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There is no 'world drug problem'
Don't collude with this nonsense
We have a world drug policy problem that has been caused by ideologically driven 'drug' prohibition that has peddled propaganda, misinformation & lies
Expose it
Challenge it
#WeAreAllDrugUsers
Don't collude with this nonsense
We have a world drug policy problem that has been caused by ideologically driven 'drug' prohibition that has peddled propaganda, misinformation & lies
Expose it
Challenge it
#WeAreAllDrugUsers
There is no logical category of substances the UN or Governments widely call 'drugs'
Their term 'drugs' has no pharmacological or scientific basis whatsoever - it's a social construction rooted in political propaganda
Their term 'drugs' has no pharmacological or scientific basis whatsoever - it's a social construction rooted in political propaganda
We are all drug users
A drug is a psycho-active substance
Society loves state approved drugs & uses them at almost every cultural event
Oddly state approved drugs are in the main more harmful than the state banned drugs
A drug is a psycho-active substance
Society loves state approved drugs & uses them at almost every cultural event
Oddly state approved drugs are in the main more harmful than the state banned drugs
There is no war on drugs either
There is a war designed to promote & privilege one set of substances and to prohibit, prejudice & punish the use of another set of substances
This system is based on vested interest https://julianbuchanan.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/15-benefits-from-the-war-on-drugs/
There is a war designed to promote & privilege one set of substances and to prohibit, prejudice & punish the use of another set of substances
This system is based on vested interest https://julianbuchanan.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/15-benefits-from-the-war-on-drugs/
This fiercely imposed system of oppression is a Drug Apartheid
It results in state led arrests, punishment, incarceration, exclusion (and in some countries death) - imposed upon those choosing the 'wrong' the drugs http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1748895816633274
It results in state led arrests, punishment, incarceration, exclusion (and in some countries death) - imposed upon those choosing the 'wrong' the drugs http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1748895816633274
The system of enforcement is strongly biased to target poor people, people of color, indigenous people and minority ethnic groups.
The privileged are rarely stopped, searched, arrested, charged, convicted, found guilty or sent to prison.
The privileged are rarely stopped, searched, arrested, charged, convicted, found guilty or sent to prison.
The vast majority of people who use state approved or state banned drugs do not have an addiction problem
Most are adult users
Most are adult users
Adult use of state approved or state banned drugs should not be a matter for the police
-but nor should it be a matter for doctors
Using drugs per se is neither a crime nor a medical problem
-but nor should it be a matter for doctors
Using drugs per se is neither a crime nor a medical problem
The vast majority of deaths in respect of banned drugs are CAUSED by bad drug policies that are rooted in intolerance, abstinence, stigma and drug prohibition propaganda
When policy is rooted in Harm Reduction drug deaths are rare
When policy is rooted in Harm Reduction drug deaths are rare
Prohibition propaganda has seriously undermined & manipulated drug education, drug prevention, drug demand and drug treatment.
It has distorted our understanding of 'drugs', addiction and giving help to people struggling with addiction
It has distorted our understanding of 'drugs', addiction and giving help to people struggling with addiction
Drug addiction can overwhelm and take over life but most of those who struggle with chronic addiction had serious disadvantage, exclusion, abuse &/or pain before drug addiction.
Most ppl drug addiction is the symptom/response to greater underlying issues https://julianbuchanan.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/supporting-rat-park-and-the-dislocation-theory-of-addiction/
Most ppl drug addiction is the symptom/response to greater underlying issues https://julianbuchanan.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/supporting-rat-park-and-the-dislocation-theory-of-addiction/
Prohibitionists ‘treat’ addiction with ‘snake oil’
telling people they have an incurable brain disease that can be contained if they pledge to never take ‘drugs’ again.
Then they become ‘clean’ and forever ‘in recovery’.
telling people they have an incurable brain disease that can be contained if they pledge to never take ‘drugs’ again.
Then they become ‘clean’ and forever ‘in recovery’.
Prohibitionists have sent researchers, reformers & govts., on an endless ‘wild goose chase’ to disprove propaganda;
Reefer Madness
Crack Babies
Instantly Addictive P
Flesh Eating Krokodil
Addiction-Brain Disease
Addicted Babies
Opioid Damaged Babies
Gateway ‘Theory’
Reefer Madness
Crack Babies
Instantly Addictive P
Flesh Eating Krokodil
Addiction-Brain Disease
Addicted Babies
Opioid Damaged Babies
Gateway ‘Theory’
The UN & Govt. have legitimised discrimination, fear, stigma, exclusion & hostility towards people who use state banned substances.
This has had a huge negative impact on life opportunities and self esteem
It has driven users underground. https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/JulianBuchanan/sdf-stigma-julian-buchanan
This has had a huge negative impact on life opportunities and self esteem
It has driven users underground. https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/JulianBuchanan/sdf-stigma-julian-buchanan
For most drug users a criminal conviction for a drug defined crime poses a greater risk to their life opportunities to flourish & thrive than drugs evet will
Drug Policy Abuse
Drug Policy Abuse
Prohibition has exhausted the battlefield in the criminal justice system
The empasis has shifted to enforce Prohibition propaganda via Public Heath & Public Safety.
Drug Testing knows no limits:
schools, colleges, roadside, sewage, homes, workplace https://julianbuchanan.wordpress.com/2015/10/10/the-misleading-simplicity-of-drug-testing-complex-issues-in-a-binary-driven-worl/
The empasis has shifted to enforce Prohibition propaganda via Public Heath & Public Safety.
Drug Testing knows no limits:
schools, colleges, roadside, sewage, homes, workplace https://julianbuchanan.wordpress.com/2015/10/10/the-misleading-simplicity-of-drug-testing-complex-issues-in-a-binary-driven-worl/
Don’t buy into the con trick to swap ‘drug’ use as a crime problem for ‘drug’ use as a public health problem.
Using a ‘drug’ is not in and of itself a public health problem nor is it for the most part likely to become one.
But users maybe coerced into public health ‘treatment’
Using a ‘drug’ is not in and of itself a public health problem nor is it for the most part likely to become one.
But users maybe coerced into public health ‘treatment’
‘Drug’ enforcement has been used to control and exclude the poor, people of color, ethnic minority groups & indigenous people.
The rich & privileged don’t get stopped - but they want Legal Regulation to ensure they can buy clean reliable drugs & be able set up business!
The rich & privileged don’t get stopped - but they want Legal Regulation to ensure they can buy clean reliable drugs & be able set up business!
Under their Legal Regulation model possession or supply of unapproved state drugs will remain a civil and/or criminal offence and the poor, BME, people of color & indigenous will continue to be controlled and excluded by law enforcement measures
#ICantBreathe
Prohibition2.0
#ICantBreathe
Prohibition2.0
Drug policy has not been informed by science, evidence or rationale
- it’s been determined by a Prohibition ‘church’ their beliefs, their stories and hunches.
Nothing has changed, it reflects their world view, their vested interest & their ideas of what should be.
- it’s been determined by a Prohibition ‘church’ their beliefs, their stories and hunches.
Nothing has changed, it reflects their world view, their vested interest & their ideas of what should be.
What can we learn from 100s of thousands of people injecting adulterated unknown street drugs in Drug Consumption Rooms (Sydney & Vancouver) & there has never been a single OD death?
• Prohibition kills people!
• Harm Reduction saves lives
• Prohibition kills people!
• Harm Reduction saves lives
Prohibition based abstinence 'treatment' insists that if a person has lost control of their use of drug 'A'
They must abstain from taking drug 'A' again - ever!
And they must abstain from all other drugs 'B' - 'Z' too??!
Treatment rooted in hunch & belief rather than science
They must abstain from taking drug 'A' again - ever!
And they must abstain from all other drugs 'B' - 'Z' too??!
Treatment rooted in hunch & belief rather than science
In 1998 the UN held a special meeting to launch a 10yr global drug strategy:
"A Drug Free World - We Can Do It"
Seriously - a world without drugs?
It's a hideous, outrageous & terrifying idea - who in their right mind could support such an idea??!
"A Drug Free World - We Can Do It"
Seriously - a world without drugs?
It's a hideous, outrageous & terrifying idea - who in their right mind could support such an idea??!
Prohibitionists will argue that
"Drugs are dangerous" (while sipping coffee, or enjoying a glass of wine)
Ask them for evidence and they sometimes reply
"The evidence that 'drugs' are dangerous - is that they are illegal"
A closed circular argument!
"Drugs are dangerous" (while sipping coffee, or enjoying a glass of wine)
Ask them for evidence and they sometimes reply
"The evidence that 'drugs' are dangerous - is that they are illegal"
A closed circular argument!
Harm Reduction is about minimising the damage caused by harmful Prohibitionist Drug Policies
Here are 12 harm reduction policies governments can roll out immediately
They don’t need UN approval or mtgs
Here are 12 harm reduction policies governments can roll out immediately
They don’t need UN approval or mtgs
Only when agencies & individuals stop seeing ‘treatment’ through the distorted lens of Prohibition can they truly help people in need & make a difference.
Prohibitionists involved in drug prevention, drug control/regulation and drug treatment are dangerous & harmful.
Prohibitionists involved in drug prevention, drug control/regulation and drug treatment are dangerous & harmful.
Change will come when people see/realise what the Drug War is about/doing
It's NOT about:
-Protecting people
-A lack of understanding
-Ignorance about science/evidence
We need to rally a bottom-up movement to abolish this devastating, divisive & inhumane regime
It's NOT about:
-Protecting people
-A lack of understanding
-Ignorance about science/evidence
We need to rally a bottom-up movement to abolish this devastating, divisive & inhumane regime
The Drug War IS about:
Retaining & wielding power
Protecting privilege & profits
Expanding business & self-interest
Developing new 'drug' control industries
Peddling misinformation, fallacy & lies
Controlling the poor, minority ethnic groups & people of color
Retaining & wielding power
Protecting privilege & profits
Expanding business & self-interest
Developing new 'drug' control industries
Peddling misinformation, fallacy & lies
Controlling the poor, minority ethnic groups & people of color
We’ve been brainwashed about drugs here are 70 lies we’ve been fed https://julianbuchanan.wordpress.com/
The question is not;
'Would you legalise all drugs?'
The question is;
'How can you you possibly defend prohibition?'
Evidenced based answers (that uphold human rights) only please
'Would you legalise all drugs?'
The question is;
'How can you you possibly defend prohibition?'
Evidenced based answers (that uphold human rights) only please
Prohibition has peddled:
• Lies about nature & impact of ‘drugs’
• Pseudoscience about addiction
• Propaganda for drug prevention
• Dodgy ‘treatment’ that has more in common with a cult
• A civil war in our own communities - against 'drug' users
• Lies about nature & impact of ‘drugs’
• Pseudoscience about addiction
• Propaganda for drug prevention
• Dodgy ‘treatment’ that has more in common with a cult
• A civil war in our own communities - against 'drug' users
Easy Solution To End The Drug Wars:
1st. Make all drug possession, cultivation & production for personal use legal.
2nd. Establish a strictly regulated legal market for all drugs.
#EndTheseCrazyWarsASAP
1st. Make all drug possession, cultivation & production for personal use legal.
2nd. Establish a strictly regulated legal market for all drugs.
#EndTheseCrazyWarsASAP
We need to seriously question the flawed prohibition paradigms that we have internalised & adopted;
Wondering why I am passionate about drug law reform? I explain in this interview
