This one's for "medicinal Meth" advocate, Ellen Taylor.
Meth addict who made documentary dies
A former trucker whose documentary chronicled an agonizing descent as methamphetamine ravaged his body has died, optimistic to the end that his story would keep others from the highly addictive stimulant.
By his family's account, (Shawn) Bridges already had died at least twice, his heart so damaged by years of using meth -- a concoction that can include toxic chemicals such as battery acid, drain cleaner and fertilizer -- that it stopped and had to be shocked back into beating.
The documentary shows Bridges mostly bedridden, his constant companions a catheter and feeding tube.
"I'd say he's got a 34-year-old body on the outside with a 70- to 80-year-old man on the inside," his father told The Associated Press last May.
But Ellen thinks "...Demonization of meth cripples democracy..."
Yeah Ellen, really scored big with that stupid op-ed.
ReplyDeleteYou go girl.
ReplyDeleteActually, it is Ellen that cripples democracy.
ReplyDeleteI was really disappointed to see this article. I've worked with Ellen on organizing antiwar events and I've found her to be a logical and thoughtful person, but this is pretty bad.
ReplyDeleteEllen is right about the war on drugs being a war on our own people, but her good points get lost in her positive view of meth.
Decriminalization is the solution, not legalization. People shouldn't be going to jail for their addictions. But that doesn't mean that meth should be available in grocery stores.
We need to invest in treatment programs, stop jailing the users, and crack down even harder on the dealers.
If the legalization left and the iron fisted right would stop pushing political agendas, we might actually find a way to reduce drug use, while lowering the prison population.
People do not cooperate with treatment until they want to change and sometimes that never happens.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, they steal, neglect and abuse their kids, commit crimes of violence and push hard drugs on children.
We're sappose to turn a blind eye because they have an addiction? You've obviously never seen the carnage the addicts leave in their wake.
I agree with you about drug addicts. I never said we should turn a blind eye. However, we need to work harder to cut off the drug sources. Putting users in prinson doesn't do anything to address the actual problem.
ReplyDeleteStart giving dealers life sentences. That will do a lot to solve the problem on the enforcement end.
But in the long run, it will require treatment and social programs.
While I think you can make the case for decriminalization, and even legalization, of pot, what Ellen does here is bolster the argument against doing so by confirming the "gateway" status of pot... i.e. once we get pot legalized we'll start on meth and other hard drugs, and that's the slippery slope everyone fears. She's just shot a double torpedo into the hard work of all of her compatriots who have worked so hard to convince us that it is only the illegality of pot, and not the addictability, that makes it a "gateway" drug.
ReplyDeleteDrugs degrade the nobility of mankind, Ellen. Why not strive for something higher, being better, not excusing despicable weakness?
I have allergies this time of year and take a non-drowsy antihistamine called Claritan. Sometimes I need a decongestant, too. Now, I have to go to the pharmacy, they scan my driver's license and I sign for Claritan D (decongestant), so crankers won't steal the decongestant to make meth. This seems a bit much to me. When I was a nurse in obstetrics, sudafed and tylenol were two medications that were deemed safe for pregnant women to take to relieve their stuffy sinuses and would not harm the fetus.
ReplyDeleteCarol, it may seem like a bit much, but unless we get our drug problem under control, that's how it has to be.
ReplyDeleteI would argue that it's probably too easy to get. And meth making isn't the only problem.
DXM (cough suppressant) is used on its own by many teenagers looking for a high. Apparently you can get off-brand stuff at the Dollar Tree and they won't even card you.
I was asked for all that information when buying a set of 5 little bottles of acrylic paint at Michael's. Not spray paint, mind you. Makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteThe young clerk was sorry, and said she had big hassles when she went to get cough medicine for her toddler.
Drug abusers get lenient treatment, put back out on the street to re-offend because no one wants to be too tough on them, and we all suffer the consequences.
It's not "a bit much" Carol. That's how people make methamphetamine. These are the same people that start fires cooking their meth. They are the same people that break into cars, houses, and generally steal anything not nailed down. These are the people who become paranoid and violent while on the drug. Prop. 36 which MANDATES treatment, Shane, is helping reform addicts, but it does keep them out in the community. The "addicts" you talk about are committing other crimes that land them in jail. It's not going to be confined to the west part of Eureka much longer. The effects are widening.
ReplyDeleteI meant to say that Prop. 36 is NOT helping to reform people. They are on five and six grants of Prop. 36 probation and are still using. That's mandated treatment, and it is a failure. The "addicts" do not go to jail or prison for using drugs. They may go for other crimes, but Californians gave them a freebie on possession.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever ask yourself why so many people want to be anesticized? Start to try to solve the problem in schools. But the "addicts just need more treatment" slogan has been proved wrong.