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Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2004
- Messages
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I would like to continue a post, which I made earlier, regarding the lack of sound scientific information available within the Methamphetamine using community. And I would like to determine if there are others on this forum who would be interested in composing a set of guidelines for safe drug use.
To reprint what I've said earlier:
I am appalled by the overall harm reduction community's attitudes towards Methamphetamine. It has almost completely ignored the drug and the harm reduction needs of its user community. And further, has continued the messages delivered by the prohibitionist movement by labeling the drug as "evil."
This lack of attention (malice, actually) has resulted in a user community left to basically fend on its own. Were there should be a fully outlined model for safe drug use, there is only a "just say no" message presented. And as we all know, "just say no" does nothing to eliminate the problems involved (the drug is there and "it" and its associated issues simply do not go away). Even worse, this "just say no" stance has resulted in a Methamphetamine drug culture full of misinformation invented by people without any idea of what they are talking about.
Even in the treatment community, I have seen countless errors about the drug in published information (I don't mean in the medical research community, but rather those mom & pop drug rehab centers). When it comes to Methamphetamine, people do not seem to think that they are held accountable for inaccurate information, so long as what they do present assists in painting a picture that Methamphetamine is an "evil drug."
If one looks at the meth using population from a public health model, something interesting reveals itself. Granted, it is difficult to do because it is not as though the population of Methamphetamine are out in the opened publically. But we can still gleen something from that which we do not see in cases like this.
Based on the number of drug busts, and the overall avilability of Methamphetamine, there must be a rather large segment of the population who use the drug. If it were true that Methamphetamine creates usage problems in the majority of those who use it, then we would be seeing lives being shattered at an alarming rate. Basically, that group of people would become visible to the public by viture of their lives being shattered by their Methamphetamine use.
But, we are not seeing this occur. In fact, based on the market availability, market demand is high, and there are relatively few who claim to be out of control.
Based on the absence of this negative impact, it would seem that the vast majority of those who are using the drug lead functional lives. And I suspect (but have to proof) that the reason for that goes back to the personality types that I was speaking about earlier. That those who aquire a meth usage problem have a tendency towards obsessive-complusive behaviors (or similar issues involving closed-loop based behavior expression).
It would be interesting to see a study on this (personality trait verses psychological addiction potential). But I doubt that in the current prohibitionist environment that such a study could be funded.
__________________
Legalize, regulate, educate!
World without myth,
AMEN
EDIT:
May 16, 2005
I am adding this because far too many people feel a compulsion to hit the respond button at this point, to put together a post trying to convince me of the error of my ways.
But if you have only gotten to this post, or the following one, I am absolutely certain that you do not know what I have in mind, because it is revealed later on. And is only fully described through page 3.
If you are interested, at least find out first what this is all about and post your comment on that. Your comment will look far more elegant when appearing at the bottom of this thread as a result.
To reprint what I've said earlier:
I am appalled by the overall harm reduction community's attitudes towards Methamphetamine. It has almost completely ignored the drug and the harm reduction needs of its user community. And further, has continued the messages delivered by the prohibitionist movement by labeling the drug as "evil."
This lack of attention (malice, actually) has resulted in a user community left to basically fend on its own. Were there should be a fully outlined model for safe drug use, there is only a "just say no" message presented. And as we all know, "just say no" does nothing to eliminate the problems involved (the drug is there and "it" and its associated issues simply do not go away). Even worse, this "just say no" stance has resulted in a Methamphetamine drug culture full of misinformation invented by people without any idea of what they are talking about.
Even in the treatment community, I have seen countless errors about the drug in published information (I don't mean in the medical research community, but rather those mom & pop drug rehab centers). When it comes to Methamphetamine, people do not seem to think that they are held accountable for inaccurate information, so long as what they do present assists in painting a picture that Methamphetamine is an "evil drug."
If one looks at the meth using population from a public health model, something interesting reveals itself. Granted, it is difficult to do because it is not as though the population of Methamphetamine are out in the opened publically. But we can still gleen something from that which we do not see in cases like this.
Based on the number of drug busts, and the overall avilability of Methamphetamine, there must be a rather large segment of the population who use the drug. If it were true that Methamphetamine creates usage problems in the majority of those who use it, then we would be seeing lives being shattered at an alarming rate. Basically, that group of people would become visible to the public by viture of their lives being shattered by their Methamphetamine use.
But, we are not seeing this occur. In fact, based on the market availability, market demand is high, and there are relatively few who claim to be out of control.
Based on the absence of this negative impact, it would seem that the vast majority of those who are using the drug lead functional lives. And I suspect (but have to proof) that the reason for that goes back to the personality types that I was speaking about earlier. That those who aquire a meth usage problem have a tendency towards obsessive-complusive behaviors (or similar issues involving closed-loop based behavior expression).
It would be interesting to see a study on this (personality trait verses psychological addiction potential). But I doubt that in the current prohibitionist environment that such a study could be funded.
__________________
Legalize, regulate, educate!
World without myth,
AMEN
EDIT:
May 16, 2005
I am adding this because far too many people feel a compulsion to hit the respond button at this point, to put together a post trying to convince me of the error of my ways.
But if you have only gotten to this post, or the following one, I am absolutely certain that you do not know what I have in mind, because it is revealed later on. And is only fully described through page 3.
If you are interested, at least find out first what this is all about and post your comment on that. Your comment will look far more elegant when appearing at the bottom of this thread as a result.
Last edited:

Will continue this discussion soon..........