Drug Legalization

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I am adamant about the legalization of all drugs and substances, but I don't get much support from other members of the nursing community. Are my ideas that radical? Has anyone had a change in mind regarding the subject since you've began your nursing career?

Interesting thread.

I too firmly believe that all drugs and drug use should be decriminalized. Additionally, there should be pardons for all those currently incarcerated for drug use. The pushers can rot.

The use of street drugs will never be eliminated, but we can control the use. We can sell marijuana cigarettes next to tobacco ones. Other, minor drugs can be sold at state run "Drug Stores" (think liquor store). Finally, drugs that are determined to be to dangerous to use with out supervision can only be used in "clinics" under supervision of medical staff.

With this kind of layout the user receives pure substances, the government takes some off the top in taxes, and we have just reduced the prison population.

There are logistical issues to work out, who grows, who sells, what are the punishments for stoned behind the wheel, are you insurable, and others that I couldn't possibly fathom right now, but nothing insurmountable. For those of you who think that you don't want your Air Traffic Controllers or Bomb Squad members high, calm down. No one will higher a person for sensitive possessions without drug screening. You want you dream job, you don't do drugs.

Lastly, for those of you who have read this rant to the end, I do use one drug without a prescription: Alcohol!!! Should be a DEA Schedule 3 drug. And I quit using Nicotine, a drug that should be Schedule 1.

Just because you can doesn't mean you will or should.

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Specializes in ICU.

Sounds like most of the women are completely against it, and most of the guys can somewhat consider it, imagine that. I know it is a radical idea, but sometimes we have to think outside the box to solve some of the biggest issues. Here is some research for all the naysayers and supporters alike

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=portugal-drug-decriminalization

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Finally, drugs that are determined to be to dangerous to use with out supervision can only be used in "clinics" under supervision of medical staff.

Dude......................................

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care, Cardiac Ca.

Lest the OP be reminded that heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines used to be legal...as prescriptions, and were d/c'd because they were LETHAL, and risk outweighed benefit. We have better tools now, but they're still Rx, and they STILL cause problems. Pot, sure, makes perfect sense, and kills less people than BP meds do anually, but legalizing crystal meth, heroin, cocaine, crack, PCP, MDMA, etc would not only land more people in our ERs, it would overrun our already BUNK corrections system in the US, and expend billions of tax dollars on medical care for condoned use. Last poster had a good point...making drugs illegal makes it possible for our government to use international trade and enforcement as collateral in defense deals, trade deals, etc. It would be unprofitable to forgo this, as F$##ed up as it is. Besides, guess who gets to deal with all of the adverse drug events at the ground level...NURSES!

I hate what schedule drugs do to people, but I am SO glad our patients can't oxycodone otc at walgreens.

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So you feel that heroin, crack and crystal meth should be legalized?? Seriously??? :eek:

Heaven help us all if that happens. You think your ERs are full now...

But I think marijuana is going to end up legal anyway if for no other reason than the government wanting to tax it.

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I support the decriminalization of marijuana but not the other stuff. I too feel that tobacco and alcohol do more damage and should be regulated more. Alcohol and tobacco have created a huge burden on our healthcare system.

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Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

There is no easy answer to drugs. They can be harmful if abused, and helpful when used appropriately. Whether they are legal or illegal is a moot point with regard to the harm from abuse.

The harm from abuse is both micro (individuals and their loved ones) and macro ( society at large). While keeping certain drugs illegal or criminalized you can mitigate the harm it does to individuals but it does increase the harm to society at large. Besides the health care costs that are directly related to drug abuse there are many other indirect societal costs. The obvious ones are law enforcement, prison costs, etc. Indirectly there is a disrespect for law and law enforcement. The corruption with bribery of officials and police officers. The hero worship of the "gansta ethos" or in an earlier time the Mafia, bootleggers et. al.

Which causes less harm, costs more money, criminalization or decriminalization? I feel there is less damage to society in decriminalizing the street drugs. They were legal for over two thirds of the country's history and were dealt with through education and health care. Some were only made illegal after prohibition was repealed and the resources developed to fight prohibition needed a new purpose or reason for their continued existence.

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Specializes in CVICU.
Which causes less harm, costs more money, criminalization or decriminalization? I feel there is less damage to society in decriminalizing the street drugs. They were legal for over two thirds of the country's history and were dealt with through education and health care. Some were only made illegal after prohibition was repealed and the resources developed to fight prohibition needed a new purpose or reason for their continued existence.

And guess what when drugs were legal we didn't have a country over run with junkies. Obviously making drugs illegal does not stop people from using. Having drugs illegal makes for insane profits for drug mobs and keeps our "for profit" prisons full. What changed between then and now? Society has changed. Prior to drug illegalization what kept people from using was first that there was some element of "shame, honor, and respect" in society. Back then if you used drugs you were considered and outcast, a loser, a lowlife. Nowadays drug use is glamorized and if you are rich enough or famous enough you can have all the drugs you want and not only that you will be essentially immune to the insane drug laws in this country.

The other thing that was different then was that most people had to spend a lot more time working to get the things they needed for survivial, like housing, food, water, and clothes. A lot of items just simply weren't available at the store and needed to be produced locally which required a lot of time and energy. Teenagers when reaching the legal age of 18 were expected to become adults and make their way. Nowadays we spend very little time and energy obtaining the basics and we have a period of adocescence that now extends well into a persons 20's.

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I shudder at the thought of what would happen to the ER's in this country if this happened. Not only would they deal with everything else comming through the door but imagine the droves of: "Oh man my bud's and I got some 'shrooms down at the store and now I'm freaking out, I need some (insert ativan/haldol/etc...)"

I'm still of the opinion that there's a huge difference in me having a beer after work or with a group of friends, than unwinding with a crack pipe, or needle full of heroin.

The potential with many of these substances to do unintended lethal harm is far greater than alcohol or tobacco. (I'm sure that will be a point of contention :p)

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Specializes in CVICU.
I shudder at the thought of what would happen to the ER's in this country if this happened. Not only would they deal with everything else comming through the door but imagine the droves of: "Oh man my bud's and I got some 'shrooms down at the store and now I'm freaking out, I need some (insert ativan/haldol/etc...)"

I'm still of the opinion that there's a huge difference in me having a beer after work or with a group of friends, than unwinding with a crack pipe, or needle full of heroin.

The potential with many of these substances to do unintended lethal harm is far greater than alcohol or tobacco. (I'm sure that will be a point of contention :p)

Do you really think that the type of person who would "unwind" with a crack pipe or a needle full of heroin gives a **** if it is legal or not. Does it stop them? No. And just because something has become decriminalized does not mean it will be available at the Stop N Go. I think were we may diverge is lumping heavy hallucinogens, stimulants, and narcotics in the same league as pot. You know who spends millions lobbying to keep pot illegal? it is the alcohol indurstry. That's right Budweiser spends millions to maintain the monopoly on legal mind altering substances.

And do you know what else, there really isn't much difference in the person who comes home after work and winds down with a drink, or two or three, or four and the person who unwinds with a crack pipe. You know why? Because alcohol is responsible for more harm to families, society, healthcare, and the general welfare than all drugs combined. Yet you can purchase a product at the Stop N Go that when used puts some people in a state of mind that they want to beat their wife and kids when then they get home.

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Apparently not much room for humor here. Regardless, the point I was making was that it's just my opinion that the "threshold" for lethality in acute use is likely greater for harder street drugs especially with the varying concentrations, shady dealers and so forth, but that's another discussion. Drunk driving is a serious concern, but I think that someone driving on LSD could be just as dangerous or just as likely to commit harm.

Long term everything is likely bad for you besides a healthy diet and regular exercise.

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Specializes in ICU.
Apparently not much room for humor here. Regardless, the point I was making was that it's just my opinion that the "threshold" for lethality in acute use is likely greater for harder street drugs especially with the varying concentrations, shady dealers and so forth, but that's another discussion. Drunk driving is a serious concern, but I think that someone driving on LSD could be just as dangerous or just as likely to commit harm.

Long term everything is likely bad for you besides a healthy diet and regular exercise.

There wouldn't be shady dealers if drugs were legalized. There would be companies that were taxed and regulated producing the product like budweiser or marlbolo. And do you really think if drugs were legalized operating a motor vehicle under these drugs would be allowed, it'd be a DUI same as if the drug was illegal.

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