Heroin, yes. Meth is a tricky one because it never would have existed without our idiotic war on drugs, but since we live in a world with it, I would say we'd have to... Legalization has worked, Portugal is the model... even heroin. Drugs are still illegal, but not criminally. You treat the issue as a public health issue, not a criminal one. I don't think there's a soul here who would dare claim even the smallest iota of success in this 'war on drugs' path that we've taken. We're like a kid working a Rubic's Cube for the first time. We're stuck in a trench, and we need to step back and look at the Cube from a different perspective. It's right there in front of us and has proven to be successful. Jesus, even drug deaths and ODs go down and that's what we are claiming to be concerned about now. Instead, we just make it more dangerous and more accessible. For an interesting read, check this out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal
Very mixed emotions on this one. I'm seeing heroin deaths on a weekly basis here. Most of these folks have a long history of arrests for possession and failed attempts at rehab. I am opposed to legalization, but we need to rethink treatment and solutions. HAT (Heroin Assisted Treatment) programs in Europe, particularly in Belgium and Switzerland, seem to be successful in reducing the addiction rate, the mortality rate, the crime rate, the HIV rate, and these programs are getting addicts back to employment. There is less need for addicts to finance their habit by selling drugs and enticing others to use. They are even having better rates of getting users completely off the drug. Maybe such a thing would not work here or is inappropriate for our society...but I'm thinking it's worth consideration and trial. http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Heroin_Maintenance#sthash.6x7PeVKw.dpbs http://www.citizensopposingprohibition.org/resources/swiss-heroin-assisted-treatment-1994-2009-summary/
Not sure they're comparable...nor am I sure that HAT is surrendering...nor am I sure that HAT is the thing to do...just throwing it out there as another way to fight the drugs.
Around these parts as most everywhere, heroin deaths are off the charts. Every years sets a new record. Narcan has saved countless lives since its introduction not long ago or it would be worse than it is. Most of these addicts get their start with pain killers. When they can't get them by an Rx, they are readily available on the streets but they are expensive, anywhere from $10-50 a pill depending on the dosage. Crooked pharmacists and doctors are the source for much of the street supply and we have had many of both arrested her in NJ. When they can longer steal enough pawnable stuff or cash to feed that habit they turn to heroin which is probably the cheapest high available in addition to one of the deadliest. You can get heroin in pretty much any neighborhood in America these days for the price of a six pack. Kids are using it as young as junior high. Opiate addiction is probably the most difficult of all to cure.
like I said guys, read up on what Portugal and the countries Stu cited. You still get to keep them illegal, but the way you handle the situation is different. It's not that far outside the box and certainly worth consideration. If something like that would not work here, it would be due to things like people equating the war on drugs to the war on poverty. Although, with military vehicles rolling through the hood carrying PD markings, I can see how one might confuse the two issues.