourselves, we can increase our awareness and we can save ourselves.
Please don’t think of only reducing harm to yourself and your family, think of the earth. Even in the drug war, the spreading of the chemicals used to eradicate fields of coca or opium is spreading sickness to our earth as these fields are natural and healthy for earth and us. Love ourselves and the earth!!
July 3, 2009
Reducing Crime
The World Report 2009 put out by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime is nothing but more propaganda aimed at trying to convince us to continue buying into the “war on drugs”. For this blog, I was going to quote parts of the first section of the report but there were so many things that were incorrect and attacks on intelligent and rational people that they don’t even justify a response.
The very fact that drugs are grouped as being equal with crime without the inclusion of tobacco and alcohol in this is continuing to separate these psychoactive substances as something different then illicit drugs yet they are not. Crimes occur surrounding the use of alcohol and tobacco and they are not without their problems which is mentioned in this report yet still continues to say they are different.
The report is filled with propaganda comments aimed at imposing fear and irrationality such as “illicit drugs continue to pose a health danger to humanity” and that “much of this public debate is characterized by sweeping generalizations and simplistic solutions”. These are both wrong and continue to put misguided attempts to a serious problem. We don’t outlaw automobiles yet they are posing an obvious health threat and the public debate is characterized by rational use of scientific research and professionals from around the world finally speaking out against the harm that the drug war is causing.
The statement “changes are needed….rather than by pursuing the different goals of abandoning such protection” is seriously misguided. The changes being asked for when ending the war on drugs is not one of ending protection to those that are addicted but rather beginning a new way of distributing all psychoactive drugs in a respectful and autonomous manner thus not creating an entire population of “criminals” by making it illegal. It is only humans that make this illegal, not any other supreme being as so many people believe (it being immoral to alter consciousness as some religious people believe). The use of drugs is a fact of our life and simply decriminalizing still only makes 1/2 equation illegal as providing the product is still illegal thus really making the entire equation still illegal.
Let’s apply this to automobiles. So they are made illegal due to the carbon emissions harming humans and it decided that using it is decriminalized but buy it isn’t so, the car dealers still kill each other with the customers caught in the middle. The dealers still work at providing the harmful automobile (oil-gas using instead of electric - that is illegal too) and the product is still uncontrolled thus killing its consumers. How does this help or decrease problems? It doesn’t and it sure won’t reduce the harm done by the so called - car dealership criminals. How about we legalize electric cars and make initiations to those who make it safer and cheaper for people to use rather then the opposite?
Using drugs can be compared to driving a car and both are not going away and we seem to want to do it no matter the harm it may led to (changing climates and potential addiction). Isn’t this defined as addiction, using something even when having negative consequences, in all areas of life (think societal - financial - economy crash, health -chronic cancer and lung problems - social - increased war and competition - etc ) and for what - so we can drive a car?
Another thing that I wonder is why aren’t there reports about legalizing or decriminalizing murder? Why isn’t their a public outcry about this? Because it is wrong without a doubt, we don’t need to discuss this as deep down potentially to the genetic level, it is wrong to kill - plain and simple.
More quotes from the World Report 2009 - “legalize and tax argument is unethical and uneconomical” - why then do we legalize gambling and alcohol and tax it?
Human trafficking has no comparison to using drugs especially if causing no harm which can be done - human trafficking was made illegal years ago when slavery feel in North America - how is this the same as legalizing a drug that has no feelings or future potential of leading a wonderful life? A drug is a object with no life in it and thus no feelings, comparing the control of drugs to humans is absolutely ignorant and indicates having little to no understanding of the problems that arise from drug using, abusing and addiction.
There is no indicating that drugs increase if made legal as has been shown through history as various drugs have been made illegal throughout history including chocolate and tobacco both of which didn’t change in its addiction rates. Use isn’t indicative of abuse or addiction.
The comments of the the debate of the regulated market being naive and myopic are ignorant and hurtful comments again aimed at trying to maintain status quo and attempting to maintain the dominating and harmful control over the drug war to maintain it due to the hidden agenda of these people. It is not to help protect society as is being portrayed.
Indicating that a drug epidemic would be inevitable in developing countries is absolutely again indicating naivety in the problem as they have less problems with drugs not due to the high controls they have preventing the access to drugs but rather due to less class difference meaning less oppression of the poor classes as a result they have less mental health problems resulting in less addiction issues and cases of dislocation or loss of identity or culture.
The report is no0t only further perpetuating the myths of crimes being a result of drugs but also that now they have to get tough on crime as it goes along with drugs. This is true but only due to their generating it. You don’t see Molson Canadian killing Coors but you do see them joining and becoming one powerful company but certainly still not as powerful as the once Al Capone or other Mafia giants made possible due to the prohibition of alcohol. The crime has disappeared as the laws disappeared.
Why can’t we learn that victimless laws (prostitution, drug laws, homosexuality, women having the vote, even the one-child law) generate crime not humans if the humans are not necessarily victim. We can’t necessarily prohibit something that humans do that is natural and not necessarily harmful to another (I’m non the fence about the one-child law) although at times, they may have harm, they don’t all the time. Those who hire prostitutes may not be married with children or those who use cocaine or heroin don’t end up stealing to feed their drug habit but rather are law-abiding citizens otherwise.
Crime is a generation of the drug laws not the other way around and until we stop this madness of persecuting those that provide me with something I want, then we have a problem. I don’t kill, steal, hurt, abuse or take advantage of others and my use of drugs affects no others but I certainly feel it enhanced my life. In fact, I give my life to illicit drugs (MDMA specifically for treating my PTSD) and I am not ashamed. We need to end the drug war as it is only a war on innocent and good people or the sick people who don’t jail but rather compassion.
Please don’t let the report make you think drug dealers need to be stopped, they need to be made legal just as they were for alcohol prohibition. What happened to the Al Capon’s after the end of prohibition? They went on to controlling the other legal activities (gambling, sex (women)). The laws prohibiting sex for sale and drugs for sale only oppress those predominantly involved in them - women for the sex and drug users and those with brain disorders to be controlled (non - religious people and those who want to open their minds - not listen to the government)!!
Down with oppression of all!!
The very fact that drugs are grouped as being equal with crime without the inclusion of tobacco and alcohol in this is continuing to separate these psychoactive substances as something different then illicit drugs yet they are not. Crimes occur surrounding the use of alcohol and tobacco and they are not without their problems which is mentioned in this report yet still continues to say they are different.
The report is filled with propaganda comments aimed at imposing fear and irrationality such as “illicit drugs continue to pose a health danger to humanity” and that “much of this public debate is characterized by sweeping generalizations and simplistic solutions”. These are both wrong and continue to put misguided attempts to a serious problem. We don’t outlaw automobiles yet they are posing an obvious health threat and the public debate is characterized by rational use of scientific research and professionals from around the world finally speaking out against the harm that the drug war is causing.
The statement “changes are needed….rather than by pursuing the different goals of abandoning such protection” is seriously misguided. The changes being asked for when ending the war on drugs is not one of ending protection to those that are addicted but rather beginning a new way of distributing all psychoactive drugs in a respectful and autonomous manner thus not creating an entire population of “criminals” by making it illegal. It is only humans that make this illegal, not any other supreme being as so many people believe (it being immoral to alter consciousness as some religious people believe). The use of drugs is a fact of our life and simply decriminalizing still only makes 1/2 equation illegal as providing the product is still illegal thus really making the entire equation still illegal.
Let’s apply this to automobiles. So they are made illegal due to the carbon emissions harming humans and it decided that using it is decriminalized but buy it isn’t so, the car dealers still kill each other with the customers caught in the middle. The dealers still work at providing the harmful automobile (oil-gas using instead of electric - that is illegal too) and the product is still uncontrolled thus killing its consumers. How does this help or decrease problems? It doesn’t and it sure won’t reduce the harm done by the so called - car dealership criminals. How about we legalize electric cars and make initiations to those who make it safer and cheaper for people to use rather then the opposite?
Using drugs can be compared to driving a car and both are not going away and we seem to want to do it no matter the harm it may led to (changing climates and potential addiction). Isn’t this defined as addiction, using something even when having negative consequences, in all areas of life (think societal - financial - economy crash, health -chronic cancer and lung problems - social - increased war and competition - etc ) and for what - so we can drive a car?
Another thing that I wonder is why aren’t there reports about legalizing or decriminalizing murder? Why isn’t their a public outcry about this? Because it is wrong without a doubt, we don’t need to discuss this as deep down potentially to the genetic level, it is wrong to kill - plain and simple.
More quotes from the World Report 2009 - “legalize and tax argument is unethical and uneconomical” - why then do we legalize gambling and alcohol and tax it?
Human trafficking has no comparison to using drugs especially if causing no harm which can be done - human trafficking was made illegal years ago when slavery feel in North America - how is this the same as legalizing a drug that has no feelings or future potential of leading a wonderful life? A drug is a object with no life in it and thus no feelings, comparing the control of drugs to humans is absolutely ignorant and indicates having little to no understanding of the problems that arise from drug using, abusing and addiction.
There is no indicating that drugs increase if made legal as has been shown through history as various drugs have been made illegal throughout history including chocolate and tobacco both of which didn’t change in its addiction rates. Use isn’t indicative of abuse or addiction.
The comments of the the debate of the regulated market being naive and myopic are ignorant and hurtful comments again aimed at trying to maintain status quo and attempting to maintain the dominating and harmful control over the drug war to maintain it due to the hidden agenda of these people. It is not to help protect society as is being portrayed.
Indicating that a drug epidemic would be inevitable in developing countries is absolutely again indicating naivety in the problem as they have less problems with drugs not due to the high controls they have preventing the access to drugs but rather due to less class difference meaning less oppression of the poor classes as a result they have less mental health problems resulting in less addiction issues and cases of dislocation or loss of identity or culture.
The report is no0t only further perpetuating the myths of crimes being a result of drugs but also that now they have to get tough on crime as it goes along with drugs. This is true but only due to their generating it. You don’t see Molson Canadian killing Coors but you do see them joining and becoming one powerful company but certainly still not as powerful as the once Al Capone or other Mafia giants made possible due to the prohibition of alcohol. The crime has disappeared as the laws disappeared.
Why can’t we learn that victimless laws (prostitution, drug laws, homosexuality, women having the vote, even the one-child law) generate crime not humans if the humans are not necessarily victim. We can’t necessarily prohibit something that humans do that is natural and not necessarily harmful to another (I’m non the fence about the one-child law) although at times, they may have harm, they don’t all the time. Those who hire prostitutes may not be married with children or those who use cocaine or heroin don’t end up stealing to feed their drug habit but rather are law-abiding citizens otherwise.
Crime is a generation of the drug laws not the other way around and until we stop this madness of persecuting those that provide me with something I want, then we have a problem. I don’t kill, steal, hurt, abuse or take advantage of others and my use of drugs affects no others but I certainly feel it enhanced my life. In fact, I give my life to illicit drugs (MDMA specifically for treating my PTSD) and I am not ashamed. We need to end the drug war as it is only a war on innocent and good people or the sick people who don’t jail but rather compassion.
Please don’t let the report make you think drug dealers need to be stopped, they need to be made legal just as they were for alcohol prohibition. What happened to the Al Capon’s after the end of prohibition? They went on to controlling the other legal activities (gambling, sex (women)). The laws prohibiting sex for sale and drugs for sale only oppress those predominantly involved in them - women for the sex and drug users and those with brain disorders to be controlled (non - religious people and those who want to open their minds - not listen to the government)!!
Down with oppression of all!!
June 21, 2009
Reducing Addiction
Reducing Addiction
The addiction industry loves to talk about recovery and percentage of success of those who completed the program and are still sober is really brainwashing language of the industry and the last thing they want to do is solve the addiction problem as it only makes them more money.
Edgewood in Nanaimo, BC is $40,000 for two months and if you leave early, you don’t get your money back. Instead you fail meaning you need treatment even more now. The Orchard on Bowen Island is $50,000 for one month! Again, no money back if you leave early. In Edgewood, they can keep you until they say you are ready to go also charging you more and more money for you stay. It was rumored one person was kept there for over a year and paid well over $100,000.
In the words of Stanton Peele in the Diseasing of America, “What is this new addiction industry meant to accomplish?” It tells you first that you have a disease and that you are not in control and that you need this type of treatment otherwise you will die. Yes this is the main gist of the 12-step program and it is a blatant lie!!
Firstly, “treatment” consists of a spiritual approach even though they in the same breath says it is a biological and a disease. How can praying to god cure this disease? Yes of course, there is no cure, you have it forever and the only cure is to stay away from the drug of choice. Again, if you consider it to be biological, how can the absence of something cure your illness?
When an individual is diagnosed with cancer one thing they always have to do it have hope and they will continue to fight but for those diagnosed with some arbitrary label of alcoholic or drug addict (no concrete way of deciding you have this disease aside from culturally defined ones - at one time even smoking tobacco was illegal). It has nothing to do with actually helping the sick but rather labeling them in society as deviants and putting them in programs to stop them from engaging in that deviant behaviour rather than actually getting to the route of the problem.
The current treatment industry is harming more than helping in addiction and it must stop. Stanton Peele began to speak out against the use of 12-step programs back in 1975, that was when I was born. These ideas are not new however, they are not spoken of. It is similar to that inability for those in the SS party during the Nazi Reign not able to speak out against the dictator Hitler. That might seem a bit extreme to some but really it isn’t.
The temperance movement which fueled the AA and 12-step recovery programs that currently dominate our addiction treatment system was fueled by intolerance, judgement, discrimination, prejudice and violation of fundamental human rights such as the right to autonomy which includes the right to put whatever we want into our bodies as long as we don’t harm others. These programs assume that any use of substances is fundamentally wrong and it doesn’t distinguish between use and abuse or addiction which of course are entirely different.
These so called “treatment” programs insist that simply removing the substance and recovery will occur but this is drastically incorrect. Often people are using these drugs as a way of self-medicating and it is now being more recognized that this drug use is keeping these sick people alive and prevents them from committing suicide or doing other very impulsive actions to escape their internal brain pain. Those who abuse drugs are literally experiencing pain due to an unhealthy brain. This unhealthy brain is often only being further harmed due to traumatizing and forceful treatment that is the only available possibility.
Addiction is really a result of pain, brain damage and trauma. It is being more recognized that healthy people use drugs but they don’t abuse whereas unhealthy people do use drugs and may proceed to potentially develop addiction. The prescription medications that are pushed on these people often have worse side-effects than most of the recreational or psychoactive substances available on the street, what would you choose to use?
In addition, the idea that addiction is a disease and thus you are out of control of it only leads to a believe that once you start using, it is an excuse to let all responsibility go out the window, “well sorry officer but I blacked out and didn’t know what I was doing” is commonly heard in the courts and this is absolutely your fault as you got yourself to black out in the first place and it is only up to that person to not do it again.
Back in the early 1800s, it was generally accepted that drinking was fine but intoxication causing harm to others wasn’t. What ever happened to this idea? Why can’t we apply this to all drugs at all times? Why are drugs so culturally defined? Up to this point, we have had very little understanding of the brain, drugs and the effects of the drugs on the brain and our behaviours. But with the advents of neuroscience (study of the brain), we are beginning to understand that addiction is really just a symptom of the an unhealthy brain that has been harmed through trauma.
This trauma rewires the brain and sadly, our brain is wired to avoid pain. It uses drugs to achieve this avoidance strategy and at the beginning it works but due to being unsupervised by professionals and the products being of unknown quality and quantity, harm begins and the use becomes abuse. Those who are trying to escape the pain in their brain are unable to get proper services to help deal with this thus turning to street drugs or alcohol. Some use the prescription medications such as benzodiazepines and pain killers to avoid this pain in the brain and too become seriously addicted. Even the anti-depressants and anti-psychotics are used for its intoxicating or sedating effects.
In a newspaper article about the President of Mexico wanting to decriminalize drugs, the DEA acting director, Michele Leonart said that legalization “would be a failed law enforcement strategy for both the USA and Mexico”. Well of course it would be as legalization isn’t a law enforcement strategy but rather a health strategy and it also makes you wonder, what is the current law enforcement strategy then? A success? How is it leading to a reduction of drug use or abuse and addiction? It is only preventing those who really want to help people from the harms of addiction to not be able to except for putting them into jail for their so called “criminal” activity?
Sadly, decriminalization isn’t going far enough. How does it make sense to legalize half a business transaction? It would be like allowing cars to be only available for purchase but selling it would be still illegal. What do you think a car salesmen would do to sell their product? This is how prostitution is, half there but still harmful to the person selling the sex (aka the women). If a behaviour is going to be legal to engage in (buy and consume drugs), the selling of the drugs is going to have to be legal and regulated as well. You still can’t have the cartels and monopolies running and distributing harmful impure substances to people. It makes no sense.
So the harm of addiction can only be reduced if we begin to look into having a pragmatic way of regulating and distributing psychoactive substances in a respectful in following the fundamental rights set out by the United Nations.
For people to really get better from addiction, we need to stop telling people they have no control and rather that they can reestablish control back into their lives as that is what needs to happen if one it to get better. It requires the desire to get better as well as the belief that one can get better and has a reason to. We all deserve this obviously but trauma can distort these beliefs in people.
Thanks Colleen
The addiction industry loves to talk about recovery and percentage of success of those who completed the program and are still sober is really brainwashing language of the industry and the last thing they want to do is solve the addiction problem as it only makes them more money.
Edgewood in Nanaimo, BC is $40,000 for two months and if you leave early, you don’t get your money back. Instead you fail meaning you need treatment even more now. The Orchard on Bowen Island is $50,000 for one month! Again, no money back if you leave early. In Edgewood, they can keep you until they say you are ready to go also charging you more and more money for you stay. It was rumored one person was kept there for over a year and paid well over $100,000.
In the words of Stanton Peele in the Diseasing of America, “What is this new addiction industry meant to accomplish?” It tells you first that you have a disease and that you are not in control and that you need this type of treatment otherwise you will die. Yes this is the main gist of the 12-step program and it is a blatant lie!!
Firstly, “treatment” consists of a spiritual approach even though they in the same breath says it is a biological and a disease. How can praying to god cure this disease? Yes of course, there is no cure, you have it forever and the only cure is to stay away from the drug of choice. Again, if you consider it to be biological, how can the absence of something cure your illness?
When an individual is diagnosed with cancer one thing they always have to do it have hope and they will continue to fight but for those diagnosed with some arbitrary label of alcoholic or drug addict (no concrete way of deciding you have this disease aside from culturally defined ones - at one time even smoking tobacco was illegal). It has nothing to do with actually helping the sick but rather labeling them in society as deviants and putting them in programs to stop them from engaging in that deviant behaviour rather than actually getting to the route of the problem.
The current treatment industry is harming more than helping in addiction and it must stop. Stanton Peele began to speak out against the use of 12-step programs back in 1975, that was when I was born. These ideas are not new however, they are not spoken of. It is similar to that inability for those in the SS party during the Nazi Reign not able to speak out against the dictator Hitler. That might seem a bit extreme to some but really it isn’t.
The temperance movement which fueled the AA and 12-step recovery programs that currently dominate our addiction treatment system was fueled by intolerance, judgement, discrimination, prejudice and violation of fundamental human rights such as the right to autonomy which includes the right to put whatever we want into our bodies as long as we don’t harm others. These programs assume that any use of substances is fundamentally wrong and it doesn’t distinguish between use and abuse or addiction which of course are entirely different.
These so called “treatment” programs insist that simply removing the substance and recovery will occur but this is drastically incorrect. Often people are using these drugs as a way of self-medicating and it is now being more recognized that this drug use is keeping these sick people alive and prevents them from committing suicide or doing other very impulsive actions to escape their internal brain pain. Those who abuse drugs are literally experiencing pain due to an unhealthy brain. This unhealthy brain is often only being further harmed due to traumatizing and forceful treatment that is the only available possibility.
Addiction is really a result of pain, brain damage and trauma. It is being more recognized that healthy people use drugs but they don’t abuse whereas unhealthy people do use drugs and may proceed to potentially develop addiction. The prescription medications that are pushed on these people often have worse side-effects than most of the recreational or psychoactive substances available on the street, what would you choose to use?
In addition, the idea that addiction is a disease and thus you are out of control of it only leads to a believe that once you start using, it is an excuse to let all responsibility go out the window, “well sorry officer but I blacked out and didn’t know what I was doing” is commonly heard in the courts and this is absolutely your fault as you got yourself to black out in the first place and it is only up to that person to not do it again.
Back in the early 1800s, it was generally accepted that drinking was fine but intoxication causing harm to others wasn’t. What ever happened to this idea? Why can’t we apply this to all drugs at all times? Why are drugs so culturally defined? Up to this point, we have had very little understanding of the brain, drugs and the effects of the drugs on the brain and our behaviours. But with the advents of neuroscience (study of the brain), we are beginning to understand that addiction is really just a symptom of the an unhealthy brain that has been harmed through trauma.
This trauma rewires the brain and sadly, our brain is wired to avoid pain. It uses drugs to achieve this avoidance strategy and at the beginning it works but due to being unsupervised by professionals and the products being of unknown quality and quantity, harm begins and the use becomes abuse. Those who are trying to escape the pain in their brain are unable to get proper services to help deal with this thus turning to street drugs or alcohol. Some use the prescription medications such as benzodiazepines and pain killers to avoid this pain in the brain and too become seriously addicted. Even the anti-depressants and anti-psychotics are used for its intoxicating or sedating effects.
In a newspaper article about the President of Mexico wanting to decriminalize drugs, the DEA acting director, Michele Leonart said that legalization “would be a failed law enforcement strategy for both the USA and Mexico”. Well of course it would be as legalization isn’t a law enforcement strategy but rather a health strategy and it also makes you wonder, what is the current law enforcement strategy then? A success? How is it leading to a reduction of drug use or abuse and addiction? It is only preventing those who really want to help people from the harms of addiction to not be able to except for putting them into jail for their so called “criminal” activity?
Sadly, decriminalization isn’t going far enough. How does it make sense to legalize half a business transaction? It would be like allowing cars to be only available for purchase but selling it would be still illegal. What do you think a car salesmen would do to sell their product? This is how prostitution is, half there but still harmful to the person selling the sex (aka the women). If a behaviour is going to be legal to engage in (buy and consume drugs), the selling of the drugs is going to have to be legal and regulated as well. You still can’t have the cartels and monopolies running and distributing harmful impure substances to people. It makes no sense.
So the harm of addiction can only be reduced if we begin to look into having a pragmatic way of regulating and distributing psychoactive substances in a respectful in following the fundamental rights set out by the United Nations.
For people to really get better from addiction, we need to stop telling people they have no control and rather that they can reestablish control back into their lives as that is what needs to happen if one it to get better. It requires the desire to get better as well as the belief that one can get better and has a reason to. We all deserve this obviously but trauma can distort these beliefs in people.
Thanks Colleen
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