Let's talk addiction - it's storytime.
They did an experiment on rats a while back to test addiction. Rats were alone in a cage with 2 sources of water - one was plain everyday H20 - the other was laced with heroin.
The rats nearly ALWAYS went for the heroin. But why?
1/
They did an experiment on rats a while back to test addiction. Rats were alone in a cage with 2 sources of water - one was plain everyday H20 - the other was laced with heroin.
The rats nearly ALWAYS went for the heroin. But why?
1/
Well, for starters, they were alone in a cage. There was nothing to live for.
The researchers decided to try something different.
They built a paradise for the rats. Plenty of food options, toys, and LOTS of other rats of both sexes to interact with. Guess what happened?
2/
The researchers decided to try something different.
They built a paradise for the rats. Plenty of food options, toys, and LOTS of other rats of both sexes to interact with. Guess what happened?
2/
With both water sources being present, the rats chose to all stay away from the heroin-laced water.
This is because they now led fulfilled lives.
They had fun, social activities, sex, and plenty of areas to roam.
Let's relate this to human civilization, shall we?
3/
This is because they now led fulfilled lives.
They had fun, social activities, sex, and plenty of areas to roam.
Let's relate this to human civilization, shall we?
3/
When the Vietnam war was raging, US soldiers indulged in all manner of hard drugs.
But upon their return, most of the hard use stopped. It certainly wasn't due to lack of availability.
G.I.s were now home, and there wasn't as much of a need to escape their reality.
4/
But upon their return, most of the hard use stopped. It certainly wasn't due to lack of availability.
G.I.s were now home, and there wasn't as much of a need to escape their reality.
4/
Just as the rats escaped their miserable solitude with drugs, G.I.s did the same with life at war.
What we can learn from these examples is that people often use drugs to escape a harsh reality. This is something a system of incarceration doesn't fix.
We need new options.
5/
What we can learn from these examples is that people often use drugs to escape a harsh reality. This is something a system of incarceration doesn't fix.
We need new options.
5/
We can follow a policy similar to what Portugal initiated back in the early 2000s.
They decriminalized drug use, treating addiction as a medical issue and not an issue of criminal activity or immorality.
Their national drug use began to fade
6/
They decriminalized drug use, treating addiction as a medical issue and not an issue of criminal activity or immorality.
Their national drug use began to fade
https://twitter.com/drugpolicyorg/status/1102660512779849728
6/
And we can follow through and deliver hope to people in America. Millions struggle with bills in no small part because the tax system is skewed towards the top 1% and large companies.
40% of Americans cannot afford a $400 emergency.
So we must give average people a leg up
7/
40% of Americans cannot afford a $400 emergency.
So we must give average people a leg up
7/
This is why we get people out to vote for those who will support:
1. Healthcare reform
2. Ending the War on Drugs
3. Reforming Healthcare so it's universal/affordable
4. Lowering the impact of student debt
5. A fair tax system
In short - give people breathing room.
#voteBlue
1. Healthcare reform
2. Ending the War on Drugs
3. Reforming Healthcare so it's universal/affordable
4. Lowering the impact of student debt
5. A fair tax system
In short - give people breathing room.
#voteBlue
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