A major social problem is drug addiction. Not only is it terribly destructive of individuals but it is very expensive to fight and almost impossible to control. Addicts become dealers to sustain their expensive habit and thereby extend and prolong the problem and the fiercest punishments only make the problem worse.
A radical solution may lie in capturing addicts and sequestering them in "drug camps" where they are given the drugs they desire free, as drugs are relatively cheap to produce compared to the cost of the current drug program which costs billions. It is, perhaps, a death sentence in the long run but it is one freely chosen by individuals who are now corrupting society. And since anyone can enter at free will it will destroy the drug market for the vicious brutal gangsters who now control the market.
The only way out of these drug camps would be to voluntarily undergo a medical program to relieve the inhabitant of the habit.The people in the camps would not be punished and perhaps could be offered work to pay for their keep but they would be separated from society where they would be prevented from spreading the problem. There would be no negative moral feeling about addiction, merely that it is detrimental to normal society and should not be permitted outside the camps.
I agree
No opinion
I disagree
Add your comment
Give them all a one-way ticket to Amsterdam? I like it.
But the "Drug War" is good for local police & sheriff departments. Taking away the opportunity to make big drug busts at budget time would cripple thier ability to convince the taxpayer to shell out more dough. Removing the opportunity to stand in front of a bale of weed at election time decreases the free air time incumbents have available.
Develop a drug that would make you allergic to another drug, but otherwise has no effects. Sort of instant bad trip.
To be compulsary administered to all convicted of a drug offence. You make it so one dose lasts 6 months, then let them go.
You could even relax the conviction rules, if you never took drugs it wouldn't bother you taking this.
Really wild idea: Allow parents and schools to administer it to minors mixed in with their food without permission.
It could even be done for tobacco and alcohol, one puff and you get a Migrane and convulsions.
Chris,
A lot of the drug dealers don't use the drugs they sell. They see themselves as businessmen and as such need to keep a clear head. Your proposal wouldn't affect them.
In many cases, the drug usage is a symptom, rather than a problem in itself. As an example, meth seems to be the favorite among your rural "white trash" types, often direct descendants of the Okies of the depression. Before they had meth, they sniffed glue, before that it was something else. When somebody is just plain dumb, there ain't a lot you can do for them.
The best anti-drug system is the drug test given by employers.
It might make sense for something like crack, but it wouldn't apply to pot. I'm sure there would be charges of racism in the idea, since so much of the drug problem is among minorities in the inner cities. Of course, you would need to be able to prove that addiction was present, and not disciplined use, and that the addiction posed a threat to society.