Is heroin still a problem in this country?

[Brian Marwood]

Whilst I agree with pretty much all you are saying but addicts end up in prison due to shop lifting, burgulary, dealing etc. Legalising drugs isn't going to help them as they will still have to find a way to pay for their now legal drugs. Unless we give them drugs free which I don't think many people would agree with.

I would agree with that, given free in a controlled environment with all the support and help they need to quit would be far better for the users and society as a whole.

 

[motownjunk]

I would agree with that, given free in a controlled environment with all the support and help they need to quit would be far better for the users and society as a whole.

They do get methadone for free, but a lot of addicts just get extra stuff from the street. Its the nature of the addiction to want more and more.

 

[Johngannonsunderpants]

I would agree with that, given free in a controlled environment with all the support and help they need to quit would be far better for the users and society as a whole.

It was happening in Middlesbrough quite successfully but the funding was withdrawn. Worked well in Switzerland.
Ket has been about for a long time but I've noticed it's increasing and the amount (like cocaine) that people use is too.

Everything in moderation people (I'm not advocating taking a bit of everything bye the way - that's not moderation ).

 

[RedAsABeetroot]

Spot on. For decades our prisons have been clogged up with people who would never have passed through were it not for the need to steal to feed an addiction. There is no need to criminalise drug users, whose crime hurts no one save themselves.

I take it your house has never been broken into and sentimental, irreplaceable jewellery stolen. I understand some of your points, but trivialising theft and burglary as of no consequence is wrong.

 

[NoloBoro]

My view is this, sometimes people who steal things use drugs. But, there are plenty of people who don’t. There are people who will just steal things irrespective of their habits.
If you legalise drug use, you could argue that it removes a lot of the associated criminality, by that I mean the really nasty stuff that occurs between rival suppliers and the lives ruined by coercion, which manifests in ways such as county lines, cross border dealing where vulnerable people get sucked into a system which invariably chews them up and destroys them.
But, as stated above some people are just bad by nature and will always look for ways to intimidate, exploit and hurt others.
At least legalising drugs would allow regulation which would protect some.

 

[Johngannonsunderpants]

I take it your house has never been broken into and sentimental, irreplaceable jewellery stolen. I understand some of your points, but trivialising theft and burglary as of no consequence is wrong.

I dont think that's what he means. He means if they don't have to steal to feed their habit then their only crime is their drug use which only impacts themselves.