'It's raining needles': Drug crisis creates pollution threat

One reason I hate druggies is they have zero consideration for anyone else. The only person that counts in their addled minds is themselves.

In my hometown, a park beside an elementary school needs to be cleared of needles EVERY MORNING by a team of city workers - who stress to the kids that the adults responsible for creating this poisonous minefield are not really responsible. They're simply ill from something they had nothing to do with, according to the propaganda.

In the meantime, the problem continues to escalate, with more and more deaths, proof that the "compassionate" policies are not working, indeed probably making the problem worse.

All these idiots taking "drugs" should be sent to some far off star! Good riddance.!

In the meantime, the problem continues to escalate, with more and more deaths, proof that the "compassionate" policies are not working, indeed probably making the problem worse.

This is why drugs should all be legalized. So they can be dealt with in a manner of risk-management, rather than continuing and even doubling down on the war against drugs, which is one of the most colossal failures of the 20th century.

Having safe-injection centers, like they do in Vancouver, is the way forward.

Sure, it would be better if no one ever did any drugs. But the fact is, people are going to, and the illegal status of them isn't going to change that, as 40 years of evidence clearly shows. So let's drop this unrealistic ideal that drugs being illegal is somehow going to stop people from doing them, and instead accept that they will be done, and deal with that in a realistic manner instead of some puritan failed philosophy.

All these idiots taking "drugs" should be sent to some far off star! Good riddance.!

So should those who are taking the legal drug alcohol, right? We'd all be better off if there were no one drinking alcohol around us.

"...instead of some puritan failed philosophy."

Japan and Singapore have among the most "puritan" attitudes of all. They also have the world's safest streets, safest schools and safest parks. Is that your gauge of "failure"?

Nope. The North American war on drugs is my gauge.

JeffLee, you can't win this one.

For some absurd reason, there are some people who can't seem to differentiate between crack, meth, dope and weed or even alcohol. They also don't understand the difference between legalization and decriminalization. Perpetrators are victims, people who choose drugs are without responsibility, and adults are treated like children.

Their simplistic arguments aren't worth addressing because how can you argue with someone who will make any excuse just to get high?

there are some people who can't seem to differentiate between crack, meth, dope and weed

When it comes to the war on drugs, they are all pretty much equivalent - they are being treated as a criminal issue when they should be treated as a health issue.

or even alcohol.

Alcohol is actually a harsher drug than most you have on that list, yet is legal.

They also don't understand the difference between legalization and decriminalization.

The only thing decriminalization does is stop punishing the users (which don't get me wrong, is a good thing). Legalizing drugs would allow governments to stop wasting money on enforcement, and redirect it to rehabilitation and education.

Perpetrators are victims

I disagree with your usage of the term 'perpetrators', but yes, they are victims.

people who choose drugs are without responsibility

No, everyone has personal responsibility for whatever they choose to put into their body.

Their simplistic arguments aren't worth addressing because how can you argue with someone who will make any excuse just to get high?

Not only do I not do drugs, I only drink 3-4 times a year, if that. Can you say the same?

You go on about simplistic arguments, then try to boil my whole position down to wanting to get high (which as it turns out, you're entirely wrong about). Care to get any more hypocritical?

@zichi

> More than one hundred million Americans are addicted to opioid painkillers 

Yeah, right. A third of all Americans are painkiller addicts? LOL. The real number isn't even close. It's closer to 2 million.

https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/opioid-addiction-disease-facts-figures.pdf

Anyway, that's not related to this story. People get addicted to painkillers because they're dealing with real pain from other real diseases, like diabetes or arthritis. The druggies in this story stick needles in their arms simply because they want to get high. And we all have to pay the price for that.

Actually JeffLee thanks for recognizing my country has the safest streets.

Since you appreciate them so much, you should try the lifestyle.

From birth you choose to be exactly like everyone else around you. No different mindsets accepted. I guess if you want to trade a free lifestyle with being a lego man for safety then it's all good.

Part of the problem in the US is that people get addicted to pain killers after an injury or whatnot, then their prescription gets pulled and they are stuck with an addiction and no legal means to feed it, so they switch to heroin. Then they get hit with a batch of heroin that has fentanyl in it and they're dead, often leaving behind children.

Add to this that the illegal drug market is used to fund the black market and crime syndicates, and the evils of the war on drugs begin to pile up.

Yet some people want to not only throw good money after bad, but also good lives after bad, all because they've fallen for the fallacy that someone intoxicating themselves is somehow evil, while most of these people are entirely fine with people, often themselves, intoxicating themselves with alcohol.

Open your eyes, and try looking at the world differently from what you've been told.

@zichi

"....more than 10 million are addicted to opioid painkillers

The research data I posted shows that number to be a small fraction of that.

@strangerland

".... people get addicted to pain killers after an injury or whatnot, then their prescription gets pulled...so they switch to heroin"

Very rarely. Less than 4 percent.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/relationship-between-prescription-drug-heroin-abuse/heroin-use-rare-in-prescription-drug-users

My views are supported by research and facts. The people arguing with me have views supported by fantasies. Hey, but they get the likes and I get the dislikes. Ah the power of fake news and propaganda on some people's thinking. Scary.

My views are supported by research and facts.

Mine too.

The people arguing with me have views supported by fantasies.

Please show me which parts of my comments are not supported by fact.

Ah the power of fake news and propaganda on some people's thinking. Scary.

People unable to think in any other way than that which they have been brainwashed to believe by 40 years of the war on drugs. Scary.