Norway To Give Free Heroin To Drug Addicts

[clintonhater]

But do you have any evidence to support that?

In the unfortunate absense of statistical evidence, common sense is the next best alternative. But there is PLENTY of statistical evidence, as many have already pointed out, to prove beyond doubt who's doing the lion's share of home burgleries, convenience store robberies, etc.--junkies!

[Vern Humphrey]

In the unfortunate absense of statistical evidence, common sense is the next best alternative.

There is nothing so uncommon as common sense -- particularly in matters like this.

But there is PLENTY of statistical evidence, as many have already pointed out, to prove beyond doubt who's doing the lion's share of home burgleries, convenience store robberies, etc.--junkies!

But do we have evidence that they would NOT commit crimes if we gave them free drugs?

[clintonhater]

But do we have evidence that they would NOT commit crimes if we gave them free drugs?

That's an impossible requirement--how could such evidence be acquired before trying the "experiment." If the experiment fails, society is no worse off than at present. It's a calculated risk, but one well worth taking.

[JB White]

Interesting points made here.

Free drugs wouldn't eliminate the crime, although there may be a slight drop in the rate via the drop in total desperation. Only a slight drop. Druggies still need a place to stay, to eat, buy cigs, some pocket cash to impress the neighborhood "princess" etc. By the time they are so strung out that they qualify as an addict, most are pretty useless as far as the job market is concerned.

[togor]

If the goal is to keep people quietly in their domiciles and not making a ruckus, then I'm having a little trouble seeing the difference between heroin on the one hand and Doritos, Pepsi and Video Games on the other.

[Vern Humphrey]

That's an impossible requirement--how could such evidence be acquired before trying the "experiment." If the experiment fails, society is no worse off than at present. It's a calculated risk, but one well worth taking.

Actually, it should be easy. Many countries have no drug laws, or don't enforce them. Some nations have handed out free drugs. Look at those nations or communities and see how they fared.

[RETREAD123456]

I can't recall for sure, but some time back wasn't the Netherlands. supposed to have the answer to drug addiction. with liberal drug policies and freeman. subsidized smack ?

[Vern Humphrey]

I can't recall for sure, but some time back wasn't the Netherlands. supposed to have the answer to drug addiction. with liberal drug policies and freeman. subsidized smack ?

I believe Switzerland has a similar experiment. The point is, Ernest Swinton (in "The Defense of Duffer's Drift") was right -- "There is no excuse for having a parapet that is not bulletproof, seeing that the means of testing it are so readily to hand."