DOUBLE STANDARD!!!

Many rich people take cocaine and continue to live full and productive lives just like those people who enjoy a beer or a whiskey at night. Some even arguably perform better on illicit drugs than if they had none in their system (i’m thinking of the creative talents of musicians and artists here who can ’see’ things very differently when they are ‘out of it’)

Now i am NOT saying anyone should take any drug, just that we would all be far better off if we stopped being so ‘prissy’ and foolish and made all drugs legal to get the crime syndicates out of regular pay packets and saved a fortune on ineffective preventions campaigns and put all the money from taxing drugs and saved from the police force (who could then deal with real crime and would have less of it to deal with) into treatment programs and educational campaigns to give all of us a better way than seeking happiness in a pill or needle.

Can i get an Amen?

<B

Rich and poor both have a problem with drug abuse. We associate this problem more with the poor because it is far more visible in their neighborhoods, and has a more sever impact on their community, for the reasons you stated.

I don’t see where our culture, rich, poor, or our elected leaders, are willing to take the steps, or commit the resources, to significantly reduce the problem. My guess is our great-grandchildren will still be facing a sever drug abuse issue in their societies .

You are also right some people have a genetic predisposition to addictive behavior. With advanced DNA testing parents will have some advance warning that their children are more susceptible to addictions. They will have the opportunity to help their children learn how to deal with it. My guess here is that while some parents might try educate their kids about their increased risk to addiction, and create a healthy home environment, until society as a whole takes more aggressive action, the result will still be more addicted young people.

My rose colored glass don’t work with this issue.

i’d have to side largely if not entirely on your side Ed.

interesting how we tend to associate it ( drug use) with poverty – i guess that’s mostly because the poor vastly outnumber the doctors and nobody ‘pays attention’ to an ‘average’ housewife (which undoubtedly is part of the problem some may have with drug use).

Also how the poor have a double problem with Drug use that turns it into a vicious circle; Poverty breeds discontent in a society that constantly beats into us the value of having a ‘Good time’ through our possessions when we don’t have any. So poor people are ‘depressed and sek a way out – they find it in drugs which are readily available by reason of criminals who target them. But to keep the feeling of euphoria or not feeling anything they need money to buy more drugs, but they are poor. So they revert to crime to get the money to get the drugs to overcome their depression about being poor in a society that blahblah blah ( there was an olfd lady who swallowed a some ‘horse’ – now she’s dead of course!)

The crimes committed feed the depression and feelings of worthlessness and disgust ( or in some are another source of release from the powerlessness of poverty in a society that beats, etc… and crime increases along with drug use in the poor and the lifestyle repeats itself ad infinitum).

Not may doctors have to resort to crimes ( theft, prostiution, robbery, gang murders) to feed their habits to escape the pain being forced upon them by a society that has lost the plot of loving your Brother.

Legalise drugs – eliminate the multi-billion dollar industry of criminals who depend upon prohibition then spend the money saved on drug and related crime law prosecution into programs to help the poor and those making poor choices for their lives learn how to get out of the ‘circle.

break the Habit now.

and that reminds me.. the ‘teaching your kids how to drink responsibly crap’ – takes NO account of the fact that some people are genetically predisposed to addiction to drugs including alcohol.

Such a person is not going to be ‘prepared’ to avoid the addiction by believing it is always possible to drink ’safely by sheer will-power alone.

The simple truth is we don’t actually NEED alcohol or other drugs – but many people actually like them and some are addicted to them by reason of their bodies. and of course there are a few powerful people who make truckloads of money from them – legal or otherwise.

<B

I absolutely agree Ed! In fact, this a big part of our problem with almost everything. We seek to find contentment, happiness, significance, dependence and even escape in…Alcohol, money, sex. All these things are great but they should not be the sole reason for our “happiness”.

Our culture has belittled and lessened the value of these things by the way we use and associate them. It’s really sad to me.

The only change that can take place is the one we make in us first. Then we need to pass it on and live by example. We don’t need the gov’t to make things happen, slap a law on something. I don’t think their track record is too good anyway… We, the people, are the country…we need to make the change

I understand that there is a difference between having a glass of wine at dinner and becoming drunk. Most people do drink responsible.

The problem with alcohol in the American culture is that it is associated with having a good time. Do children really understand that they can have good time without drinking?

I do see that to remove a drug like alcohol from American culture means sacrificing the enjoyment of having a fine brandy after dinner. I really enjoyed Remey Martin, when I could afford it.

I do believe it is the kind of sacrifice that Americans need to be prepared to make if America is to become drug free. This is one of the reason I don’t believe the “war on drugs” can be won.

Buddy, you said the kids will be exposed to it, alcohol, once they leave the nest. That’s the problem, they’re exposed to it now. It’s in the schools already, all over TV, advertised on big banners on their favorite sports event their watching, billboards on the freeway. It’s terrible!

Alcohol, sex, guns, prescription pain pills, food, money, aren’t bad. There “innocent” in and of themselves. It’s what WE CHOOSE to do with these things.

So I agree Buddy, teach our children in the home what it looks like to enjoy a glass of wine or a couple beers without becoming drunk and allowing it to overpower you. Leading by example is the key.

It is our responsibility and our right to be the authority on these things in our home. We have to try to be the better and bigger influence on them.

Nicely written. I feel however that this statement:

“If parents aren’t willing to give up alcohol then don’t expect our children to stop taking drugs. Alcohol destroys lives just like all the other drugs.”

is a bit reactionary and over the top. I too have plenty of experience with alcohol abuse. My grandfather died of liver disease as a result of alcoholism and my father only recently (a few months) became sober as a result of almost dying of liver failure.

With that being said, it is possible to enjoy wine or a good beer even a fine glass of brandy without being abusive with it. The fact is that it’s leagal and my kids WILL be exposed to it once they leave the nest. I think it’s better to show them by example how alcohol is intended to be enjoyed responsibly and destroy the taboo and thus the allure.

We have converstaions with them about sex. We want them to understand that it’s a wonderful thing that God created for us to enjoy but that He set up guidlines on how to make it beautiful. Same applies to alcohol, food, wealth, rest, etc, etc…

Besides the two I mentioned, I also have a Stamford High School yearbook from 1961 with my picture in it. If I did get a scanner that would be the one I would post, I have a luxurious head of hair. Now I am afraid the glare off the top of my head would destroy any camera.

You don’t need a scanner. But you would need a digital camera! Find motivation to get one of those!

Ah well, it will be a pleasant surprise then I guess if/when we get to see Ed’s face!

“Hey Ed, I was just saying to Brent and Tammy yesterday that we need to hassle you for a picture! So, I’m hassling!

*picture!picture!picture!*”

The easy answer is I don’t have a scanner, and lack the motivation to get one.

I have only two pictures of myself that I can think of. My basic training picture from the Army, 40+ years ago, and me leaning on the patio of the Banff Springs Hotel from my vacation in the Canada Rockies about 20 years ago.