-
🇬🇧 🇸🇪 🇿🇦 🇮🇪 🇬🇭 🇩🇪 🇪🇺
European & African
Drug Discussion
Welcome Guest!
Posting Rules Bluelight Rules -
EADD Moderators: Pissed_and_messed | Shinji Ikari
Move to make addicts employable (BBC/Yahoo News)
- Thread starter Albion
- Start date
charlie clean
Bluelighter
Hi, Kate, trust you're enjoying the jubilation.
Some thing like: -" Dear MP. I notice you are involved with the House sub committee looking into drug policy. I am/someone close is your constituent/ ( or, if you can find no connection ) not your constituent but feel strongly on this subject. Many drug users are like me, ( self-description ), but are forced into a subterranean, criminal existence because of our choice of intoxicants. I am in treatment and receive --- on prescription, which helps but doesn't quite do the trick. I spend £x on heroin, got into trouble a and b and have had infections/misfortune y and z happen because -. If I got heroin on prescription, I could do useful things a b c etc and not bad things x y z, and have a chance to escape the 'scene' and figure out why I want it. I can't quite understand why heroin receives such a bad rap but a lot of decent people suffer because of it. my mate x ended up etc while good soul y etc. It seems so unfair and unnecessary real lives should be screwed up, not by drugs but because the Drug Laws handed over supply to criminals. Please change the rules, treat me like I am and give me a chance at a proper life, yours... "
Probably better you decide what you really think on the subject, as opposed to what you're supposed or it's convenient to think, and express yourself in your own way. Don't lie or swear, but don't worry about your grammar and stuff, other constituents are worse. But, if you think the MP maybe doesn't appreciate the reality of your life, it's because no-one like you has ever told him. On the other hand, a lot of people who don't know you will have told him all sorts of things about you, your attitude and ways.
The men and women on this committee have the power to amend both Drug Laws and drug policy. Marijuana users can depend on an organised lobby to make a well documented case but opiate users have only themselves. If you think you'd be better off with a diamorphine script than what you presently receive/buy ( which is one of those things to think about ), or if you just think the way hard drug users are treated is all wrong, this is probably your best chance at present to change things. Less a cause than a matter of pragmatic reality, up to you.
Some thing like: -" Dear MP. I notice you are involved with the House sub committee looking into drug policy. I am/someone close is your constituent/ ( or, if you can find no connection ) not your constituent but feel strongly on this subject. Many drug users are like me, ( self-description ), but are forced into a subterranean, criminal existence because of our choice of intoxicants. I am in treatment and receive --- on prescription, which helps but doesn't quite do the trick. I spend £x on heroin, got into trouble a and b and have had infections/misfortune y and z happen because -. If I got heroin on prescription, I could do useful things a b c etc and not bad things x y z, and have a chance to escape the 'scene' and figure out why I want it. I can't quite understand why heroin receives such a bad rap but a lot of decent people suffer because of it. my mate x ended up etc while good soul y etc. It seems so unfair and unnecessary real lives should be screwed up, not by drugs but because the Drug Laws handed over supply to criminals. Please change the rules, treat me like I am and give me a chance at a proper life, yours... "
Probably better you decide what you really think on the subject, as opposed to what you're supposed or it's convenient to think, and express yourself in your own way. Don't lie or swear, but don't worry about your grammar and stuff, other constituents are worse. But, if you think the MP maybe doesn't appreciate the reality of your life, it's because no-one like you has ever told him. On the other hand, a lot of people who don't know you will have told him all sorts of things about you, your attitude and ways.
The men and women on this committee have the power to amend both Drug Laws and drug policy. Marijuana users can depend on an organised lobby to make a well documented case but opiate users have only themselves. If you think you'd be better off with a diamorphine script than what you presently receive/buy ( which is one of those things to think about ), or if you just think the way hard drug users are treated is all wrong, this is probably your best chance at present to change things. Less a cause than a matter of pragmatic reality, up to you.
Last edited:
mydrugbuddy
Bluelighter
I admire your 'fighting spirit' Charlie, and your desire to 'do something about it'. I'm probably demonstrating the negativity and apathy of drug users that you mention now, but I honestly wonder if MPs even bother to read the letters they receive from their constituents. I mean they must get a ton of letters featuring comments like those seen on The Daily Mail On line comments section. Mindless, ingorant bollocks in other words, and who'd want to waste their time reading too much of that shit. So this is all pure speculation, but wouldnt MPs have some kind of assistant who would read the letters for them, maybe give him an overview (eg this week 'you've got 15 letters about housing, 5 about education' etc etc.) If there was just 1 letter about drug policy that may not even be mentioned, but I suppose if there was regularly a lot of letters about drug policy they might start to sit up and listen. Maybe the assistant would pass on a few that he thought were interesting.
charlie clean
Bluelighter
MPs hire interns to deal with the average 1500 emails and letters they receive every week. Parliamentary convention requires they respond to, or at least acknowledge all snail mail unless that's not obscene or abusive. The interns take responsibility for passing on to the MP emails and letters of interest and usually write the replies as well. If you're asking for help with a personal matter, you'll receive a reply but, if you're just making a general point, you're right, the intern will tot up the totals and pass them on - " 9 liked your speech last week, 16 in favour of immigration control, 4 want to deport Abu Hook, etc " and may dash off an acknowledgement thanking the writer for sharing his opinion. Most interns keep a 'nutters list' of known deranged constituents whose thoughts can safely be left unread.
It helps to come up with something to be certain your email makes it past the intern and to the MP. If he's, say, a known conservationist, local historian or breeds newts, appropriate references can do no harm. If your story is relevant or you ask a specific question only the MP can answer your letter or email should make it through. In this instance, his sitting on the committee dealing with your subject matter should be enough but keep it entertaining and to the point. Chances are the same decisions will be made with or without your input. But MPs, like the rest of us, get their opinions from somewhere and everyone likes to help deserving cases. Your MP isn't going to involve himself with your personal drug affairs but when, as part of his job, he's formulating drug policy, he may just bear your story in mind.
It's up to you and just an idea that came when I learned how much effort the 'antis' put into influencing the committee. We've ended up with the policies we have because the ' other side' has been too laid back or disenchanted to respond. Be good if it was different this time around. If you want it. Hope you don't find it too boring, next week we'll invade Poland instead.
It helps to come up with something to be certain your email makes it past the intern and to the MP. If he's, say, a known conservationist, local historian or breeds newts, appropriate references can do no harm. If your story is relevant or you ask a specific question only the MP can answer your letter or email should make it through. In this instance, his sitting on the committee dealing with your subject matter should be enough but keep it entertaining and to the point. Chances are the same decisions will be made with or without your input. But MPs, like the rest of us, get their opinions from somewhere and everyone likes to help deserving cases. Your MP isn't going to involve himself with your personal drug affairs but when, as part of his job, he's formulating drug policy, he may just bear your story in mind.
It's up to you and just an idea that came when I learned how much effort the 'antis' put into influencing the committee. We've ended up with the policies we have because the ' other side' has been too laid back or disenchanted to respond. Be good if it was different this time around. If you want it. Hope you don't find it too boring, next week we'll invade Poland instead.
knock
Bluelighter
We should really look to the tactics of the gay rights movement, not just the inspiration. While letter writing can probably raise the awareness of MPs, and might be worthwhile, at some point you have to get out on the streets and make a noise.
brimz
Bluelighter
Whilst your doing one for the MP you might as well draft one for The Home Office can't hurt
Shambles
Bluelight Crew
Wut? How in the fuck does forcing folk to attend abstainance programmes "promote equality and prevent discrimiation"? It prmotes the precise opposite. It enshrines in law a 100% bias towards one model of addiction treatment. And that one model happens to be the most Daily Heil-friendly crowd-pleaser which also just happens to be the single least effective model of addiction treatment. Less likely to succeed than straight-up cold-turkey with no support - by their (AA/NA) own figures. Solves nowt, saves none, hurts many.
PS: Charlie
