She’s right. In the US, we’ve basically abandoned drug users to their own devices. We treat those who need us most with derision and fear, and we’d prefer to ignore them till they simply, somehow,...
Vincent has emerged as one of the leading voices in the U.S. pushing to humanize and rally help for drug users, like herself, even when they're not yet willing or able to live sober.
"We have made it OK to abandon people who use drugs. We tell an entire group of people it's OK if they die," she said.
She’s right. In the US, we’ve basically abandoned drug users to their own devices. We treat those who need us most with derision and fear, and we’d prefer to ignore them till they simply, somehow, just go away.
I share the guilt of this, of course. I don’t do anything to help alleviate the situation, which I think is important to say. I’m learning as I go.
It's also an easy out to not fix our problems. Step 1. Make those society has failed so miserable they can't help but be tempted to use drugs. Step 2. Criminalize drug use. Step 3. Only enforce...
It's also an easy out to not fix our problems.
Step 1. Make those society has failed so miserable they can't help but be tempted to use drugs.
Step 2. Criminalize drug use.
Step 3. Only enforce said drug use laws on said failed members of society.
And now you have the framework of the War on Drugs! AKA the 'War on those the establishment does not like'. Originally crafted to suppress counterculture and ethnicity, it was embraced whole heartedly by the Prohibitionist faction as well.
Do you like drugs?
Are you a respected member of the community?
Then stay in line and you'll be safe!
Of course, I am vastly oversimplifying things, but I'm always so frustrated with the fact that there can never be honest discourse on subjects where a very easy hard-line can be drawn that usually ignores half of reality for populist points.
We can never have an honest discussion on drug use, because no one stands to gain on advocating for those shunned by society unless they have power. And ironically those in power often can be drug users, but the 'right' kind of drug user that isn't labeled a drug user.
I would really like to participate into programs like she is talking about, and getting into helping drug addicts in a progressive way (being a former drug user, and wanting to help out active...
I would really like to participate into programs like she is talking about, and getting into helping drug addicts in a progressive way (being a former drug user, and wanting to help out active users). Does anyone know of any resources of how to get into that sort of thing in the u.s.?
It's a very nuanced problem, of course, but I can't help but feel that drug addition is an economic problem more than anything else. As our mutated version of capitalism continues on, I see it...
It's a very nuanced problem, of course, but I can't help but feel that drug addition is an economic problem more than anything else. As our mutated version of capitalism continues on, I see it only getting worse. If people can't provide for themselves with some dignity, turning to drugs to cope seems almost... logical? Maybe not logical, but understandable. I don't think any of us who are powerless to affect our economic system should feel guilty about those who the machine eats. Empathy, of course. It's like being made to feel guilty about not recycling, when the biggest culprits of waste aren't working class individuals. But it's a meat grinder out there, by design, and we've been funneled into isolation. It's hard.
She’s right. In the US, we’ve basically abandoned drug users to their own devices. We treat those who need us most with derision and fear, and we’d prefer to ignore them till they simply, somehow, just go away.
I share the guilt of this, of course. I don’t do anything to help alleviate the situation, which I think is important to say. I’m learning as I go.
It's also an easy out to not fix our problems.
Step 1. Make those society has failed so miserable they can't help but be tempted to use drugs.
Step 2. Criminalize drug use.
Step 3. Only enforce said drug use laws on said failed members of society.
And now you have the framework of the War on Drugs! AKA the 'War on those the establishment does not like'. Originally crafted to suppress counterculture and ethnicity, it was embraced whole heartedly by the Prohibitionist faction as well.
Do you like drugs?
Are you a respected member of the community?
Then stay in line and you'll be safe!
Of course, I am vastly oversimplifying things, but I'm always so frustrated with the fact that there can never be honest discourse on subjects where a very easy hard-line can be drawn that usually ignores half of reality for populist points.
We can never have an honest discussion on drug use, because no one stands to gain on advocating for those shunned by society unless they have power. And ironically those in power often can be drug users, but the 'right' kind of drug user that isn't labeled a drug user.
I would really like to participate into programs like she is talking about, and getting into helping drug addicts in a progressive way (being a former drug user, and wanting to help out active users). Does anyone know of any resources of how to get into that sort of thing in the u.s.?
Search for "(your area name) harm reduction" and see what orgs are working in that area.
It's a very nuanced problem, of course, but I can't help but feel that drug addition is an economic problem more than anything else. As our mutated version of capitalism continues on, I see it only getting worse. If people can't provide for themselves with some dignity, turning to drugs to cope seems almost... logical? Maybe not logical, but understandable. I don't think any of us who are powerless to affect our economic system should feel guilty about those who the machine eats. Empathy, of course. It's like being made to feel guilty about not recycling, when the biggest culprits of waste aren't working class individuals. But it's a meat grinder out there, by design, and we've been funneled into isolation. It's hard.