This may sound oversimplistic, and it probably is to some extent... but in my opinion nothing is going to change until we quit treating the drug problems in this country as a criminal issue and start treating them like what they are - a public health issue. This includes shifting the money spent on 'fighting the war on drugs' from law enforcement to appropriate treatment and/or deterrent programs. How much money is being wasted on enforcement while in many areas there are few resources available for those who want to quit?
As long as people are addicted, there will be a demand for the drugs, and if there's a demand, there will be a business enterprise which springs up to fill those needs. If this by necessity has to be a criminal enterprise, you'll find all of the traditional issues surrounding a criminal enterprise - and escalating the fight will only escalate the level to which the criminal enterprise is willing to go through to fill the need. Ending up in a spiral where the problem only gets progressively worse. -forrest On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 9:35 AM, Lewis Bergman <[email protected]> wrote: > It is definitely the entrenched problem of several generations now and > just keeps getting worse. The "war on drugs" has been a huge failure no > matter who has been in charge of it. It pains me to think of all the > bright, productive people drugs have consumed over the ages. > > On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 9:36 AM Jeremy <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Oxycontin is responsible for a huge resurgence in Heroin use. So many >> people are crushing and snorting Oxys and when they can't get them anymore >> they turn to Heroin, which is much cheaper and easier to get. It is a >> nationwide epidemic that rests firmly on the shoulders of the >> pharmaceutical industry. Oxycontin should not be legal. Heroin is evil. >> >> On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 8:16 AM, Kurt Fankhauser <[email protected] >> > wrote: >> >>> Their maxing crack with kool-aid here and shooting it up! >>> >>> http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/story/news/2015/12/28/woman-accused-mixing-crack-kool-aid/77978248/ >>> >>> "Kidd alleged Dyer admitted mixing the crack with red Kool-Aid and >>> shooting it up. In addition to the parole violation, Dyer is now looking at >>> a charge of drug possession, a fifth-degree felony. The judge set bond for >>> Dyer at $500,000." >>> >>> Sad thing is i went to school with that girl and she was not like that >>> at all back then. She has 4 kids now and she doesn't have custody of any of >>> them. Only good thing to report on this story is the judge is a customer of >>> mine on wireless, haha. >>> >> On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 9:52 AM, Ty Featherling <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >> Agreed. I didn't mean to sound so final. We help whenever we feel like we >>>> can. We are much more guarded and much wiser about it. Just try mostly to >>>> be aware what help is enabling and what help is real help. >>>> >>>> -Ty >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -Ty >>>> >>>> On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 8:50 AM, Chuck McCown <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Don’t give up on helping, just be jaded and wise about it. Don’t give >>>>> them the chance to steal from you. If they call in sick the day after >>>>> payday, cut them loose. >>>>> >>>>> *From:* Ty Featherling <[email protected]> >>>>> *Sent:* Thursday, March 03, 2016 7:28 AM >>>>> *To:* [email protected] >>>>> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] OT heroin >>>>> >>>>> My wife and I tried to help out a friend that was slipping do the dark >>>>> side with painkillers. It ended up costing me a year of drama in my home >>>>> for my family and a finding a bunch of stuff had been stolen from under my >>>>> nose. We parted ways and he was in jail within 6 months for a non-drug >>>>> related charge. It didn't go well. I vowed not to do that to my family >>>>> again. It's true, you can't help them, only enable them. If they are >>>>> actively trying to escape it, they will have to do it alone. >>>>> >>>>> -Ty >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -Ty >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 8:13 AM, Chuck McCown <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> I have attempted to help a bunch of junkies over the years. Very few >>>>>> success stories. If they escape, they do it themselves. If you hire >>>>>> one, >>>>>> expect they will steal from you and end up back in jail. Don’t believe a >>>>>> word they say about anything. >>>>>> >>>>>> *From:* That One Guy /sarcasm <[email protected]> >>>>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 02, 2016 11:08 PM >>>>>> *To:* [email protected] >>>>>> *Subject:* [AFMUG] OT heroin >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> So another fella I used to know ODd today. He is the youngest of >>>>>> three brothers, the oldest having croaked out from overdose a few years >>>>>> ago, the middle is on the run after cutting an ankle bracelet for heroin >>>>>> charges and now the mom whom I used to work with gets to put a second son >>>>>> in the dirt. Somewhere between 10 and 20 of the folks I used to run >>>>>> around >>>>>> with are feeding worms now, I quit taking actual count some time ago. I >>>>>> personally don't care about dead junkies, while they're smacked out, they >>>>>> aren't people, just shells of people, a danger to everyone around them I >>>>>> help the few who can be salvaged, I'm selfish in that I won't expose my >>>>>> family, but for example, last year I dropped off a backpack with food >>>>>> toiletries, cigarettes and and blanket to an old friend who was homeless >>>>>> and in some need, but that's as much as I can enable these guys. Is this >>>>>> new? Or am I just hitting an age where the sins of our past begin to >>>>>> catch >>>>>> up? >>>>>> >>>>>> As an industry, in our scope, is there any reaching out we can do? We >>>>>> are in people's homes regularly, is there a link to resources we can >>>>>> provide? Is there any way we can be a part of the solution or are we just >>>>>> to isolated of an industry to do anything? >>>>>> >>>>>> I know it's a pick your battles world, nobody can help everybody, but >>>>>> this is madness, the destruction of so many lives and the collateral >>>>>> damage >>>>>> from one drug is astounding. Everybody, even homeless junkies are >>>>>> online. >>>>>> Granted our base tends not to be the smack addled youth, but would things >>>>>> like resource links on our websites, or outreach program info in our >>>>>> welcome packs be overstepping our bounds. I'm curious on a personal level >>>>>> because I have no other resource than my job. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- *Forrest Christian* *CEO**, PacketFlux Technologies, Inc.* Tel: 406-449-3345 | Address: 3577 Countryside Road, Helena, MT 59602 [email protected] | http://www.packetflux.com <http://www.linkedin.com/in/fwchristian> <http://facebook.com/packetflux> <http://twitter.com/@packetflux>
