I firmly believe in the legalisation of all recreational drugs. It seems to be a fairly radical stance and I am used to fighting an uphill battle.
It may be considered ironic that a person who once suffered from a drug related mental health breakdown would endorse such a view, however, I believe that families and friends are in the best position to help individuals and they can do so only when they are aware of the problem. Criminalisation only drives the problem underground where the most useful social safety net cannot reach people: users will always deny use.
The major sticking point for most people is the hard drugs. Even if one can convince people of the rationale behind legalising soft drugs, people usually are adamant in their refusal to accept the legalisation of cocaine, heroin, amphetamines and so on. The moral breakdown is inevitable and absolute, it is contended.
Of course, I point out that there is no evidence of this. But most people do not accept a burden of proof. However, I was pointed in the direction of evidence in my favor by one such individual who originally refused to accept the idea.
The largest study ever on cocaine use was conducted in the years from 1992-1994 by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute. Why can you not read these particular findings which were paid for by your tax dollars when you can read other publications from the same institute? Its findings ran counter to the "proven" success of the war on drugs and so it was said by a Mr. Neil Boyer, "If WHO activities relating to drugs fail to reinforce proven drug-control approaches, funds for the relevant programs should be curtailed". So, it was buried.
The documentation was leaked and placed into the public domain. Among other places you can read it here. The picture painted in this document is one which could easily reflect the status of alcohol usage in the world.
It may be considered ironic that a person who once suffered from a drug related mental health breakdown would endorse such a view, however, I believe that families and friends are in the best position to help individuals and they can do so only when they are aware of the problem. Criminalisation only drives the problem underground where the most useful social safety net cannot reach people: users will always deny use.
The major sticking point for most people is the hard drugs. Even if one can convince people of the rationale behind legalising soft drugs, people usually are adamant in their refusal to accept the legalisation of cocaine, heroin, amphetamines and so on. The moral breakdown is inevitable and absolute, it is contended.
Of course, I point out that there is no evidence of this. But most people do not accept a burden of proof. However, I was pointed in the direction of evidence in my favor by one such individual who originally refused to accept the idea.
The largest study ever on cocaine use was conducted in the years from 1992-1994 by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute. Why can you not read these particular findings which were paid for by your tax dollars when you can read other publications from the same institute? Its findings ran counter to the "proven" success of the war on drugs and so it was said by a Mr. Neil Boyer, "If WHO activities relating to drugs fail to reinforce proven drug-control approaches, funds for the relevant programs should be curtailed". So, it was buried.
The documentation was leaked and placed into the public domain. Among other places you can read it here. The picture painted in this document is one which could easily reflect the status of alcohol usage in the world.
