What do we gain?

[OldWiseGuy]

Curing them.

Like we do for pedophiles?

 

[AirPo]

Like we do for pedophiles?

Equating addiction to pedophilia does not make any sense.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I mean, it's pretty clear that those people are suffering, right?[/QUOTE]

Sympathy yes, empathy no.

What victims?

Victims of crimes committed by addicts.

No idea what you are talking about here or how it relates to the topic.

We are more concerned with the offenders than we are the victims. And, we don't treat them out of a sense of compassion, but to ensure that they don't commit more crimes.

The law is like healthcare. It restores the person to a state of not being sick, or a criminal, but not really healthy or a model citizen.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Equating addiction to pedophilia does not make any sense.

The subject was 'curing'.

 

[AirPo]

The subject was 'curing'.

Helps to understand what you're trying to cure.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Helps to understand what you're trying to cure.

Cure is a pretty high bar. I am being treated for CAD (coronary artery disease) but I will never be cured. Same with addicts and pedophiles. They can be treated but are rarely cured.

 

[AirPo]

Cure is a pretty high bar. I am being treated for CAD (coronary artery disease) but I will never be cured. Same with addicts and pedophiles. They can be treated but are rarely cured.

Forgive my poor diction. Treating them.

 

[Dave-W]

"And shouldn't 'compassion' be saved for the victims of these addicts?"
What victims?

Those stolen from or mugged by the addict to get more $$ to support the addiction.

Or in the case of pedophiles and sex addicts, their victims.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Forgive my poor diction. Treating them.

You are forgiven.

 

[Icewater]

Those stolen from or mugged by the addict to get more $$ to support the addiction.

Or in the case of pedophiles and sex addicts, their victims.

I don't have any statistics on hand, but I'd imagine that while addicts probably have a higher rate of criminality, the vast majority of addicts don't commit crime. Especially if they're not poor.

Also, I'll point out that viewing help for others as a tit-for-tat arrangement where you're supposed to get something in return definitely sounds very Christian. Yup. Totally.

 

[bhsmte]

Like we do for pedophiles?

To borrow a phrase from you; apples and oranges.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

To borrow a phrase from you; apples and oranges.

Pedophiles are addicted to having sexual relations with children.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I don't have any statistics on hand, but I'd imagine that while addicts probably have a higher rate of criminality, the vast majority of addicts don't commit crime. Especially if they're not poor..

Addicts are the 'bread and butter', the 'cash cow', of the drug trade. They are the facilitators of the entire drug enterprise, and are far from being innocent victims. Without demand and consumption there is no product and the horrors that go with it.

 

[Icewater]

That could be viewed as a consequence of drugs being illegal at least as much as the demand users provide.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

That could be viewed as a consequence of drugs being illegal at least as much as the demand users provide.

Alcohol is still the biggest drug problem we have, and it's perfectly legal.

I'm in favor of decriminalizing all drugs but it would only work if the State provides those drugs cheaply (to eliminate private manufacture and sales) and addicts will only receive treatment if they can pay for it. Of course if they commit crimes to obtain drugs they still go to prison.

 

[quatona]

....by helping drug addicts, beside feeling good? We now have an epidemic of dangerous heroin use with hundreds dying each month across the country, costing millions that we don't have. Shouldn't we, as a society, just let them reap the fruit of their bad decisions? Of course family and friends can spend their money, time, and emotions if they choose, but why should the nation go bankrupt trying save every lost soul?

We, as a society, are a system of feedback loops. People make their decisions partly as a result of the way the system works.
If you want a society that is based on the idea that everyone should be left to their own devices when dealing with the results of their decisions, you are effectively abolishing the whole idea of "society". Better think it through before you try to apply this principle consistently.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Sympathy yes, empathy no.

How horrible.

Victims of crimes committed by addicts.

False assumption. Not all addicts commit crimes.
And those people who do commit crimes to pay for their addiction - all the more reason to help them with their addiction.

We are more concerned with the offenders than we are the victims.

I'm not.
This is not an "either or" situation.

Just because we help addicts, doesn't mean we can't or don't help others.

And, we don't treat them out of a sense of compassion, but to ensure that they don't commit more crimes.

Speak for yourself.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Those stolen from or mugged by the addict to get more $$ to support the addiction.

So, you just assume that every addict does this?

I'll also add, that that doesn't matter to me.
This is like questioning if a criminal should get to have his cancer treated.

Those are two different issues and should be treated as two different issues.

An addict that commited crimes should have his addiction treated and be taken to court for his crimes.

What is the problem?

Or in the case of pedophiles and sex addicts, their victims.

Pedophiles and sex addicts?
We are talking about drug addicts. Try to keep up.

 

[Dave-W]

So, you just assume that every addict does this?

No. Some do - and those instances are what I am talking about.

This is like questioning if a criminal should get to have his cancer treated.

Off topic.

An addict that commited crimes should have his addiction treated and be taken to court for his crimes.
What is the problem?

The comment I was responding to was talking about compassion for the victims.
Avoiding ignoring or villainizing those who have been victimized by addicts should be of greater importance than treatment of the perp.

Pedophiles and sex addicts?
We are talking about drug addicts. Try to keep up.

The addictive actions of both groups are similar.

 

[Desk trauma]

Without demand and consumption there is no product and the horrors that go with it

The bulk of the horrors, violence, crime, contaminated product, are products of prohibition itself just as they were during alcohol prohibition. It makes no sense to complain about them while supporting the system that makes them possible.