interesting
So he's a responsible heroin user & responsible crack user? Does he also responsibly take meth?
I think before there's an issue with income, people hooked on opioids will have a hard time admitting that there's any problem. There's enough evidence to support that the psychological addiction is a tricky motherfucker, and will woo you in comfort, and tell you you're in full control, until you realize what's happening. I've seen dozens of people on this site talk like him, then you look at their posts 2-3 years later.
Lovely post as always.
It's a great documentary (if Cocaine is your thing i.e. I tend to watch anything Cocaine related even although I've been done with it for many years) albeit that it's a bit politicized and could even border on the conspiratorial. Suppose there's two sides to every story and I certainly wasn't in the USA during the so-called Crack epidemic either so what do I know. That said: there's more than a few accounts in the documentary by users and that should be enough to put most off for life (and irony of ironies: those were people that didn't have money and would sell their own mother for a hit).
Love this part of the article or interview:
“False,” he declares. “We give thousands of doses in our laboratories here at Columbia every year – snorted cocaine, smoked cocaine – and we have never seen anything like a heart attack. I think that in general, medicine is conservative and errs on the side of caution. But the thing they have not taken into consideration is that there is a cost to erring on the side of caution and that cost is immense.”
While he may be correct on the physical dangers or or the overplaying them by harm reduction sites and the authorities: it's, as you say, the psychological aspect or psychological addiction, to Cocaine in particular, that's the problem and that doesn't just disappear once you're well and far down the Cocaine road.
Other than for my own interests and research: I don't know much about opiates (and have only gone down the Fentanyl rabbit hole in depth for the sake of my own interest). But as far a Heroin is concerned and based on all the posts here (and this is where real people know their oats): you'd be hard pressed to find anybody that encourages its use and the dangers and long term ramifications are extolled in no uncertain terms by people who know what they're talking about and have lived the nightmare that it appears to be.
And you know what? Even IF the authorities do overplay things: so what. If it's acting as a deterrent to some well then so be it.
I agree totally with those that think this is irresponsible. Put another way: I can think of at least two or three threads here that had the OP's of those threads found this article first or his book (as opposed to coming here first and asking as to whether or not they should try Heroin) they'd have started using no problem and then found themselves down the river without a paddle eventually. Wonder if he'd step up to the plate and pay for their rehab.
As for erring on the side of caution: I think that's being done here and well too. Cannot say the same for his take on the subject matter.
From experience: I myself got off lightly with Cocaine and Crack so it has indeed been difficult for me to comprehend how Cocaine and Crack has been the ruination of many. But I know I was just lucky and the exception to the rule and, so far as I can tell, definitely in the minority. And I'm certainly not about to go writing a book extolling its virtues and encouraging its use in spite of this.
Anyway. Hope for his sake there's no backlash and he doesn't lose his job and income as a result. Because if that happens: he'll be singing from a different hymn book for sure and once his last piece of furniture has been sold to the second hand store!
Gotta love this one though:
“We give thousands of doses in our laboratories here at Columbia every year – snorted cocaine, smoked cocaine – and we have never seen anything like a heart attack. I think that in general, medicine is conservative and errs on the side of caution. But the thing they have not taken into consideration is that there is a cost to erring on the side of caution and that cost is immense.”
Goddamn. Where was this university in the '80's? I'd have been lining up as a test subject on an hourly basis!
And just to add: if this done in order to justify the legalization of all narcotics in order to help addicts then it's misguided. When I first came along here I came out guns blazing when it came to legalization of all narcotics and with the notion that it'd be utopia and of benefit to addicts (legalize all, sell it legally, and use the funds generated to help addicts and set up decent education programs and rehab. centers). Well it's no secret I've done a 180 on this. Just look at the amount of money (in the billions of USD) that all of these governments worldwide have pulled from the ether for COVID vaccines. If they actually gave a shit about addiction and providing safe supply: they'd have been able to find the money in minutes. Fact is: the politicians don't give a shit. Only reason it's mentioned by them at times is for the sake of political expediency (very few exceptions worldwide so far as I can tell from here anyway). And I can tell you also that if additional funds are required for other mishaps: even with these programs in place they will be the first from which funding will be withdrawn (because it's needed somewhere else for example).
I know the above isn't palatable to most here. And for that I do apologize. At the same time: I'm not anti-drug either. Far from it (only possible exception is alcohol) but that's another story and not really relevant here). It's just that from what I've seen: we, and our little community here, is all we got ladies and gentlemen and boys and girls. And for damn sure the members here are doing a better job when it comes to harm reduction and extolling the dangers of use and addiction than this, apparently educated, pillar of society.
Anyway and for what it's worth: if I get my business off of the ground I'll be sure to do my bit and put my money (profits) where my mouth is! There's an undertaking you can all hold me to! Talk is cheap! And money talks and bullshit walks (as they say).
I wonder if this dude will be contributing any of HIS profits made from the sale of this book to addiction centers? Because given its controversial nature and publicity received: I reckon he's gong to make a packet!
Come to think of it: maybe this pillar of society can organize me some Coca Leaf at wholesale (given that he doesn't see the harm in it)!
www.cnn.com