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mission17 t1_j5zx5wp wrote

Predictably, this sub’s response: “but then how will I put addicted people in jail where they certainly won’t become less addicted?

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sanspoint_ t1_j605mvm wrote

Nobody becomes a heroin addict by choice. That heroin and fentanyl abuse has become rampant is a result of doctors over-prescribing opiates to people with legit medical needs, getting them addicted. When the prescription runs out, they turn to heroin and fentanyl to deal with the addiction they got from their prescription.

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DadBodofanAmerican t1_j6291jm wrote

I'm not saying that locking people up is the right approach, but plenty of people start opiates recreationally.

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Xmaiden2005 t1_j646m7a wrote

While that is true for some people that is not everybody. Heroin addiction has been around for decades before that opium. People make choices and often they understand the risk, addiction is a consequence of choices. I think now a days its popular to claim the doctors,big pharma is responsible for addiction but that's just manipulation to gain empathy. Don't come for me I do understand some people did have this experience and were victims to a large degree.

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allMightyMostHigh t1_j60daeb wrote

You initially try heroin by choice so yea it is their decision to start doing heroin

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sanspoint_ t1_j60f97f wrote

If you've got a chemical addiction to opiates, and you need that fix, you'll try anything that will make the pain go away. They didn't choose to get addicted, their doctors and the pharmaceutical companies caused that.

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fafalone t1_j61hih8 wrote

You don't become physically addicted immediately, the majority of addicts did not start with prescriptions issued directly to them, and the vast majority of those prescribed opiates do not go on to get addicted. Pretending the exclusive cause of opioid addiction is people getting them directly from their doctor and accidentally getting addicted is profoundly inaccurate and a massive disservice to addicts since failing to understand causes won't result in good solutions. And indeed it's next to impossible to get them from doctors now, has been for years, and the collateral damage from this has been extreme. You have a sharp rise in pain related suicides and pain patients ODing on street drugs just trying to get relief their doctors won't provide, all because the CDC let the DEA run amok with no understanding of appropriate vs inappropriate prescribing.

Plenty of people know on some level what's going to happen when they continuously use again shortly after using. I certainly did. While there's certainly people who don't understand it, many are under no illusions about what will happen if you start using more often than once every week or two.

I spent a decade in active addiction. During that time I knew dozens of other addicts. Not one got addicted in the way you claim they all do. They either bought the pills illegally or were scamming doctors with fake paperwork or deliberately searching out pill mills to get prescriptions no legit doctor would give because they were already serious substance abusers and wanted a cheaper source.

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N7day t1_j61mnvs wrote

Facile and largely specious take.

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ehsurfskate t1_j63j2ed wrote

Where on this sub do you see this response in any remotely upvoted comment? Appears to be quite the opposite....

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