tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post1335420635769695370..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Prescription drugs kill more people than illegal ones; new harm reduction strategies neededGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-13893871380568262232008-06-16T11:41:00.000-05:002008-06-16T11:41:00.000-05:00Re: the idea that "maybe we should consider" execu...Re: the idea that "maybe we should consider" executing drug users, a) Communist China is hardly where I draw my suggestions for law enforcement reforms, and b) SCOTUS has ruled that death is too harsh a punisment for raping an adult, so the idea of using it for drug use would never stand muster. (SCOTUS will soon decide in the Kennedy case out of Louisiana whether the death penalty is an acceptable punishment for child rape, but that's about as far as they could conceivably go under existing stare decisis.)<BR/><BR/>Executing users is a notion that may sound pleasing as political demagoguery, but the proposal has no basis in reality, could not occur, ever, and as such shouldn't be part of any serious discussion on the topic.<BR/><BR/>I'm not advocating for further criminalizing prescription meds, though some folks are. My view is that the system is overwhelmed already from using jails and prisons as implements of what's really a public health policy. I'm just citing a data point that impacts many drug policy debates and IMO contributes insight into a number of broader discussions occurring over time on this blog.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-55978976972973820902008-06-16T10:00:00.000-05:002008-06-16T10:00:00.000-05:00The problem with Grits post is that it appears tha...The problem with Grits post is that it appears that someone's solution to the problem is to lock up more drugs. Right now if you use meth you might try convincing an MD you have ADD/ADHD and get an Rx for Adderall. Or if you would use heroin, convince a pain MD you need Oxy or Codeine. <BR/><BR/>The solution isn't to make your doctor and pharmacist responsible, but rather the end user: In China they used to have a serious drug problem, it was largely solved by the execution of users. I don't suggest we go that far on the first conviction but maybe after three convictions with other dangerous actd with rehab in between, we should consider it. <BR/><BR/>And lets free up our limited pharmacists for actually filling needed Rx's and not dealing with providing Claratin with decongestants. That's like asking to give all those elderly people, standing in line, picking up Rx's the cold or flu.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-54744962114040983122008-06-16T06:52:00.000-05:002008-06-16T06:52:00.000-05:00Does anybody else understand 12:30's comment? Is t...Does anybody else understand 12:30's comment? Is there anybody who doesn't think the vast majority of drug users don't have jobs and pay for their drugs just like Joe Sixpack pays for his beer?<BR/><BR/>The people robbing to keep up a habit are a function of what Grits called "strategies that force the product to be delivered through a black market." Everybody thinks driving up drug prices is a good thing, right up until somebody robs your house to pay for a gram of blow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-63658812582574305802008-06-15T22:33:00.000-05:002008-06-15T22:33:00.000-05:00Sooo, let's assume all ILLEGAL drugs were made leg...Sooo, let's assume all ILLEGAL drugs were made legal, What do you do with the now penniless THUGS, who were robbing and killing each other to make their living, instead of WORKING like millions of LAW ABIDING citizens? Free handouts from the LAW ABIDING citizens government? I don't think so.<BR/>I'm so sick of the "No Victim mentality" in this country! Don't feel like working, then get the HELL out. <BR/>By the way how many of those overdoses were by the elderly, cildren and those who were abusing alcohol while taking drugs????????<BR/>Remember the good old days when people were actually responsible for thier behavior?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-74196451314881830212008-06-15T12:30:00.000-05:002008-06-15T12:30:00.000-05:00The entire healthcare delivery system in this coun...The entire healthcare delivery system in this country needs a complete overhaul. First on this list should be prescription drugs.<BR/><BR/>I noticed with glee that marijuana killed -0- people.<BR/><BR/>Prescription drug abuse is a very serious public safety issue. I strongly agree that the public needs far more education regarding drugs and their health care.<BR/><BR/>The mentality of "a pill will fix it" is sooooo.......1950's, it should be trashed along with the "I must have the best health care, the more I pay, the better care I'll receive" attitude.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for another good post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-24054768371303694992008-06-15T12:04:00.000-05:002008-06-15T12:04:00.000-05:00Dear Anon. 10:27Sorry, but I am having a little pr...Dear Anon. 10:27<BR/>Sorry, but I am having a little problem connecting your "wrant" with Grits' post. Said naught about Sudafed and the like. Talking about prescription drugs. Aside from that, how does moving Sudafed behind the counter make it inaccessible to you? <BR/>In other words, did you read the post, and what are you talking about?Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902834245861000386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-63662448655993843412008-06-15T10:27:00.000-05:002008-06-15T10:27:00.000-05:00Warning! wrant coming forth....Darn, now people ar...Warning! wrant coming forth....<BR/><BR/>Darn, now people are looking to lock up more useful medicines? As if taking Sudafed off the shelves and back to the pharmacy isn't bad enough when you're stuffed up, and there isn't anything even close to being as effective. And then having parents use Tylenol rather than aspirin on their children (Tylenol still injures or kills more children each year than Aspirin ever did) (Use Motrin/Advil instead). And then removing the child dosing labels and infant cold medicines. Yes there are sometimes problems with these meds but we need to know the problems not have them removed. Removal just ties up the doctors offices more.<BR/><BR/>We don't need removal of medicines just information on how to use them properly (and limits on on how of meth forming drugs can be sold without gathering information [CA used to have that on Sudafed]).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com