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Meanwhile Germany, Switzerland, Canada, UK, Netherlands and Denmark have all been using heroin assisted treatments (HAT) for a long time now and have seen a significant social impact and patient benefits after treating opiate addicts with heroin. The US is literally in the middle of a horrible epidemic of opiate addiction and crime related to it so why do we continue to let moralists oppose and block the use of things like heroin, marijuana etc. for therapy?
I'm no health care professional, and certainly no addiction specialist, so I will try to keep an open mind, but honestly...this sounds a little bit like trying to put out a fire by dousing it with gasoline. Isn't heroin also an opiate?
Public perception and the unwinnable "war on drugs".
There is one place where I really hope Trump "drains the swamp" and that is the DEA along with major repeals to federal drug laws. Criminalizing it not only is ineffective at preventing addiction but also greatly exacerbates our border problem and empowers drug cartels.
Heroin is one of the most addictive substances on the planet. I think meth is the only thing worse (yet that is given to children for depression and ADHD).
Marijuana on the other hand should be strongly advocated for as a treatment for opioid addiction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PDXNative2Houston
There is one place where I really hope Trump "drains the swamp" and that is the DEA along with major repeals to federal drug laws. Criminalizing it not only is ineffective at preventing addiction but also greatly exacerbates our border problem and empowers drug cartels.
I would like to see that as well, but there is no way it happens without the Christian Right throwing a tizzy, so policy as usual will likely continue.
I'm no health care professional, and certainly no addiction specialist, so I will try to keep an open mind, but honestly...this sounds a little bit like trying to put out a fire by dousing it with gasoline. Isn't heroin also an opiate?
Yes heroin is an opiate, but so is methadone. There are many patients who simply never respond or do not tolerate methadone and virtually any other intervention. It seems counter intuitive, but heroin can be given therapeutically under strict supervision to help patients with addiction. At least then they're getting pharmaceutical grade heroin under the watch of a physician. Countries who have adopted this type of treatment have seen statistically significant social benefits such as reduction of both crimes committed and deaths due to opiate addiction. Many people get addicted not to heroin , but prescription opiate drugs and current interventions to treat addiction simply not might work for some of those people.
Heroin is one of the most addictive substances on the planet. I think meth is the only thing worse (yet that is given to children for depression and ADHD).
Marijuana on the other hand should be strongly advocated for as a treatment for opioid addiction.
I would like to see that as well, but there is no way it happens without the Christian Right throwing a tizzy, so policy as usual will likely continue.
And what's ironic about their protest is that the policy they advocate for actually causes more people to get and stay on drugs, along with selling and profiteering for drugs.
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Why does America ban the use of heroin for therapeutic intervention?
