good philly/bad philly

[Annik]

I hope you didn't take my post as offensive, I am very interested by substance abuse and I rarely get to talk about it.

[jackman]

Hmmm, it takes a stronger knowledge of drugs than yours, jackman, to judge others, I would think. Yes, there are some drugs that will ruin a person's life. However, you have to also understand that some people don't want life the way you want yours. Some want altered perception. Some truly do want to fuck up their lives. Short of fucking up the lives of other people, we really can't say much about their choices. The thing about your life and everyone else's is that it belongs to you and them individually. I don't care if they contribute in the way I would or contribute more than I would. They are they and I am me.

that's your opinion. i don't judge anybody on anything. my opinion is what i feel about the whole thing. if i'm called out or asked directly for my opinion, that's exactly what anyone will get. will i be wrong in some instances? ... damn right. will i also be right in some instances? ... damn right. will it bother me either way? hell no. of course some people will want the altered perception. they're welcomed to it too, as long as they don't interfere with my life while they're doing it. i do, however, feel like people abusing drugs isn't just hurting themselves. i like to see humanity do well, i'm not selfish like that. ie., i don't vote on what candidate brings me the best chance to make money, i vote on what i feel is best for the most people.

someone doing drugs is hurting people that love them, it can affect all sorts of life, quality of life, society around them. that's what is selfish in my opinion, if it's a clear-headed choice they made to take something that affects so many people. there is no wrong and right, if they chose it as adults, then they just chose it - they don't need, nor will look for my input. lol. and as long as they're not affecting me directly, then as much as i don't like it, i'll keep it to myself. well ... sometimes i will.

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I just completed a course on Substance Abuse. The government lies to you about drugs, they truthfully do.

So why do people do drugs? All humans need 3 basic psychological needs, the need to be: aroused, satiated, and to escape. A lot of drugs provide escape. To the person who lives in a shanty with no money and no foreseeable future, drugs are especially attractive. Also, drugs are a lot easier and a lot more potent than the natural highs we give ourselves (through accomplishment, exercise, ect). There is also a difference between people who use drugs, abuse drugs and are addicted to drugs. The important thing to remember is treating these people not like criminals, but as people in need to therapy (in the cases of abusers/addicts).

this seems true to me - i don't know, because i haven't studied it. i have been to meetings with my father tho, who is hooked heavily on drugs and alcohol. all i know is from experience, but it's likely all biased. no doubt i agree with you tho, that they don't need treated like criminals. well, unless they're a burden on society and do criminal acts.

i don't like to give people latitude to feel sorry for themselves for living in undesirable conditions. sure, they may have been given a bad shake at life and i totally understand that (my life has so NOT been golden at any stretch). but my view is that's no reason to sit and sulk and pop pills to escape. to me, that means, walk as far as you need to walk to a job, wherever you can find one. save if you can or do what you have to, to get a way to pick and chip away at the problem until a solution bears it's head. that's all. i know it's not that vanilla, but it's not impossible either, for most people. i know some who have managed to get it done. they hustle. this world is tough, people need to stop looking for excuses of why they can't do stuff and look for entitlements.