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A comment on Mass incarceration: A new theory for why so many Americans are in prison. Parent comment

Re:Mass incarceration: A new theory for why so many American... by mason240 on Friday October 02, 2015 @10:30AM (#10318768)
>when heroin users know where their next hit is coming from (the clinic) they are better able to handle their addiction and able to make some progress in the rest of life (hold down a job, etc).

That's extremely wishful thinking.

We currently have abundant access to alcohol and alcoholism is still a problem.

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Re:Mass incarceration: A new theory for why so many American... by probablybroken on Friday October 02, 2015 @11:12AM (#10319034)
On the other hand, alcohol is actively pushed and widely accepted within our society. It's extremely difficult to avoid if you have a problem with it, and it's also extremely easy to develop a problem with through the numerous situations in which you are expected to consume or have access to it. Supply of substance from a clinic allows you to fulfil the needs of the existing population, without having the problem of vendors pushing the substance onto new users. ( One would hope.. )
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Re:Mass incarceration: A new theory for why so many American... by Nursie on Friday October 02, 2015 @11:21AM (#10319090)
>> That's extremely wishful thinking.

It's something I've read about coming out of the Swiss model, which medicalises heroin addiction rather than criminalising it.

I'm not going to hunt for references right now so I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

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