tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post2059433886908163701..comments2023-10-28T01:08:17.601-07:00Comments on David Talks/The Berner Monologues: Read it and then read it AgainDavid Bernerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707698404226464547noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-81521903444654708552008-08-28T10:15:00.000-07:002008-08-28T10:15:00.000-07:00David - Do you consider an addiction to alcohol, d...David - Do you consider an addiction to alcohol, drugs, etc. to be an illness? That has been a topic of discussion, research and contention for many many years, with various theories emerging from time to time. I have read some of them.<BR/>One could have a predisposition and one's brain/system could metabolize alcohol in a certain way, but the illness theory has never been proven. <BR/><BR/>Personality enters into the equation I believe as it does in one's becoming addicted to *anything*. <BR/><BR/>JuneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-75212542269090210282008-08-28T01:04:00.000-07:002008-08-28T01:04:00.000-07:00"Harm reduction proponents seem to view addiction ..."Harm reduction proponents seem to view addiction as an incurable disease -- and addicts as victims not only unaccount able for, but entitled to, their "lifestyles.""<BR/><BR/>Or do they merely view addicts and their addictions as grist for the mill they're employed by? The more junkies there are the more "harm reduction" jobs that can be created and sustained; really quite a booming little industry when one considers it ... Oh, sorry, how <I>cynical</I> of me. Deepest apologies.David in North Burnaby BChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660731947857473298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-67744376016327514532008-08-27T22:20:00.000-07:002008-08-27T22:20:00.000-07:00David,This vitriolic diatribe in the Vcr Sun is so...David,<BR/><BR/>This vitriolic diatribe in the Vcr Sun is so typical of the abuse people have to take for "daring" to argue against the politically correct policy:<BR/><BR/>Steve Austin’s Aug. 25 letter about the Insite supervised injection site shows he has enough social conscience to make him hate but, sadly, not enough to make him love (or even think clearly).<BR/><BR/>He appears to believes mental illness and end-stage substance abuse are caused by moral weakness. His solution has an equally Victorian ring to it: Lock ’em up.<BR/><BR/>He spoke of “harm elimination,” brilliant in its simplicity.<BR/><BR/>Why didn’t we think of it before? Hang on. We did. Wasn’t it called Prohibition? That was such a success, we didn’t try it again until the hugely effective “war on drugs.”<BR/><BR/>Drug addiction is a complex human problem; it can only be addressed by multi-layered approaches. One size certainly does not fit all.<BR/><BR/>Law enforcement is undeniably part of the solution, but so is adequate housing, harm reduction and, perhaps above everything else, treatment. (It’s an illness, dummy.)<BR/><BR/>Taken out of context, any of these approaches can be made to seem ineffective. It isn’t a matter of policing over Insite; it’s a matter of both.<BR/><BR/>A bit of compassion wouldn’t hurt, either. DR. MICHAEL SEEAR B.C. Children’s HospitalRobert W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11450265399740128136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-45251967692772797872008-08-26T22:54:00.000-07:002008-08-26T22:54:00.000-07:00One of the best articles I have read on the subjec...One of the best articles I have read on the subject. I often hear the so called "experts", when speaking of the benefits of Insite, after being questioned on the subject of treatment, cite Detox. Detox is *not* treatment. It is a drying out facility only and if there is no treatment centre to send these addicts to once they can think fairly logically - it is merely a dry out and get out situation - useless except for getting them off the street overnight....<BR/><BR/>I sent a copy of the piece to James Moore, our local MP.<BR/><BR/>If you and others keep at it, saner heads must prevail......one hopes.<BR/><BR/>JuneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-88508061573043468802008-08-26T22:52:00.000-07:002008-08-26T22:52:00.000-07:00your enthusiasm knows no paragraphsmakes for tough...your enthusiasm knows no paragraphs<BR/><BR/>makes for tough reading dave!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com