And I’ll take ten constipated addicts who will live normal-sized lives to one strung-out addict committing crimes to fuel a $200-a-day habit (for something that would cost perhaps a few dollars on the free market) who will die at the age of 35
Have you ever lived with a heroin addict? They do not live normal lives. Anyone who thinks that a heroin addict can – over a prolonged basis – lead a normal life is the same kind of person who believes there’s such a thing as a functional alcoholic. The only people who think an addict’s life is normal is the addict. What’s wrong with the idea of getting people off drugs instead of making it easier and cheaper for them?
I am not ignoring your point about illegality of heroin causing it to become impure – but I just can’t see how saving existing addicts from that is worth the price of creating new, legal addicts.
That type of scare line has been promoted by puritans for generations. I’m guessing that providing actual statistics would have undercut the thesis.
My intent here wasn’t to play the scared straight game. I am not an expert on the subject; I only know what I have read and researched after being alarmed by the number of stories I was reading about teenage heroin users. This is my own theory; I do not want hold it up as the only theory, or even the correct one. It’s just my own idea on the reasons for the sudden interest in heroin.
