Study: War on Drugs Has Caused Global Health Crisis

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/36038-study-war-on-drugs-has-caused-global-health-crisis

A report by the medical journal of the Lancet and Johns Hopkins University said the five-decades long "War on Drugs," started by former U.S. president Richard Nixon, has drastically undercut public health across the globe.

The War on Drugs is to blame for some of today's most urgent public health crises while its effect on the use and proliferation of drugs has been minimal.

"The goal of prohibiting all use, possession, production and trafficking of illicit drugs is the basis of many of our national drug laws, but these policies are based on ideas about drug use and drug dependence that are not scientifically grounded,” said Commissioner Chris Beyrer, epidemiology professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

"The global ‘War on Drugs’ has harmed public health, human rights and development. It’s time for us to rethink our approach to global drug policies, and put scientific evidence and public health at the heart of drug policy discussions,” Beyrer explained.

The report's authors have instead called for an evidence-based approach, focused on reducing harm by minimizing both the violence associated with drugs and the health risks, such as the transmission of HIV and hepatitis through shared needles.

Furthermore, the authors are calling for the decriminalization of minor and nonviolent drug use; policies that reduce violence and discrimination in drug policing; increased access to controlled medicines that could reduce the risk of overdose, and greater investments in health and social services for drug users.

[scscholar]

1. Having to get permission from someone in the medical cartel...

is certainly a barrier to most people. I have to illegally mail-order my blood pressure drugs because of that.

[virgista]

2. The war on prescription opioids is going to kill more people than it saves.

Doctors are widely refusing to prescribe any opioid pain killers to people with legitimate chronic and/or severe pain. All because of the current hysteria in the medical ( and media) community concerning a supposed "epidemic" of overdose deaths. But long-term pain itself kills. It's complicated, but research has shown that the stress hormones released during unrelieved pain damage the cardiovascular system. Not to mention the loss of work, happiness, and being able to function in society.

Also, there's a known, significant gender bias against women patients--probably unintended-- for pain relief and many other acts of medical mercy.

Also, persons, whether addicted or seeking legitimate pain relief, will be driven to the streets, and to heroin. With all the inherent dangers that come with the street drugs.

[padfun]

5. Well, I can get about any opiods,

but I am 62 and have several pain issues. I stopped taking the Norco and got a marijuana prescription instead. Now I just smoke weed (or edibles) when I need relief. My doctor asked me if I needed anything strong and I said no. I really want to be awake these last few years of my life.

[padfun]

6. And yes, long-term pain itself kills.

Constant Pain..

It drains you. One has to use a part of their brain to fight the pain. All of the time. It drains the soul. You get tired of the constant fight. It really drains ones soul.

[jtuck004]

3. If evidence-based, pot, and e-cigs made with glycerin and propylene would be immediately legal, and

cigs, beer, and maybe sugar would be banned outright.

[billhicks76]

4. Thank Bush, Biden and Clinton

They were the ones who pushed this.

[kristopher]

7. THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS

Can you hear me now?

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, eridani.