Drug Use

[differenceblog]

In previous posts, we've looked at how drug use rates are higher in men, but that women might be at greater risk of addiction. There is hardly consensus on this point. Kendler et al (2003) point out that risk factors for drug use are very similar between men and women (social, genetic, and personality-based). Holdcraft and Iacono (2004) suggest

Comments

[astrogeek01]

You should definitely look into that for a post; I would have thought the opposite (that men would prefer the precious control). Though I'm not sure why I think that, particularly.

I'm curious why you're for legalization, philosophically & ethically. I'm really on the fence on that one.

[tommytesto]

Given your lack of comfort around the issue, it is surprising that you want legalization "across the board." I wish you could sit in a room with guys who had access to illegal drugs all too easily, and now their lives are on the brink of ruin.

This ain't the previous generations of drug use - what is going on these days is often drugs tailor made to be more powerful and addicting. Even the old natural standbys have been engineered to be more strong than they were a while back. For some of these chemicals, consent goes out the window after a few experiences with them.

[differenceblog]

I wish you could sit in a room with guys who had access to illegal drugs all too easily

I'd rather see a study on changes in rates of addiction or odds ratios of higher education, variables of "success" etc, on people who had tried various drugs. I thought I made it clear that I was already emotionally uncomfortable with drug use. Face-time with people who had been hurt would just make me more emotionally uncomfortable, but I don't think I'd take it as proof.

I'm entirely willing to be convinced on this point, but empathy and anecdotes are not arguments.

[aesmael]

My arguments tend around such things as believing people should not be imprisoned for the use of drugs, the belief that a legal drug market would reduce the prevalence of related black markets and criminal activities, the fact that cigarettes are legal yet lethal making the current situation stink of hypocrisy to me, hopefully lowered prices hopefully meaning fewer people will be driven to crime to support their habit (although with the high prices of cigarettes and my lack of knowledge of rates of such crimes to support legal habits make me especially cautious about this one), hope that reduced stigma and greater transparency will make it easier for people to seek help quitting their addictions.

This is not something I am especially well versed in, however, and like our host I am personally inclined against use.

[dabunny]

This ain't the previous generations of drug use - what is going on these days is often drugs tailor made to be more powerful and addicting. Even the old natural standbys have been engineered to be more strong than they were a while back. For some of these chemicals, consent goes out the window after a few experiences with them.

To me this screams of a situation requiring regulation. The problems with modern drugs you've identified are all the result of development in an unregulated environment where you are exposed to bad dosing information, bad content information, and predatory designs. Outlawing things has a historically bad track record of making those things disappear from our society if there is any desire for them. The conclusion seems obvious to me that the overall situation would be improved by regulating (which necessitates legalizing) most drugs.

[hrafn]

I'm a big-time control freak (at least in terms of being in control of myself), but I do enjoy being (mildly) drunk, perhaps because I am too much in control the rest of the time. I've been too scared about possible brain damage to attempt seeking out anything else, because I have a feeling I might enjoy that too much, too.

This is a little tangential, but I found this article about drug use - legal drug use - in the US really pretty interesting. ANd of course now I wonder if women's use and abuse of legal drugs differs from men's in the same way as the illegal drugs.

[astrogeek01]

offtopic: *can't stand it!* *fully funds rest of the spatial study* :) I don't know why it still says it needs $44 but it doesn't anymore. :)

[differenceblog]

HA! I was just about to do the same!

Except that when I logged in, it said that the spatial study had expired? What?! I thought we'd at least have until close of business... *writes DonorsChoose to complain, ask if I can still just fund the last $44*

[astrogeek01]

When I put my last bit in, it said it was fully funded. I think there's something messed up?

[differenceblog]

It's still showing me that it needs $44. So I wrote zwalker@donorschoose.org (the contact person for donors).