Baby Boomers Still Using Illegal Drugs

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Just a comment on No Absolutes. NEVER will a school tell a parent that their child needs to be on drugs. A school can not diagnose a child and state they need to be on medication, otherwise that school would be liable for the cost of the medication and treatment of the child. I know this, because I am a teacher. Additionally, I have a child who is ADHD and the choice to place her on medication was not taken lightly. If my child was not ADHD the medication would have the opposite effect. Ritilan is essentially speed, but on a person who has ADD or ADHD, the medication has a calming effect. She truly can not focus when not on the medication. I understand there are major problems with children being overprescribed medication simply because they are hyper (this is what kids do), but badmouthing medication for ADHD and saying that teachers push it on parents. These parents need to research the information, talk to their physician, and other parents to make an informed decision.

Jerrel of TX 12:17PM August 28, 2009

The government propaganda likes to indicate that anyone who ever uses a drug is an addict or abuser.
This is simply not true.
I know people who only get high before they go to bed. I know people who can have A BEER with dinner.
I think these people, over time, decided to try to hide their drug use because they knew it would cause them problems when they were looking for a job. But then they reached a point where they simply didn't care anymore.
Everyone works with someone who gets high at night or on the weekends. Regardless of the drug, it doesn't impede them from being productive. They aren't incapacitated, homeless, crazy, and plotting who they should kill at random in order to score their next fix.
The lies of the anti-drug propaganda are harmful. For example, kids are told that smoking pot will destroy their lives. When they try it, and their lives aren't ruined, then they wonder what else was lied about.
The propaganda should be replaced with legitimate education about opiates, alkaloids, and other drugs. Information about their effects, physical or psychological addictiveness, and other attributes is essential.
Lies never work. Give people more credit.
We are pleasure-seekers. The societies before us recognized this. The "war on drugs" is relatively new, and is working just as well as Prohibition.
While the government is busy demonizing drug use, they are pushing their own "legal" drugs; names like Ritalin and Prozac.
Why?
For a few reasons. These drugs promote productivity. They also generate revenue for the government. Think about this when you make the claim that your government is behaving in a moral fashion. YOUNG CHILDREN are getting doped up at school by licensed physicians. The school gets money every time a child is referred to the school's mental health program. They'll make up any symptom and then say your kid needs to be on drugs in order to participate in class. Their hope is that you will be too lazy to think and just accept their claims and comply with the program.
Legalizing drugs would take the criminal element out of it. Drug lords would become impotent. Addiction can be addressed, instead of criminalized. People can be helped instead of incarcerated (prison is big business in America). Cannabis can be taxed and our deficit would go down. The economy could be saved.
We learned that Prohibition did not work. Why can't we learn the same about the war on drugs?
After all, it's really a war on us.

DeeDubya of CA 2:00PM August 24, 2009

The only difference between illegal and legal drugs is who prescribes them and who profits.
Think about it.

Susan from Destin of FL 1:08PM August 24, 2009

but I thought using 'illegal' drugs led to death, poverty and insanity. Hmm more proof the anti-drug propaganda is BS

Eric of OH 5:10PM August 23, 2009

Of course older people are still using drugs. Drugs aren't just for young college kids who are against "the war". Most of the people in this study are probably using Marijuana, so who cares if they are smoking a joint every now and then. I guarantee the current generation of young people will use even more drugs when they get older.

Paul @ www.DrugCritics.com of TX 10:57AM August 23, 2009

Come on Emily, do you really think the numbers have risen or have the number of people willing to admit it grown larger due to more liberal ideas in this nation. Besides, I was with you until you said some baby boomers still "light up", so like most right wing idiots, you're attacking cannabis. So typical.

Mike of MO 7:09AM August 21, 2009