LOOK AT SUBSTANCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Illicit drugs are in the news again, with talk of creating safe injection
sites in major metropolitan centres, and the potential decriminalization of
possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

These discussions cause me a certain amount of personal turmoil. I have
written in this space before about my own negative experiences with
substance abuse, as well as my belief that all drugs should be
decriminalized and regulated.

I continue to struggle to reconcile these apparently opposing views on
illicit drugs.

I'm not a believer of the 'harmless' theory of marijuana use. I'm one of
those guys whose history of drug abuse was what your mother warned you about.

Marijuana led me to stronger, more dangerous, narcotics that affected my
abilities. Or perhaps it was my association with other law-breaking
lowlifes who were quite content to seek solace from consciousness-altering
drugs, rather than facing reality, that led me astray.

Either way, I fell deeper and deeper into the drug culture, and I regret it.

And yet I want to decriminalize all drug use.

My experiences have taught me that substance abusers get caught up in that
way of life for the same reasons that I did all those years ago, a weakness
in character.

It's the same reason people get addicted to pornography, alcohol, gambling,
or other anti-social activities.

The causes of character weakness are much debated in scientific and medical
circles. Some argue they are genetic, others argue psychological trauma is
at the root of the problem. It's the old nurture versus nature discussion.

And the symptoms of character weakness? A lack of acceptance in the past,
an inability to live in the present, and an underlying pessimism about the
future. This leads to giving up easily in the face of adversity, a sense of
hopelessness, always looking for the easy way out, and depression.

You only have to look at the alarming increase in the sale of prescription
drugs to combat depression to see that character weakness is a growth industry.

The good news is that with hard work, effective parenting, and dedicated
teachers, weak character can be overcome.

Hopelessness is a learned state, and it can be unlearned. Children at risk
can be identified and taught optimism at an early age.

This is not about perpetuating the disgusting idea of victimhood that is so
prevalent today, it's about filling the gaps that religion used to fill in
most people's lives.

Don't get me wrong. There is plenty of real criminal activity at play in
the illicit drug trade. There are lots of people out there willing to risk
breaking the law to get rich from other people's weaknesses.

Just take a look at the burgeoning Internet pornography businesses and the
state sanctioned lottery and alcohol industries.

As long as there is big money to be made selling pot, or crack, or
whatever, there will be violent organized criminals prepared to take
advantage of the situation.

Half-hearted measures like safe injection sites and lightening up on
marijuana won't do the trick.

Yes, it does begin to acknowledge that the problem with substance abusers
is more social than criminal, but it won't do anything to eliminate the
violence and crime associated with the drug trade.

The only way to do that is to remove the potential for profit. Once
unscrupulous people have no reason to prey on the weaknesses of others,
then we'll have a fighting chance at dealing with the root causes.

Complete decriminalization, with government regulated supply of product,
and a massive public health campaign, will choke off illegal profits and
allow the abusers to be treated.

Assuming, of course, that the government won't become addicted to the tax
revenue like they have with gambling, and keep the whole disgusting
business in operation for their own nefarious purposes.