Swiss likely to approve prescription heroin

[Roon]

GENEVA (AP) - Dr. Daniele Zullino keeps glass bottles full of white powder in a safe in a locked room of his office.

Patients show up each day to receive their treatment in small doses handed through a small window.

Then they gather around a table to shoot up, part of a pioneering Swiss program to curb drug abuse by providing addicts a clean, safe place to take heroin produced by a government-approved laboratory.

The program has been criticized by the United States and the U.N. narcotics board, which said it would fuel drug abuse. But governments as far away as Australia are beginning or considering their own programs modeled on the system, which is credited with reducing crime and improving the health and daily lives of addicts.

Swiss voters are expected to make the system permanent Sunday in a referendum prompted by a challenge from conservatives.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D94O1B980&show_article=1

[TomInTib]

1. I fully agree with this idea.

Looking back on my own long-time addiction, I truly believe the only really bad thing about heroin is the crowd one has to deal with due to the illegality of the drug.

If I could go to a clinic and get a fix, I would still be doing it. Methadone sucks.

[RedCappedBandit]

3. Yes. The "drug culture"

is simply a result of the legal status of those drugs.

[Dis Pater]

4. The only bad thing about heroin is the crowd one has to deal with?

ok

[TomInTib]

6. Yep.

I never had any other problems with it, and I did it every day - wake-up to nod-out - for years. Unlike coke or speed or 'ludes, I never did anything crazy while fixed. And I am not one to practice moderation in anything.

I would love to substitute dope for the alcohol with which I medicate myself, nowadays. I lose too many big chunks of my days, now. I can never remember what I had for dinner the night before, or remember going to bed. That was never a problem with heroin.

[Dis Pater]

7. Oh, you're still using. Makes sense now.

[TomInTib]

9. No, I am drinking.

I don't even know anyone doing heroin, anymore.

And I spend more money on good gin, tequila, and cabernet than I ever did on heroin.

[Dis Pater]

10. drinking=still using.

[TomInTib]

11. Mom? Is that you?

Hell, I was simply born to have fun. I cannot imagine a life without intoxicants.

If having fun is defined as "Using", then I will gladly be a "User".

[Dis Pater]

12. Fun isn't defined as using.

Most addicts will tell you that the fun is long gone from the experience.

[TomInTib]

13. Then you should spend a couple of days with me.

For me, every day is just like Christmas.

You see, I am wired a bit differently than most.

I am leaving in a few minutes, headed to Rancho Nicasio to play guitar with Shana Morrison and her father, a guy named Van.

Life can be loved or lived, or both. I choose "both".

Always have, always will.

It's too late to stop now.

Enjoy your Friday evening, Dis Pater, and so will I.

Tom

[ljm2002]

14. I agree totally...

...with your position on heroin and the harm mainly being from the company one is forced to keep -- also of course, its illegality means it is expensive and not consistent in quality, thus contributing to its association with crime and unnecessary and tragic overdoses. It is well known to medical doctors that the drug does little to no physical harm even to long time users, assuming no overdose and they are able to take care of themselves otherwise.

I also agree that having fun is a necessary part of our existence. Also exploring our inner selves. Drugs help with that. It may be unfortunate but it is still true. Becoming hysterical about illegal drugs often means people do not have accurate information, and cannot make rational decisions about which drugs to experiment with. I tend to take the pragmatic position that people *will* use psychoactive substances.

Personally I managed to stay away from anything but grass, hash and psychedelics. I knew I never wanted to get involved with anything so physically addictive. Over the years I concluded that the wisest course is to avoid the refined white powders -- heroin, cocaine, meth and the like. I did use cigarettes a couple of times, though, and they were hard to kick. It always amazed me that they are legal even though they are physically addictive, they kill many of their users, and they don't even provide a good high. Of course, that last part is exactly why they are legal -- the puritans in this country wish they could ban anything that might be fun. If they could ban sex and alcohol, they would.

Just an aside. I've always found "words to live by" sayings in random places. Years ago when I went to see the National Lampoon Vacation movie, the first one, I remember recognizing one of those sayings. It was when the family arrived at Wally World but found that it was closed, and Dad declared: "We came here to have fun, and by God, we're going to have fun!" I always thought those were words to live by :-)

[TomInTib]

15. I would like to thank you. Finally, a voice of reason.

By the way, I used to date Ms D'Angelo.

We met thru Ronnie Hawkins.

[TomInTib]

16. Wow. A logical discourse.

Anti-fun/drug hysteria always amuses me.

1968, I was dating Stanley Owsley's niece. We had an unlimited supply of his acid and did some of it every day of 1968. It was kind of a research project, I suppose.

[ljm2002]

19. My connection with Owsley was more indirect...

...my friend and dealer was living with Owsley's ex. I only took acid a few times, but it was always Owsley acid.

On the other hand, there was a memorable session at my friend's house in Berkeley where we were capping mescaline and licking the powder on our fingers from time to time... the next morning as I was walking down to Telegraph Avenue, I noticed all the cars had flyers on them so I snagged one and read it. It was something about People's Park... I participated in those demonstrations (so-called "riots", although as usual, it was more of a law enforcement riot) while still high on mescaline. I've always thought that was why the tear gas didn't affect me...

Ah, the good old days. I got to Berkeley right before the drug scene hardened. I stuck to the mild stuff, and have never regretted my long term use of cannabis and my occasional use of psychedelics. In fact, I think there is a benefit to psychedelics (although again, some people did not have good experiences, and it does have the potential to push some folks right over the edge -- I've known some like that). But the hard drug scene, that was another thing altogether. Over the years I've known many who got into it and some who got out. I'm glad I never went down that road.

Then there's alcohol, which is the only drug that directly caused someone to do me physical harm. Yet it's legal. I've no problem with it being legal, we already know that making it illegal did not make it harder to get, and doing so created a whole host of other problems including organized criminal activity and bad quality booze that blinded and killed people. Gee, sounds familiar.

The thing with all drugs is, people need to know when to let up. They need to know when it is running their lives. Unfortunately, legal or illegal, people will often lie to themselves and others about that aspect.

[Leftist Agitator]

22. Drinking Coca Cola = Still Using

Coffee = Still Using.

Smoking = Still Using.

Taking Nyquil = Still Using.


Have I got this thing figured out, according to Dis Pater logic?

[RedCappedBandit]

2. Funny that the US criticizes

We're not exactly in a position to make any suggestions on how to handle drug abuse.

[corpseratemedia]

5. since the program is "credited

with reducing crime and improving the health...of addicts" I hope it becomes a model for other countries to follow.

I'd rather addicts deal with a physician and take it in a safe place than risk their life three times by buying from unpredictable people with an unpredictable product and shooting up in a dangerous area.

The War on Drugs has been a front and always ends up as some kind of war against civilians anyway.

[RidinMyDonkey]

8. I think this is a good idea

We've already seen how well the War on Drugs works. Let them get their drugs in a safe enviroment where they do not have to share needles and spread HIV.

[mitchum]

17. Now that's what I call Swiss cheese!

[mdmc]

18. change ya can believe in

[golddigger]

20. Hold on a minute. You had a gig with Van Morrison, but you came back...

to post two hours later on DU?

Well, I have to run. I have a date at Hugh Hefner's mansion, will be back tomorrow.

[brentspeak]

21. Heroin is truly an evil drug

The devastation is has caused to people's lives is unbelievable.

[High Plains]

23. Drugs aren't "evil." They are molecules.

Many of the ills attributed to heroin are really functions of its illegal status.

Yes, you can become physically addicted to it. But if you have a legal, quality-controlled supply, you can go for decades without causing yourself physical damage.

The "devastation" of being a scruffy junkie hustling for your fix is a function of black market economics. The "devastation" of a heroin overdose is way too often the result of doing non-quality controlled black market drugs.

The Swiss prescription program, which has actually been going on for a decade, shows that people can use heroin and lead normal lives.

[brentspeak]

24. I've seen a documentary about heroin junkies living in Holland

Their lives were only slightly less desperate than those of junkies living in drug-outlawed countries. Heroin is a terrible, monstrous substance, period.

[XOKCowboy]

25. At the same time though they're going to vote down decriminalization of pot...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=a4t1T9VspMW0&refer=europe

Go figure??