Swiss vote to provide prescription heroin

[Whickerman]

Swiss vote to provide prescription heroin
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7757050.stm

right route to take or madness?

"Supporters say it has had positive results - getting long-term addicts out of Switzerland's once notorious "needle parks" and reducing drug-related crime.

Opponents say heroin prescription sends the wrong message to young people and harms the addicts themselves. "

This would also have the effect of removing the pushers, ensuring a lack of overdose etc etc - hard for me to see a downside, particularly as people will use anyway - your thoughts?

[Booldawg]

Depends how cheap it is to produce, as keeping people addicted versus to the cost on society seems to be whats at stake there.

[bednobs]

you can get heroin on prescription here in the uk 9but for pain rather than adiction) it costs pennies

[Jafi]

I'm in two minds about this. If it actually helped to get rid of the pushers, reduced crime and helped addicts eventually kick the habit, then yes it could be a good thing.

On the downside for me is the fact that a lot of people in this country are being refused treatment for cancer drugs due to the cost.

How could they justify spending money on drug addicts when cancer patients are having to sell their homes or remortgage them in order to buy their own treatment.

[Quinlad]

Because it goes on to save us all money by cutting crime and lightening the burden on our health service.

[andy-hughes]

I am completely in favouir of this policy.

Drug taking is like prostitution - society has no choice about its presence, only how it addresses that presence.

As Jafi points out, in both instances, there is a moral high ground adopted by large numbers of people who see addicition as self-inflicted and therefore something to be left to the addict to sort for themsevles.

It is far more complex than that - including issues of deprivation, mental illness, homelessness, and myriad other factors which lead to addicition.

How deaprate must your life be that your way of blotting it out is to stick a needle in your arm?

Under medical supervision, addicts can avoid the worst aspects of the criminal addicts lifestyle, which has to be a good thing for everyone involved.

The only downside is - as Switzerland has found - actually getting addicts to kick their addiction when their drug is available like this, is proving difficult, though not in all cases.

I think a lifelong addict who has support and help and legal access to their drug has to be better than the current crime-driven system we all have to deal with as things are.

Just because alcohol is seen as a 'social' drug does not mean that heroin addic ts should not receive our help and support.

A litle compassion goes a long way.

[123everton]

If you give addicts free drugs as a means to lower crime then it's not treatment, it's a protection racket.
I'm totally against this idea, the welfare state was set up for the sick and the needy not the ******** and the inadequate.
An addict in this country can get help if they want it, and if they want help they can get off it.