When you read or hear the words "drug addict," what picture immediately

[Thtwudbeme]

comes to your mind?

I was just reading the O'Reilly "drug addicts" comments, and it occurred to me that other DUers were upset because he obviously meant the poor people in the Superdome.

However, the first thing that came to my still asleep Sunday morning mind was the rich people leaving in their SUV's with the kids and Golden Retrievers....and little tiny baggies of cocaine, and expensive bottles of liquor and wine.

ALL of the drug addicts I have ever known in my life were rich, or had big credit card balances.

[JNelson6563]

1. I think of Rush Limbaugh

America's Drug Addict :-)

[Thtwudbeme]

5. You know who I think of?

Anne Coulter.

No kidding--when I read the Time magazine article on her, and looked at those photos of her from the eighties, I felt like I knew her. She looked like every other priviledged girl from that era in her headband, add-a-bead necklace, v-neck cotton tennis sweater that you KNEW had a izod shirt underneath.

Then I realized I DID "know" her, and that she doesn't have a "political ideology" as much as she has a need to attempt to hang on to that "youthful, hang around the frat boys because they throw good parties" trap that some women fall into as they age.

She is only ugly because that's what the Washington Frat Boys required of her to keep the party invitations coming.

Sick; I actually felt sorry for her for suffering from arrested development starting in 1985.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. She looks like a human X-ray. Wonder what her coke level is?

[pretzel4gore]

17. Limbah-humbug

yes, the dope fiend outlaw

[abluelady]

25. That was my first thought, too!

[salvorhardin]

2. Mother's little helper? n/t

[Jamastiene]

3. Well, typically in our society, the term "drug addict" refers to

either nonwhite and/or poor people who use drugs. If the person is rich, white and/or repug, it is called a "Medicinal Problem" or something less nasty sounding. I picture someone who has a medical condition regardless of class or race. And is O'Reilly saying they shouldn't receive any sort of help because of their condition? Shame on him if he is.

[Mizmoon]

4. The two big heroin addicts I knew

were the children of wealthy people.

[tedoll78]

6. I have two images:

one: the meth-head redneck with half of his teeth missing and chemically-stained hands.

two: the soccer mom driving her SUV-with-the-W-sticker, concealing a prescription bottle of whatever she fancies in her purse (Vicodin, Valium, Xanex).

[peekaloo]

7. The First Couple.

:o

[gollygee]

8. My cousin

He isn't poor.

[Obamarama]

9. I think of our coke-snorting Boy King and his coked-up neice Noelle. n/t

[Thtwudbeme]

11. Don't forget the alcoholic twins and nephews

And the supermodel who probably goes to some great parties on European yachts.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. Rush & Bush - first images in my mind.

[KharmaTrain]

13. Codewords/Buzzwords...The Wingnut Language

These are ignorant, arrogant, heartless souls that have lived in an insulated world that has evolved into a parallel universe. Their worldview is what they've seen on TV or were indoctrinated with and they prey upon other's mypoic view of the world to justify even further hatred.

These people live in words of absolutes. Things are black and white. You're either "with 'em or against 'em"...ya buy the entire agenda or you're "UnAmurican". You don't question their knowledge as they are capable of insights far beyond what you can comprehend. It's kept simple and easy to digest. Simple answers to the most complex questions.

It's also a comic book world...built with stereotypes and divisions. This enables the Rushbos and O'Reilly's to champion the "poor white male" or the "regular guy" or the "xtian, moral Americun" or whatever good-feeling classification their hordes want to hear. They build up their corrupt view of things by ridiculing all they don't like. It's not based on fact...just emotion.

Sadly, O'Reilly draws over 3 million viewers a night...more than all the other cable news channels combined at that hour...and even more than Jon Stewart. That in itself says how far this nation has fallen.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

14. My knee jerk vision of a drug addict

is a skinny white heroin addict in NYC, where I grew up.

If I actually stop to think about it, the worst heroin addict I know was decidedly middle class to begin with, but she ended up on the streets where she died. She was the child of dear friends. I remember when she was born. There was so much joy.

[iconoclastic cat]

15. Courtney Love! n/t

[cassiepriam]

16. I think of the Bush family nt

[mcscajun]

18. Rush Limbaugh first...and an former friend of mine who got hooked

on crack, the universe help her. 'Cause I couldn't.

[Team44Car]

19. I think of white factory workers

I don't know why.

[jackster]

20. noelle bush

she IS an addict after all...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/nbush1.html

[Tsiyu]

21. I always think of a frantic looking overdressed middle management type

because the addicts I've known have been corporate cokeheads or Zanax freaks. But lately I've seen a few of the meth addicts up close and personal (in the 70's where I lived the meth heads were biker types) so now I also think of rotten-teeth and frantic jaw jerking on a once decent middle class working male or female.

[rasputin1952]

22. Addiction is a bitch, and I speak from first hand experience...

While I take issue with the whole 12 step programs and some of the other treatments; it all comes down to the willpower of the individual.

I can't tell you how long I've been clean and sober, (some individuals can break it down to the minute), but it's been well over 15 years. I awoke one morning, and just said, I've had it. I've known others that have struggled their entire lives, and continue the struggle hourly.

I guess that is why I have empathy for those that crawl down the path of addiction. I hate to admit it, but I actually felt compassion for Limbaugh when ne declared his addiction. I will readily admit that the sense of compassion quickly left when I saw that his core values of hate and destruction didn't change after he lost the physical cravings of Oxycodone.

One thing about addicts, they have an addictiion prone personality; if they lose one addiction, they will replace it with something else, usually religion, and go with the new addiction just as readily as the past addiction. I chose political action...an addiction I am happy to have....:)

[expatriate]

38. This is not entirely correct.

"it all comes down to the willpower of the individual."

Ever contend with someone born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, whose brain is not formed like a normal person's, and who has insatiable cravings for alcohol or other chemicals?

It is not a matter of will in these cases. These people are addicted on a chromosomal level. They have no comprehension of the consequences of their actions, and therefore, do not learn from their mistakes.

The number of people being born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are increasing, as are people with similar brain malformations who are born to parents with drug addictions. These people are hopeless cases when they become addicted.

Not a single professional I have dealt with in the years of dealing with an addicted person in my life, has ever been able to tell me of success in rehabilitating a person with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome who has become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

[rasputin1952]

42. I concur...but my base line was an individual who had become

addicted at a level higher than the level you are speaking of. There are definitely tragic consequences to infants that born to addicted mothers, not the least of which is FAS and other disorders. The abuse and neglect that go hand in hand with addiction is to be seen all over the addiction scenario.

However, as an adult, not withstanding a precursor, such as FAS or another genetic malady, it still comes down to sheer will power. The knowledge that a suppressed addiction can resurface at any time and become a full fledged backslide into the addiction is necessary to avoid a recurrence. Hence willpower is essential. That first drink after abstaining for years, or that first blast on a crack-pipe after recovery is the doorway that must be avoided. it takes knowledge and willpower to overcome the desires that are brought about.

My heart goes out to all of those who have been born w/FAS or another genetic disorder that predisposes them to a life of hell....and if I knew the answer to soothe their affliction, I sure as hell would do all I could to aid them....:cry:

[mitchum]

23. Trust fund junkies

since I've known so many of them

[Z_I_Peevey]

24. My mind sees a white rural tweaker,

but that's just me.

[JanMichael]

26. First Rush then Dubya then Noelle then several friends in college...

...then a friend of my sister who ODed about ten years ago then another family member then Kurt Cobain then Janet Joplin then Meth users etcetera...

All white except for "Meth users" but aren't they mostly white too?

[leftofthedial]

27. george w bush

and his kids and nieces and nephews

and his brother neil

and george hw, who spent decades constantly under the influence of halcion.

[pitohui]

28. you know the addicts in yr own circle of course

the majority of the drug addicts i've personally known have been middle class because i'm middle class

rich ppl know the rich addicts

poor ppl know the poor addicts

addiction is pretty equal opportunity, available to all regardless of class, color, creed

[Theres-a]

43. Bingo. nt

[Sweet Freedom]

29. Rich rock stars

(Keith Richards mostly.)

[Marr]

30. I didn't think "black"- if that's what you mean.

I've known lots of drug addicts in my life. Some white, some black, some brown. It's an equal opportunity problem, and the only difference between a rich junkie and a poor junkie is the price of their fix.

[cynatnite]

31. The ones I'm thinking of were sons of a preacher n/t

[ck4829]

32. Rush Limbaugh

[notadmblnd]

33. white suburban young people

nt

[nemo137]

34. white trash kid with pot, coke, and heroin, smoking bummed marlb reds on

his girlfriend's porch. That was my childhood summers, seeing that.

[spuddonna]

35. Rush... n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. The kid I declared, with a needle still in his arm

did I mention he was from a very "good family?" and quite spoiled? that face, and open eyes still haunt me, what a waste!

[expatriate]

37. I see my son.

His beautiful blue eyes. His wasted and dying body. The meth sores and track marks.

I see his pathetic attempts to get clean. I hear his voice, still so like a teenagers, talking about what he wants to do in the future - even though he knows he has no future.

I see his diagnosis - chemical addiction, HIV, Hepatitis C, complicated by insulin dependent diabetes. I know that is his death sentence. It will be soon now. A body can only take so much.

I see a beautiful little boy who never had a chance. He was born to his biological mother (I am his adoptive mother), a heroin addict and alcoholic. He has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. He doesn't understand the consequences of his action. He lives in an ever present now. He does not comprehend that if he spends all his money on Meth today, he will have no money to buy food tomorrow. He is literally addicted on a chemical level. Every doctor in every rehabilitation program that has been tried has said that the prognosis for someone with Fetal Alcohol Sydnrome is bleak, even non-existent.

I see a child who had such brilliant glimpses of promise. I see a child who, despite gentle nurturing and endless attempts at help, was hell-bent on a self-destructive course from a very, very young age. He lived to get some kind of chemical high into his system.

I see waste, tragedy, breaking hearts, a young man snuffed out before the age of 23.

Drug addiction is not funny. I don't know if the OP meant this thread to be in jest. I don't think so. But some of the replies definitely are. Drug addiction is not funny. You are not funny.

*edited because my temper is running high.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. I am sorry about your son

never easy... and quite frankly it is high time that we as a nation stop the platitudes about a so called war on drugs.. it is not leading anywhere... you see your son... I see that fifteen year old, a cherub of a kid, with a needle in his arm... and tracks of course.

[expatriate]

40. No, platitudes do nothing.

Telling people to be strong and do twelve step programs doesn't work very well either. And the fact that there is such a perceptual bias - where poor people are drug addicts while rich people have "chemical dependency" - is the most damning of all.

Drug addiction is drug addiction. It is not pretty. It not only destroys the addict, but everyone around him. Everyone who loves him and watches him dance down the path to total destruction.

The war on drugs is a joke. It never truly existed. It is beneficial to the powers that be that so many people are hooked or dependent.

[wickerwoman]

41. Trainspotting...

Skinny white British heroin users ala Iggy Pop.

But I'm not sure that really gets me off the hook.

It seems like white people have two attitudes towards drugs:

1.) The people O'Reilly is pandering to who think all drug users are degenerate black savages who should thrown in jail for life and

2.) Us. Who see white upper-middle class private school kids snorting coke or "poor white trash" shooting heroin or white truckers on speed or middle class club kids tweaking.

I remember the first time I saw that Spike Lee movie about the introduction of crack (sorry- can't remember the name.) I was absolutely appalled because here I had been living maybe forty minutes away in a nice little Jersey suburb and here was a portrayal of *real* addiction. I'd never been to "that part of town" so to speak.

I had a class on Anglo-Irish lit and we read Angela's Ashes. There was a black guy from Newark in that class and his attitude was "give me a frickin' break already. If you think Frank McCourt had it rough come visit my street. Now. Today. Not fifty years ago."

It's so hard for us to see real poverty and addiction in our insulated little worlds. If anything good comes out of the tragedy in New Orleans, I hope it is that we can see drug addicts, black and white. But especially the black ones who haven't really been seen for so long.

I get what you're saying (we shouldn't just see black people when we say "addict") but at the same time we spend so much of our time not seeing black people period that I'm not at all sure that this is something we should be feeling warm and fuzzy about.

Peace.
(Stepping off soap box.)

[Bridget Burke]

44. Lots of people in my past....

Mostly white, of different economic levels. Poor: Meth. Rich: Coke. Fits all: Heroin.

Quite a few straightened themselves out over the years. Others died.