Alcohol 'more dangerous than heroin'

[-KT]

I think the best way to solve it is to introduce low amounts of alcohol to children at a young age, such as in countries like France, as the problems all start with the current generation with binge drinking. As for taxing or making it illegal, the problem is that it will encourage a drug trade and people will just look for the same high elsewhere in other substances.

The French drink too much alcohol. approving of alcohol will not stop the consuming of alcohol. Taxing it will.

No the point of this is not to stop the consumption, it's to enforce responsibility and thus reduce the number of people abusing it. Tax all you like but when there's a will there's a way.

[solja247]

No the point of this is not to stop the consumption, it's to enforce responsibility and thus reduce the number of people abusing it. Tax all you like but when there's a will there's a way.

Most people in developed countries could not be bothered making a home brew all the time. Taxes always work. In Australia we have a tax on tobacco people still buy it, it justs costs more. It helps people to live a more healthy life, or cut it out all together.

[theVOID]

Decriminalization is hardly any better than it being altogether illegal, in a decriminalized system (meaning no penalties for consumers) the people responsible for the production of the product is still the criminal organisations, where as in a free-market regulated system or a state controlled system none of the profit is exclusively for criminals.

We need to set a standard for drug use, make people pay money for a state license to consume drugs the same way we do cards, each drug needs a different test which is added to your record, then when you present your card at the pharmacy they can see if you have the prerequisite knowledge. From that point on businesses can get contracts to supply pharmacies and the state can tax it.

This will achieve the following:

1. Remove massive sources of income from the criminal syndicates importing/growing it.

2. Stop billions in lost revenue persecuting stupid drug crimes.

3. Collect billions in tax revenue that will not only fund drug education and certification, but will also provide more state capital to be distributed as best seen fit.

4. Make sure that the only people getting access (apart from home grown) necessarily have proof of having a sufficient understanding of the substance in question.

[LastPoet]

I agree that those things would be beneficial, but regarding a drug of heroin's caliber I am very cautious about legalizing that. But since I have a personal bias about it, I might be wrong. If it goes legalized, I wouldn't oppose that really, I wouldn't return to it despite how gooooood it feels, and some falls, one has really to fall to be able to discern how hard it is to get up again.

[Autumnlicious]

I am all in favor of legalizing pot, hash, 'shrooms, even LSD, but Heroin, anfetamins etc, I am not so sure. These are terrible drugs really capable of a terrible destruction, even on adults. One can spend a few months having a beer every day without any problems and stop easily, however, heroin won't let you do that, you will need bigger dosage just after 1 month of 1 use per day and from there its a deadly spiral. These are indeed terrible drugs and I can give first hand testimony. And moderation isn't an issue here since these bad boys take control of you, not the other way around.

I have seen many strong minds thinking they can control heroin consumption, and all have failed... miserably.

People harm themselves all the time on damn near anything.

Thing is, drugs require a proper mind set and environmental setting. Which is where harm creeps in - insufficient education and lack of mentoring. I've personally mentored others over weed, salvia and robotripping and I've never stopped being gung ho about safety. I've literally caught people when they fall multiple times and ask them to do the same for others.

Amphetamines aren't a problem if used correctly. I'm in favor of legalization of those - once again, education is the key.

Heroin and a few others, I am completely against, because of the physical dependence factor, where the body really can't function without the drug after a while.

We must consider harm to self, harm to others and hardness to quit. Legalize off of that.

[LastPoet]

Oh? I was under the impression amphetamins had a physical addiction, that's why I mentioned it. Then I agree with you Syn, I never really used amphetamins, I guess those are the kind I left untried :S

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

I think the best way to solve it is to introduce low amounts of alcohol to children at a young age, such as in countries like France, as the problems all start with the current generation with binge drinking

WHAT?



France has one of the highest levels of alcoholism in the world. (Iceland has the highest) Giving children alcohol is not only illegal in most countries,it is also criminally irresponsible and could amount to child abuse.Even small amounts damage growing brains.(and mature ones)

I've seen no evidence that "the problems all start with binge drinking". Of course it's part of the problem,but it's simplistic to claim it's THE cause.,

[Loki_999]

Legalize the lot. Darwin awards to those who do stupid things like jump out of windows when on acid. Really, I always though that was an urban myth. Took acid plenty of times and never thought I could fly, or at least tried to test the theory from the third flood.... why not try taking off from the ground?

It is possible to get an addiction (physical or mental) on almost all drugs as we can see with alcohol. The main thing is personal responsibility and education.

Like with drunk driving the penalties are harsh, the same should be applied across the board. If you take drugs you should be more responsible than you would be in a normal state. You make the choice, you live with it.

[ib.me.ub]

Ban all harmful substances completely, including alcohol and tobacco. This is my position, coming from a position of reformed smoker, drug taker(pot mostly), and drinker.

I see no overwhealming positive factors that outweigh the negative factors associated with these substances.

[Tiberius]

How about freedom of people to do what they like to their bodies?