What Orson Scott Card Has to Say About Drug Use...

[duchess of malfi]

Oh, I have no doubt at all that ADD exists, and that some people really do need medicine for it. I just question how careful some doctors are about their diagnosing and prescribing controlled substances in treating it for some people.

Yes, marijuana is said to do great things to relieve various sorts of severe pain, such as MS and cancer. One of the great problems we see in end of life care here in America is pain control. Because addiction is such a problem in our society, doctors will also sometimes balk at PROPERLY prescribing pain medications to people who desperately need them, such as those who are dying of cancer. If I weren't at work and it weren't so busy, I would dig up some links to some medical journals about that.

[Byrn]

Thank you, Romeo, for adding the the H. I have ADD, Attention Defeciet(sp) Disorder, not the Hyperactive Disorder. My Mind works faster than my body, so my attention span is miniscule. I took Ritalin from the 2nd grade unitl the 6th. IT's something I overcame. I've leared how to focus

And to get back on subject, there is evidence that some people are more prone to addictive behaviors.

[Loredoctor]

Sugar overdose is a problem, but NOT the cause of ADHD.

I can support this as well. There is very little evidence supporting the sugar-adhd link, or the additive theory. More evidence suggests it's genetic.

[[Syl]]

Pointless supporting anecdote:

My best friend was raised in a very strict no-sugar household because of his parents' belief that it caused hyperactivity and rotting teeth. A couple years ago, he found out he had adult ADD. It can't be chalked up to environment either, considering he was raised on a sheep farm, with TV viewing and time on video games strictly regulated (for fear that it would rot their brains).

This, and the guy likes to read almost as much as I do and consistently beat me at chess about 2 out of 3 games (he says it was more like 50/50). And to give a benchmark, he took first place in the Nevada championship around '95.

[dANdeLION]

I've heard people say that addiction is a "disease," and the poor "victims" have no control over it, so they are not at fault. You have to love the mentality that tries to convince people that they are not to blame for their own mistakes, that everything is fault of that nebulous demon "society."

Actually, you will hear me say that, but not quite the same way. I do believe that in the end, we are all responsible for our own action, and need to behave as responsibly as we can, because I believe that each of us will personally be held accountable for our actions in the afterlife. But, I also believe that addictions are an actual disease, just like cancer, high blood perssure, MPD, ADD; etc. Having a disease is not an excuse, it's an expalnation. Nobody I know actually wants to have a disease or any other form of hardship in their lives. But, everybody has something they must overcome, whether it be disease, disability, addiction, perversion; whatever. I know there are those out there who wear their problems on their sleeve for all the word to know, but I do not believe that is limited to addicts; neither do all addicts fall under this category. I for one do not think anybody should be written off as a lost cause. People have value; even the ones we personally don't like. Even the French.

[CovenantJr]

To me it seems that UrLord was talking about the people who refuse any responsibilty for the state of their lives...ie "I can't help being a junkie, it's a disease"

[dANdeLION]

Yeah; I'm not looking to start a fight or anything...I just have experience here, and wanted to share my knowledge.

[Romeo]

One more word from me, and I'm bowing out of the discussion (I could post forever on this subject, and unlike Steve, I'm not going to live that long - heh heh).

Zero tolerance for drug abuse should not mean zero compassion for those who are trapped by it - whether or not it seems that it is self inflicted or "accidental."

[CovenantJr]

Well said, Romeo...whether or not I agree with legalisation (I'm undecided)

[Revan]

I truly wouldn't be surprised if they someday find that some people are more "prone" to become biochemically addicted than others to various substances. ie one person can regularly have a few beers or glasses of wine and not become an alcoholic, and a second person will become one from the same amount of drinking. That doesn't make the second person any "weaker" than the first, just unluckier in the great genetic crap shoot of life...

As I see the problem every day I am at work (I have worked in hospital pharmacies for over 15 years now), I honestly think that addictions to legally prescribed medications are every bit as socially disruptive as the illegal ones. People will do anything to get their hands on controlled substances, and while they will usually keep some for personal use, a lot of them also end up in crack houses being sold right along with the street drugs.

Lastly, in a least some cases, I think that controlled substances are overprescribed. There is a little boy I know well on the middle school wrestling team that my husband coaches. He had been on ritalin for years for ADD. With the hard physical work of the wrestling season, he was able to stop taking it for most of the season. When wrestling was over, he had to start taking it again. I have wondered if this child really has ADD, or if he just needs large amounts of physical exertion...needs which are not otherwise being met by his family and by the school...and if those needs were to be met, if he would need the damned medicine at all.

Good post Duchess.

ADD and ADHD is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain... and what are called neurotransmitters... Drugs such as Ritalin fix this imbalance... But, the reason behind the wrestler lack of need for it while exercising, is simply because, while exercising... The neurotransmitters work faster... make more chemicals; thus after exercise, a person with ADD or ADHD will be normal for quite a while, depending on how much exercise he has done... that's probably why he didn't need to take Ritalin while he was wrestling.

[UrLord]

Perhaps ADD exists, I'd be willing to admit the possiblity, but so far EVERY child I've seen whose parents claim ADD (or ADHD) as the reason for his/her disruptive behavior, also keeps the child pumped full of caffeine and sugar. Constantly. If ADD is real, I have no doubt that the vast majority of kids diagnosed with the condition would have no problems whatsoever if their diet was regulated and/or their parents learned how to discipline their children.

Did I mention in my previous post that I was diagnosed with Adult ADD? Oh yes, and I have never had any problems with "the channels switching rapidly in my head" or any other such BS. I think the only test to determine if someone has ADD is whether you ask about it. If you have to ask, then you (or your child) has it and should be immediately medicated!

[Revan]

Perhaps ADD exists, I'd be willing to admit the possiblity, but so far EVERY child I've seen whose parents claim ADD (or ADHD) as the reason for his/her disruptive behavior, also keeps the child pumped full of caffeine and sugar. Constantly. If ADD is real, I have no doubt that the vast majority of kids diagnosed with the condition would have no problems whatsoever if their diet was regulated and/or their parents learned how to discipline their children.

Did I mention in my previous post that I was diagnosed with Adult ADD? Oh yes, and I have never had any problems with "the channels switching rapidly in my head" or any other such BS. I think the only test to determine if someone has ADD is whether you ask about it. If you have to ask, then you (or your child) has it and should be immediately medicated!

Heh, I think ADD and ADHD needs a thread of it's own...

I consider ADD to be a strength as well as a weakness... I mean in the Caveman times, People with ADD or ADHD would probably have been considered as Super-humans... as an author writing on ADD so eloquently phrased it.

[Tranquil Hegemony]

Legalizing them will only force us to remember why we made them illegal in the first place.

Because Harry Anslinger testified before Congress in 1925, saying marijuana caused people to go insane and start murdering people?

Several people have mentioned in this thread the medicinal uses of cannabis. Not according to the federal government there aren't. Because politicians are so much more qualified than medical doctors to decide such things, and they have decided that pot is at the same level as cocaine and heroin and is one of the most dangerous drugs in existence.

Drug policy in this country is a joke, based on lies, disinformation, and money from pharmaceutical company lobbyists. I'm not saying there isn't a serious drug problem in this country and others. To those who've known people who have ruined their lives through drug abuse: do you really think they should be imprisoned? Shouldn't drug addiction be treated as a medical problem, not a criminal one?

I'm not for legalization, but I am for decriminalization. And when the government blantantly lies about one drug, why should I believe anything they say about the rest?

Oh, and one more thing. A while back I saw a former speechwriter for Richard Nixon (not Ben Stein I don't think... it's been a while) on tv who said the whole War on Drugs thing was started as a "kill two birds with one stone" tactic. Who were the birds? African Americans and war protesters. The War on Drugs was started by Nixon and targetted his political enemies.