How Anarchism Would Influence Rates of Drug Addiction

[Jawn Disease]

bump.

[Garnier]

In an anarchy there will be adiction though a bit different than now. Let's say one's a cocaine addict. And regardless of family/friends/comrades help he can't stop using it.

At least he won't have to sell his arse five times over,steal,deal and make dozens other shit to get some coke. When clean coke is availabale at 20$ kilo which is it's real price. No state, no state guaranteed profits for the organized crime that will be cutt of their principal source of income.

That's at least a start

[Zazaban]

That's true. At least they'd still be able to function.

[Insecuritykiller]

no one would get addicted.

Unless they are having the time of their lives or something. then good job i say.

Drugs have only ever helped me, and i've taken crack heaps of times. I don't feel any urges at all. It's not that good. It only makes you feel calm.

[Jawn Disease]

Hahahah "I've taken crack heaps of times!"

[leadhead]

I told my girlfriend I thought anarchy would be instrumental in abolishing most drug addiction. She said I didn't know anything about addiction and that would never happen. I wrote this to sort of get my thoughts out in a clear way. What do you think?

You are both right and both wrong. I think there would be wider use obviously, but less addiction. Abolish? no, there are just some people that are the way they are.

Other less noticeable cultural factors for drug addiction in my opinion include a system of values based on cowardice, materialism, dependance and self-censorship; a hypocritical political culture that stigmatizes and criminalizes some drug use and condones other drug use; and a lack of meaning in the lives of the majority of the population, who receive no gratification from their labour or leisure.

Damn I like you more and more



In your other bit about education...I would add the right education. The truth would be good for starters. Most education programs on drugs are pretty inaccurate as I think it is more indoctrination though exaggerated shock and that the educators have not experimented with drugs themselves. You will learn more about the highs and lows of drug use in a Hunter S Thompson book that you will in any medical publication (perhaps I should say "useful" knowledge). I would think that in a more relaxed atmosphere when it comes to drug use, education would naturally come from parents...parents who have actually done it themselves and teach their children about moderation and the methods of how to healthily expand consciousness or with the more chemical versions of drugs...moderation.

[shahin100]

Our experiences show that the drug addict or alcoholic is usually an intelligent and most often creative person with much hope for the future. This only adds to the calamity of their downfall. As the addict slips down the spiral, their loved ones try to deny the problem exists, sometimes for years. This is a part of the vicious cycle ofdrug addiction.

Drug rehab

[Insecuritykiller]

Who cares? Let the wusses suffer.

[patrickhenry]

There will always be addicts.The term "addiction" is used in many contexts to describe an obsession, compulsion, or excessive psychological dependence, such as: drug addiction (e.g. alcoholism), video game addiction, crime, money, work addiction, compulsive overeating, problem gambling, computer addiction, pornography addiction, plastic surgery addiction, etc. I agree that the amount of addicts will dramatically decrease but will never go away. I also believe that addiction may be hereditary which also makes it much more difficult. The positive outlook would be no criminal repercussions for taking or receiving drugs, the stress of "the job" would be gone. I feel society plays a huge role in the drug culture. I think these things are currently taboo which draw young people to them. In a anarchist world the taboo would be gone. In the end people will do what they want. Anarchy will just make it safer. Legalized drugs will cut out the criminal aspect, clean needles, more education etc...etc...

[leadhead]

Hahahah "I've taken crack heaps of times!"

Guilty, It didnt catch on with me though. You get a bit tired of going "Why the fuck am I standing in this dark alley at 4 in the morning!"

[AndyMalroes]

Read post below \ll/ for some reason I keep double posting.

[AndyMalroes]

Good writing Jawn, if it's allright with you I'll try to make a pamphlet out of it, upload it, then put it in Doctor's lobbies

Does anyone know of good anarchist run organisations I could put the website as further reading on this subject?

[Jawn Disease]

I'd be honoured Andy. Just put Jawn Disease, Montreal at the bottom.

[AndyMalroes]

Sweet.

I'd still like answers to the second.

[trueness]

3)I visit several years places for drug addicts, my conclusion is that most of them have "adapted character", it means they started to use drugs because they adapted themselves between friends who used drugs.
many present societies are hegemonic, people "must" be adapted, when they have friends who are junkies, they will adapt themselves between junkies. so parents/teachers should learn children to use their brain instead to learn them to be "united or adapted" in society. unadapted person will not use drugs even if he/she is everyday with people who use drugs (I am such example). but adapted persons always make pressure on unadapted, to be the same as the rest of the group, so many times unadapted person must show strong will in refusing of drugs, it means in refusing to be the same as friends.

It still has to start somewhere. Peer pressure can't be the reason for everyone or it wouldn't have started in the first place. There are many other reasons people do drugs, including reasons people do other activities. Curiosity, pleasure, and diversion are some reasons people do drugs. To point out the obvious drugs are chemicals that induce an altered state of mind. Nothing inherently wrong with that. Experiencing altered states of mind can be fun, and in some cases can help provide insights such as with psychedelics. Thinking in different ways can help provide other perspectives.

The problem isn't drug use itself, the problem is addiction. I think the main reason people become addicted to drugs or gambling or sex or anything is that instead of just doing it to have a good time they use it as a crutch for all their problems. Usually people who become addicted no matter what the addiction is have problems with low self-esteem, feelings of incompetence, or depression. I think many of these feelings are the result of the society we live in, the inequities in wealth and power, and the 'values' people are taught by it that encourage people not to feel good enough if they don't meet up with certain standards. In an anarchist society people would have higher self-esteem, because they would be in charge of their own lives and wouldn't be trying to compete to get to "the top". Bonds between people cooperating together as equals are stronger than bonds between masters and servants, so people would be a lot more supportive of each other and feel more like they can open up about things, so people would have a lot more support if they are feeling bad.

In the end a few people might still become addicts, but I think it would be easier in an anarchist society to kick the habit. They wouldn't have to worry about being chastized by the community and could get help with their addiction more easily. And even without force there would be social sanctions. If you don't work and so don't produce anything to share nobody in the community will want to share anything with you. I doubt an anarchist would just let the addict starve, but the addict would find that others were less and less willing to produce things for them. It might then dawn on them that the reason they can't produce anything to share is that they're always high and then they'll get help.