12-17-2020, 12:27 AM
Again, another huge issue which isn't an either/or situation to my way of thinking.
Until ice came along most violent crimes were committed by folks with a mental illness or drunk (or both)... and alcohol is a legal drug.
Let’s take a squiz at the horrendous cost to the community of drunk people/alcohol... domestic violence, car/truck accidents, beating up ambos/ staff in hospitals and so on. Alcohol remains one of the worst drugs re causes of violence and crime... then there are the physical illnesses caused by alcohol - another cost to the community.
Ice is in a category of its own. An angry person on ice is every bit as bad as an angry drunk – abuse and violence. But ice also tends to alter the actual brain chemistry of those pre disposed to mental health issues. And there aint no going back once this chemistry is altered… only prescription medication which tends to so subdue the individual as to make them indistinguishable from a cabbage – better that than irrational/angry/violent, some would say.
Since time immemorial, humans have sought out mind-altering substances, but generally for a sense of peace or fun or spiritual inspiration/connection.
Just to throw a wrench into the argument… much meaningful research into some illicit drugs (LSD, magic mushies, peyote, hooch and so on) shows that these mind-altering substances can be effectively used in psychiatry and psychology to actually help some folks with a mental illness. Holy cr@p! Yep, and it is gaining momentum but unlike the 60s, its use is being strictly controlled & monitored (and is still in the experimental stage it should be noted). Leary and co. were onto something.
And here’s another mind-bender – low level consumers of alcohol out-live non-drinkers. Yep, and it aint the grape or whatever, its actually the alcohol. Glass of grape, or coupla beers or G & T etc with dinner – good for you. But as soon as we go beyond the one or two per day, the wellness curve dips… badly!
As for the justice aspect, personally, although I favour decriminalizing illicit drugs, provided monitoring and registration is thorough, I’m an absolutist re NOT being able to use ‘drunk or outa my mind’ as any excuse or justification for a crime. So many mind-altering substances (grog included) only remove inhibition, so any angry person is a powder keg re abuse and violence against society once effected by their poison of choice. For me, convictions against those committing a crime of violence against another human/animal, whether p1ssed/high or not, should get more jail time.
I totally understand the feelings of anger toward those who harm others when drunk or high. I’m not immune from those feelings and have had family members keep things from me because they knew what I would do to the perpetrator of the violence against my loved one.
Until ice came along most violent crimes were committed by folks with a mental illness or drunk (or both)... and alcohol is a legal drug.
Let’s take a squiz at the horrendous cost to the community of drunk people/alcohol... domestic violence, car/truck accidents, beating up ambos/ staff in hospitals and so on. Alcohol remains one of the worst drugs re causes of violence and crime... then there are the physical illnesses caused by alcohol - another cost to the community.
Ice is in a category of its own. An angry person on ice is every bit as bad as an angry drunk – abuse and violence. But ice also tends to alter the actual brain chemistry of those pre disposed to mental health issues. And there aint no going back once this chemistry is altered… only prescription medication which tends to so subdue the individual as to make them indistinguishable from a cabbage – better that than irrational/angry/violent, some would say.
Since time immemorial, humans have sought out mind-altering substances, but generally for a sense of peace or fun or spiritual inspiration/connection.
Just to throw a wrench into the argument… much meaningful research into some illicit drugs (LSD, magic mushies, peyote, hooch and so on) shows that these mind-altering substances can be effectively used in psychiatry and psychology to actually help some folks with a mental illness. Holy cr@p! Yep, and it is gaining momentum but unlike the 60s, its use is being strictly controlled & monitored (and is still in the experimental stage it should be noted). Leary and co. were onto something.
And here’s another mind-bender – low level consumers of alcohol out-live non-drinkers. Yep, and it aint the grape or whatever, its actually the alcohol. Glass of grape, or coupla beers or G & T etc with dinner – good for you. But as soon as we go beyond the one or two per day, the wellness curve dips… badly!
As for the justice aspect, personally, although I favour decriminalizing illicit drugs, provided monitoring and registration is thorough, I’m an absolutist re NOT being able to use ‘drunk or outa my mind’ as any excuse or justification for a crime. So many mind-altering substances (grog included) only remove inhibition, so any angry person is a powder keg re abuse and violence against society once effected by their poison of choice. For me, convictions against those committing a crime of violence against another human/animal, whether p1ssed/high or not, should get more jail time.
I totally understand the feelings of anger toward those who harm others when drunk or high. I’m not immune from those feelings and have had family members keep things from me because they knew what I would do to the perpetrator of the violence against my loved one.
Only our ruthless best, from Board to bootstudders will get us no. 17