"e"....UNTIL the general public is more educated as to the "why's" of alcohol/drug use and the effects of using either/both, you will have people very much like we were all those years ago....Yes, as I said, we thought they were "scummy" people. We no longer do. We've met users who are professional people with high standing in the community (Doctors, nurses, teachers,and yes, even some public officials, etc) and we've met people on the other end of the spectrum.
What we must do is twofold, I think. Educate people as to the personal effects of using either/both types of drugs, AND educate them as to the potential social consequences of using either.
When I refer to murderers, child molesters, rapists, robbers, etc, those are the potential consequences of using drugs/alcohol. Not everyone who uses either is so far out of control that they cause society and themselves great harm.
Frankly, as far as I am concerned, I don't really care what people do with their lives. I don't want to pay for them to abuse drugs/alcohol. If there was a "big brother sign up sheet" for using either, I would be OK with that. At least, it would be legal, and a short duration. Maybe so many people wouldn't get killed that way.
BTW, IMO, the reason alcohol is in your terminology, "the more logical substance to conect to violence", it is because alcohol has been around longer, (centuries), and because it is a legal substance, the stigma seems to be not as great when used. Until it is abused, or until it becomes an addiction, and violent acts are committed in its name. |
