WEBVTT

NOTE 5. The Drug Addict

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000
Chapter 5. The Drug Addict

2
00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:12.000
At the present time, with the intense discussion on the evils of heroin addiction, it is well to heed the old adage.

3
00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:15.000
Listen to both sides of the story.

4
00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:22.000
Among the many reasons for this, and perhaps most important, is the fact that if everyone is against something,

5
00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:29.000
particularly heroin addiction, one can assume that there is something which can be said in its favor.

6
00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:38.000
Throughout mankind's long and disputatious history, the majority opinion has, the majority of times, been wrong.

7
00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:45.000
On the other hand, even those who agree with the majority opinion should also welcome an attack upon it.

8
00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:53.000
The best way to teach the verities of life, according to the utilitarian John Stuart Mill, is by hearing the opposition.

9
00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:57.000
Let the position be challenged, and let the challenge fail.

10
00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:10.000
This method was considered by Mill to be so important that he recommended inventing a challenging position if a real one was not forthcoming and presenting it as convincingly as possible.

11
00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:18.000
Thus, those who believe in the unmitigated evils of heroin addiction should be eager to hear an argument in favor of it.

12
00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:24.000
The phenomenon of addiction should be considered from an intrinsic point of view.

13
00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:30.000
That is, the assumption will be that the social or interpersonal problem, the necessity for

14
00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:37.040
an addict to become involved in criminal activities in order to support his habit, has been solved.

15
00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:42.880
For this is caused by the legislation which prohibits the sale of narcotic drugs, and

16
00:01:42.880 --> 00:01:47.240
thus is a problem extrinsic to the drug itself.

17
00:01:47.240 --> 00:01:52.560
The intrinsic problems of addiction are all the other problems addicts are alleged to

18
00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:59.720
to Face. Primary on any list of the non-social problems of drug addiction is the allegation

19
00:01:59.720 --> 00:02:06.200
that addiction shortens life. Depending on the age and health of the addict and the pessimism

20
00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:11.680
or optimism of the alleger, the figure by which life is said to be shortened varies

21
00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:20.260
between 10 and 40 years. This is indeed unfortunate, but it hardly constitutes a valid criticism

22
00:02:20.260 --> 00:02:26.660
of Addiction, and it most certainly does not justify the prohibition of heroin use.

23
00:02:26.660 --> 00:02:32.460
It does not constitute a valid criticism or justify prohibition because it is up to the

24
00:02:32.460 --> 00:02:38.540
individual to determine the kind of life he will lead—a short one, including what he

25
00:02:38.540 --> 00:02:45.200
considers to be pleasurable activities, or a longer one without such enjoyment.

26
00:02:45.200 --> 00:02:51.080
Since there is no objective criterion for such choices, there is nothing irrational or even

27
00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:54.880
suspect about any choice on the spectrum.

28
00:02:54.880 --> 00:03:00.700
One may choose to maximize the possibility of longevity even if this means the renunciation

29
00:03:00.700 --> 00:03:07.880
of liquor, tobacco, gambling, sex, travel, crossing the street, heated debate and strenuous

30
00:03:07.880 --> 00:03:09.600
exercise.

31
00:03:09.600 --> 00:03:16.080
Or one may choose to engage in any or all of these activities, even if that means a shortened

32
00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:18.660
life span.

33
00:03:18.660 --> 00:03:23.080
Another argument leveled against addiction is that it prevents people from fulfilling

34
00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:25.280
their responsibilities.

35
00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:31.280
The example usually given is that of a father, who under the continuous influence of heroin

36
00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:37.840
becomes incapable of fulfilling his financial and other obligations to his family.

37
00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:42.440
Let us assume that heroin addiction incapacitates the father.

38
00:03:42.440 --> 00:03:48.160
It still does not follow that the use and sale of heroin should be prohibited.

39
00:03:48.160 --> 00:03:53.980
It would be unreasonable to prohibit any activity on the grounds that it prevents some people

40
00:03:53.980 --> 00:03:57.040
from functioning in certain ways.

41
00:03:57.040 --> 00:04:02.460
Why should the people who are not impaired, or who do not have like responsibilities,

42
00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:04.280
be restricted?

43
00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:09.440
Were it proper to prohibit heroin for this reason, surely it would also be proper to

44
00:04:09.440 --> 00:04:16.040
prohibit gambling, drinking, smoking, automobile driving, air travel and other dangerous or

45
00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:18.920
potentially dangerous activities.

46
00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:22.520
But this would be patently absurd.

47
00:04:22.520 --> 00:04:27.880
Should heroin be legal for some people but not for the others who do not accept or fulfill

48
00:04:27.880 --> 00:04:31.520
their responsibilities because of their addiction?

49
00:04:31.520 --> 00:04:32.880
No.

50
00:04:32.880 --> 00:04:39.320
When a man, to continue the example, marries, he does not agree to renounce all activities

51
00:04:39.320 --> 00:04:41.560
which might be dangerous.

52
00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:46.700
The marriage contract is not, after all, a slave contract.

53
00:04:46.700 --> 00:04:51.680
Marriage does not prevent either party from engaging in activities which might discomfort

54
00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.400
the other.

55
00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:58.560
People with responsibilities do get heart attacks from playing tennis, but no one would

56
00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:04.720
suggests that people with responsibilities be barred from sports activities.

57
00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:10.520
Another argument against drug addiction is the claim that users become totally non-productive

58
00:05:10.520 --> 00:05:17.520
and thus as a group lower the GNP, Gross National Product, an index of the economic well-being

59
00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:25.120
of the country as a whole. Thus, the argument runs, drug addiction hurts the country.

60
00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:33.120
The argument is specious, because it considers the country's well-being a meaningful concept, rather than the addicts.

61
00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:37.120
But even in its own terms, it is not convincing.

62
00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:45.120
It is based upon an equation of the GNP with economic well-being, and this equation is fallacious.

63
00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:55.120
The GNP, for example, counts all government spending as contributing to the well-being of the country, whether it actually does so or not.

64
00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:00.120
It fails to take into account the work of housewives done in the home.

65
00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:06.120
Furthermore, it completely misconstrues the economic status of leisure.

66
00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:13.120
Any assessment of economic well-being must assign some value to leisure, but the GNP does not.

67
00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:20.120
For example, the GNP should double with the introduction and full-time implementation

68
00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:26.480
of an invention which allowed people to double their output of real goods and services.

69
00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:32.800
But if the people choose to use the invention to just maintain their standard of living,

70
00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:40.120
and instead have their workday, the GNP would not change by one iota.

71
00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:45.880
It is true that if addiction to heroin leads to increased leisure, it will cause a fall

72
00:06:45.880 --> 00:06:48.000
in the GNP.

73
00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:52.920
But an increase in leisure for any reason will have the same effect.

74
00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:59.240
Therefore, if we oppose addiction on this ground, we must also oppose enjoyable vacations,

75
00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:03.000
poetic contemplation and walks in the woods.

76
00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:07.080
The list of prescribed activities could be endless.

77
00:07:07.080 --> 00:07:12.800
There is nothing wrong with choosing to utilize an increase in wealth by increasing one's

78
00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:19.600
leisure, and if the GNP decreases thereby, so much the worse for the GNP.

79
00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:28.320
Finally, it is by no means clear that addiction necessarily leads to lessened economic activity.

80
00:07:28.320 --> 00:07:33.760
Most of our knowledge about the behavior of addicts comes from the study of those who,

81
00:07:33.760 --> 00:07:40.160
Those of legislation which prohibits heroin and therefore skyrockets its price must spend

82
00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:45.520
most of their time in an agonizing search for vast sums of money.

83
00:07:45.520 --> 00:07:51.360
They cannot hold traditional jobs because most of their time is spent stealing, murdering

84
00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:53.480
and prostituting.

85
00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:58.480
Since we are concentrating on the personal problem of addiction and not on the social

86
00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:04.480
Problem, the evidence afforded by these people is irrelevant to the discussion.

87
00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:10.480
To study the behavior of addicts who are not prohibited by law from being productive, we

88
00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:17.480
must turn to those few addicts who are lucky enough to be insured a steady supply of low-cost

89
00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:18.980
heroin.

90
00:08:18.980 --> 00:08:24.520
This group is composed mainly of doctors who can use their prescription writing powers

91
00:08:24.520 --> 00:08:28.060
to insure themselves a steady supply.

92
00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:33.740
The limited evidence furnished by this small sample seems to indicate that addicts, freed

93
00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:40.100
from the compulsions induced by heroin prohibition, are able to lead rather normal and productive

94
00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:41.460
lives.

95
00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:46.260
The doctors in question provide service as adequately as other doctors.

96
00:08:46.260 --> 00:08:51.140
From all indications, they are able to keep up with the latest developments in their field,

97
00:08:51.140 --> 00:08:55.860
maintain a proper relationship with their patients, and function no differently in all

98
00:08:55.860 --> 00:08:59.460
All relevant aspects from other physicians.

99
00:08:59.460 --> 00:09:06.660
To be sure, were heroin legal, addicts would continue to have drug-related personal problems.

100
00:09:06.660 --> 00:09:12.100
There would be the fear of possible renewal of prohibition and the relative incapacitation

101
00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:14.980
following the periods of drug use.

102
00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:20.140
There would be the danger of overdosing, although it would lessen under legalization, since

103
00:09:20.140 --> 00:09:24.740
the drug could be administered under the supervision of a doctor.

104
00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:33.740
The vestiges of the old prohibitory attitude might remain and manifest themselves in the form of prejudice against addicts.

105
00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:41.740
The point to be stressed, however, is not that addicts will have drug-related problems even under legalization.

106
00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:45.740
Special problems almost always accompany special interests.

107
00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:53.740
Violin players are always in fear of injuring their fingers, and ballerinas cannot afford stubbed toes.

108
00:09:53.740 --> 00:10:01.140
Addiction to heroin is not in and of itself an evil. If it is legalized, it cannot possibly

109
00:10:01.140 --> 00:10:07.980
hurt anyone but the user of the drug. There are those who may want to speak out, educate

110
00:10:07.980 --> 00:10:14.100
and advertise against it, but to prohibit it is clearly a violation of the rights of

111
00:10:14.100 --> 00:10:16.590
for those who wish to use it