Re: Bye-Bye to the >H Right Wing

From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Tue Feb 12 2002 - 17:15:58 MST


Amara Graps wrote:
>
> Mike Lorrey:
> >Nor do I consider all drug users to be addicts, which you seem to be
> >assuming.
>
> ??
> Not at all. I said
>
> "As an adult, each makes his/her own decision as to whether to expose
> themself to that drug, and one measures the potential good/harm
> against their own personal form of measure."

Yes. You are, though, making the assumption that a person remains an
adult while impaired. As a veteran of hundreds of fraternity, dorm, and
squadron parties, and an attendee of the 2000 Rainbow Family Nation
Gathering (major hippie convention), I can emphatically say NO, people
do not remain adults while impaired. As the former business partner of a
cocaine addict, I can say most definitely NO, GODDAMMIT, people do not
remain adults while serious impaired and/or addicted. As a former
attendee of hundreds of AA and Al-Anon meetings, listening to how users
really screwed up their lives, I can most definitely say FUCK NO, people
do not remain adults while impaired and/or addicted.

A responsible adult who seeks to impair their cognitive abilities for
some period of time must accept responsibility and accountability for
the consequences of their actions while impaired. A responsible adult
will also take that risk into account and take steps to help minimize
that risk (i.e. give keys to a designated driver, lock themselves in a
room, put weapons, checkbooks, cash in a safe, etc) and take care to
dose themselves such that they do not develop an addiction.

An addicted person is not a fully independent adult, and should be
treated accordingly.



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