What If We Gave Her Heroin?

The recent ABC documentary,The Oasiswas a real eye openerto theproblems that youth facewhen raised in a dysfunctional family. A recurring issue was drug use and how every cent they had was spent on drugs. One girl in particular tried to go to rehab several times and was unable to kick her heroin habit. After two years she was spending $600 a day to feed this habit as we watched her deteriorate before our eyes. All this effort and pain just to take a type of medication. Yes heroin (diamorphine) is still used around the world for the treatment of pain and ... addiction. Why not here? Australia is after all, supposed to be a modern, prosperous country.What if she was given free clean heroin in a hospital or clinic? They do this in many other countries. She was doing it anyway and there were no signs of stopping. If she received government assisted heroin, she would have money and not have to live in hyde park under a bush. If she didn't have to spend every minute of every day trying to find money, she might be able to find a job instead. If there was a program for hardened addicts to receive the drug that ran their lives, she would not have to commit daily crimes to pay for her heroin. Many in her situation turn to dealing to support their own habit. Those desperate enough will cut it and if that added ingredient is dangerous enough, well we might be talking about her in the past tense. The other problem is that if she is accustom to low grade heroin and she stumbles onto a stronger batch, there is no label to advise her of the strength or ingredients. She will overdose and die. Drug dealers don't answer to a licensing board and there is no complaints department either.

Aside from the moral issues, heroin is almost non toxic. It does no harm to you physically except constipation and a subdued respiratory system. The main damage is caused by an unhealthy diet, blood borne diseases and dirty needles causing collapsed veins etc. All this would stop if heroin was a treatment for addiction like in those countries who continue to beat the trend and have a negative growth rate of new heroin users.

In reality, the girl in question is probably dead now and is just one of the thousands that were cheated by a minority group of elitists. These elitists go out of their way to stop the progress needed to introduce real strategies that work. If they left these issues to the experts in this area, the girl we talk of might now be reading this on her way to work.

Marijuana & Reality / The Nutters from the INCB

Headline: Cannabis remains most abused drug: report

A recent international report from UN International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) shows that marijuana continues to be the most used drug in Australia. The INCB report found that 11 per cent of Australians over the age of 14 years old regularly use marijuana. It is estimated that over 60% of Australians between 14 - 50 years old have used marijuana previously. Recently the Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swann and Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh even admitted to smoking marijuana when they were younger. Even with a recent batch of hysterical reports trying to link casual marijuana use to lung cancer, psychotic disorders and gum disease, the fact is marijuana is relatively harmless compared to alcohol and tobacco. Arguments about marijuana being stronger now than 30 years ago don't hold up either. There seems to be a persistent group of anti-drugs crusaders who will bend facts and research to back their moral objection to people 'getting high'. 

One of those strange anti-drugs crusaders is Brian Watters member of the INCB and Salvation Army Major.

Commenting on the report, Watters said:

"They're quite serious drugs of addiction so people have the wrong perception of how dangerous they are. Countries like Australia have all the resources necessary to turn these things around, provided they have the will"

Marijuana is not addictive. The perception he talks about is from years of research debunking bombastic anti-drugs crusaders like Watters.  He is wrong to make such silly comments but it reflects the corrupt organisation that is the INCB. The INCB are notorious for spreading propaganda and interfering with countries like Australia to push the US 'War on Drugs' policy. Watters is also infamous for chairing the Australian National Council on Drugs, the peak body for providing drug policy advice to the Government.

Funny enough, not many 'pro' marijuana reports get headlines in Australia. Our media is very conservative regarding drug use, especially the Murdoch newspapers. Below is an extract from an article(non Murdoch) on recent Swiss research:

A study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine was completed on 5,263 teenage students in Switzerland and is producing some hair raising results. In line with a lot of studies that have been released in 2007 and 2008, this study boldly claims that it has found that marijuana use does not produce the fearful symptoms spread by anti-drug groups. The study seems to make a case that teenagers who use only marijuana, opposed to students who use marijuana and cigarettes are more active in sports, have better grades, are more socially adept and have used less illegal drugs.

Drug laws will change eventually but until they do, reports like the latest INCB report will keep getting headlines. Most people know drug policy is flawed but whilst there are votes in it, the politicians will continue with their silly 'tough on drugs' rhetoric.  There are many arguments for marijuana law reform and we just need to ask some basic questions.

• Is casual marijuana use more harmful than alcohol?

• How many people have died from marijuana use?

• How many acts of violence has marijuana use caused?

• Is marijuana addictive?

• Has drug prohibition reduced marijuana use?

• Has drug prohibition put marijuana users at risk?

• Have current marijuana laws benefited society?

• Do we prefer criminals or a regulatory body to manage the sale of marijuana?

• Is the money spent on arresting users better spent treating those who do develop a problem?

• Does marijuana use really cause social decay?

• Where can I score?

I think we know the answers to most of these questions.

The Nutters from the INCB

From Wikipedia:

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is the independent and quasi-judicial control organ for the implementation of the United Nations drug conventions. It plays an important role in monitoring enforcement of restrictions on narcotics and psychotropics and in deciding which precursors should be regulated.

NEWS.com.au yesterday reported on comments made by INCB member, Brian Watters. Ex Salvation Army Major, Waters, a well known anti-drugs pundit, surprised no one when he rattled off his familiar disgust of drug use in Australia. Using already biased information, he pushed blame on celebrities, courts, sports stars, the government, Australians and anyone else of the Homo sapiens species.

Brian Watters is not only stubborn and naive but also dangerous. His vision of a drug free world is unrealistic and even though nations like the US and Sweden support his zero tolerance strategy, they have worst drug problems than most other countries. Fuckwits like Watters do not care at all for addicts or their health but follow the lead of the religious right and their morals based ideology. They have no time for personal rights or medical facts but are focussed on zero tolerance. Blaming courts for not being tough on celebrities because it 'sends the wrong message' is straight out of the 1970s. Like Howard & Rudd who target sports stars, 'sending the wrong message' is much more important than results. Being a member of the INCB is the ultimate role for Brian Watters. Like minded nutters, paid to preach their ideals to the masses of us poor uninformed people.

An indication of Watters rhetoric is his ability to play along with AFP folklore. The AFP with government backing often claim success at making inroads into drug importation or hurting the illicit drug market. As the heroin surge died down in the early 2000s because of illegal drug manufacturers moving to amphetamine based drugs, the AFP and the government claimed they had beaten the 'heroin epidemic'. A fantasy at best.

Brian Watters bemusedly said:

"Australia had much more success controlling other drugs such as heroin and cocaine".

The INCB is supposed to control legal drug manufacturing and overlook illicit drug policy worldwide. Although it has power in the legal drug market, it doesn't have jurisdiction over individual countries for illicit drug policies. It likes to think it does though and the INCB is often criticised for overstepping their boundaries. The INCB is effectively controlled by the US via the UN and is how the US is able to enforce it's 'War on Drugs' policy. The Netherlands allow soft drugs like cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms to be tolerated but do not officially legalise them because the Dutch government wants to adhere to international treaties. Although their scientific and research based approach to drug use has proved extremely successful, they were still berated publicly by the INCB. That was backed up by a spate of lies and hysterical speeches from the US drug czar. The INCB was also partly responsible for the ACT heroin trials to be abandoned after a threat to 'revisit' Tasmania's approval to manufacture morphine putting their opium poppy industry in jeopardy. Not surprisingly, Brian Watters was the chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs which was established after the heroin trials were vetoed by John Howard.

In April 2003, former United Nations Drug Control Programme Chief of Demand Reduction Cindy Fazey wrote a scathing review of the Board, accusing it of overstepping its bounds:

Unfortunately these individuals also see their role not only as the guardians of the conventions, but also the interpreters of them as well. In their annual report they have criticised many governments, such as Canada for permitting the medicinal use of cannabis, Australia for providing injecting rooms and the United Kingdom for proposing to downgrade the classification of cannabis, which would entail less serious penalties than at present. These criticisms go far beyond their remit, and indeed it is hubris to criticise the Canadian Supreme Court.

Luckily, the era of conservative governments and influence is swinging away to a more fact driven society. Eventually, obdurate moralists will make way for the inexorable rise of evidence based drug policies. With the continued interference into a sovereign countries affairs from the INCB and the massive damaged caused by the 'War on Drugs', societies worldwide will are becoming fed up and are demanding change. Barbaric government drug policies forced on their citizens is starting to take it's toll and out of touch crusaders like Watters will be pushed into the history books as some of the most dangerous ideologists ever.

The Salvos, Weak Minded Junkies, Giuliani & Media

Salvation Army vs Brian Watters

I wrote an email to Salvation Army Major, David Brunt (Senior Chaplain - Adult Services) a while back expressing my amazement that not all Salvation Army members follow the dark, hellbound rhetoric that major Brian Watters adheres to. Here are three quotes from David Blunt that opposes Brian Watters damnation of the proposed ACT heroin trials in the late 1990s.

‘My Sydney colleague, Brian Watters, unfortunately sees addiction - and I'm quoting him from our own publication, The War Cry, last week - as sin. We find that abhorrent and oppose it totally.’

‘When the heroin trial was first mooted, the Salvation Army in Melbourne put together a paper saying we wanted to be part of the evaluation of the trial if it went ahead. Unfortunately Brian became the Prime Minister's main adviser at that stage. And subsequently, some of our issues have become very blurred.’

‘We see addiction as an illness, a health issue. Down here we don't see it as a moral issue. In St Kilda we set up what's now become one of the largest needle and syringe exchanges in this country. It seems a little ironic, when we're running such an exchange, that at the same time our colleagues are talking about moral issues’

David actually answered my email today which was a bit of a surprise. It's people like David who gave the Salvos a good name and it's why Australians had a positive attitude towards them for so long. I am sure some people still don't realise that they are actually a church and not just a charity group. That says a lot considering all the 'Jesus babble' we usually get from churches especially the evangelists. It's a pity the Brian Watters brigade tried to put their self righteous arrogance into the Salvos and they became just another religious group to many who once supported them.

David's response was simple:

Good morning Terry.  Thank you for your kind note, which came as a sense of encouragement to me. I find it strange that the debate on harm minimisation is still going on. Don't give up. 

Kind regards,

David 

'No Will Power' / 'Weak Minded' Not a Valid Argument

For too long, addicts have been branded as piss weak individuals who won't do the hard work and kick their habit. Many experts have argued for years that it defies logic that so many people can't just kick it while some can do itwith  relative ease. The critics would suggest we need to get tougher on these long term addicts because to them it's a matter of self discipline - research is just a cop out for them because good god fearing folks would just grit their teeth and bare it. Everyone's an expert especially the moralists but facts are from scientific research and real experts follow the faith of science. Below is just more evidence that addiction is complex and we need to rethink our drug policy.

Story from the ABC News Website      

There is growing evidence drug addiction can permanently change the brain's chemistry.

A joint investigation by Swiss and Australian scientists has shown the chemicals in drugs can override basic suvival instincts. A Neurobiologist Dr. Chris Dayas says drug addiction can reduce a person's desire to perform basic human functions such as eating. Dr. Dayas says normal behaviour is often replaced by an overwhelming need to take more drugs. New research in to the effect of drugs on the brain is one of the subjects being discussed at a 3 day neuroscience conference in Hobart.

-ABC News

Giuliani is GONE!

Neocon, Rudy Giuliani has finally ended his campaign to be the Republican presidential candidate. After a dismal performance in the Florida primaries, Giuliani, a GW Bush on Viagra, is bowing out before he embarrass himself anymore. He left us with these parting words: 

"During 911, I stood up with my fellow New Yorkers and we defeated the Muslim terrorists. Now as we continue to bomb and kill the terrorists abroad, 911 keeps us focussed on why terrorism is so dangerous. The 911 terrorism experience has taught me that another terror attack like 911 from extremist Muslims is possible and if we forget 911 then another Muslim terrorist cell could cause another 911. 911 was the day terrorism changed us ... 911 was a terror attack that no pre 911 world could imagine. Since 911 and after 911, terrorism remains our biggest threat and unless Muslim extremists and terrorism is stopped, 911 will be a terror type 911 terror that only a 911 non terrorist could imagine. 911 terror and terrorism like 911 is terror Muslim 911 terrorist plot of terrorists Muslims like 911, for example, being mayor terror Muslim 911 or terrorist 911 Muslim threat is 911 terrorist bomb 911 Muslim"

Media Interest

I sent out dozens of emails lately to politicians and the media asking them to answer a simple question. Do they support a heroin trial? Surprisingly I have only received 4 responses. Phillip Adams, Andrew Bartlett, Andrew Bolt and Christian Kerr.

Maybe they just don't care?  I am guessing there are some who don't want to touch such a dirty subject but a more likely reason is that I am just small fry and probably not worth replying to. What really surprised me though was the bloggers who didn't reply. Are they really that busy or important not to answer? Who knows ... maybe it is such a side issue to most people, it's really not worth a reply. Interestingly though, I have collated quite a list of people who have spoken out but they are mostly politicians or lawmakers.

If you are in the media or a blogger or even a polly and you're reading this, c'mon give me an answer ... I need to know.

Who Supports a Heroin Trial?

Ho Hum ... oh and my heroin trial

Diary: Another day, another depressing day...

It's been a while since I had had my medication of choice. Well, less than a week but that can be a long time some weeks. I am not particularly hanging out but just flat. Living in methadonia does that. I am trying to get my dose down to about 20ml and then switch to buprenorphine for a week. I can then do the one day detox and then I am officially clean.

Sounds simple. The problems are getting my dose down to about 20ml, switching to buprenorphine and of course ... staying clean. But ahhhh, the taste of that sharaz, the joys of waking up horny, going out and enjoying Australia's stunning autumn mornings etc etc etc. These are normal events for most of you but just a memory for me.

Diary: My Heroin Trial

I am always trying to get clean in one way or another. My dose regularly drops but when I feel doomed it goes up again. As more and more research results show that heroin addiction is not because of being weak or having no will power, I have slowly changed my views. Maybe I need heroin? I have very low serotonin levels and have unusual cravings for sugar which started to make sense when I found out that most drug addicts have been found to be hypoglycemic. To add to this an Australian university recently discovered that heroin addicts and methadone patients have had a part of their brain diminished. This part of the brain controls your will power! It would explain how seemingly normal people will do anything to get a hit / self medicate (the terminology is dependant on whether your a mate of Piers Ackerman or not).

So, I went off methadone for 7 days and used heroin as a replacement. I had the money saved so I wasn’t having to focus on how I was going to pay for it. The difference was incredible. My taste buds came back, my sex drive reappeared, my taste for red wine returned, my appreciation of going for a walk with my pets grew, my love of cooking returned, I slept properly for the first time in 10 years, I woke each morning without the ‘methadone aches’, I was much more alert, my depression was almost non existent, I was smiling and pleasant and more. Interesting enough was that a doctor friend supported my trial as he based his beliefs on science/medical evidence and NOT moral judgement.

I wish I had more evidence to show you and had the links ready, but they are there. This information is available easily if you want to find it. Why can't politicians or so called journalists find it? I suppose we have been brainwashed into believing the religious and moralistic viewpoint that addiction is a sin.

FYI:

Major Brian Watters of the Salvation Army actually said that. "Heroin addiction is a sin!" He said this as the chairman for the Australian National Council on Drugs in 1998. (ANCD) BTW: he was handpicked by John Howard.

No Shit!

Related Links:

4 Corners: The Politics of Heroin