I butted into a loud discussion outside the library because the line about shooting down those who use illegal drugs in public contained a level of stupidity that exceeded a level I could tolerate. It turned out that he was upset about those who feed their illegal drug addictions in public and were not being rounded up and tossed into jail. I assume he saw the news reports about the Economist article about the drug use and poverty on the east side and in a unthinking, knee-jerk reaction decided the solution was to retreat into stupidity and avoid the pain of actually thinking about such things as cause and effect. The way so much of the public chooses to react unthinkingly to complex issues would almost make you think that using their brains for something other than a spacer between their ears caused them great pain.

From what I could determine from his ravings, he was upset that this illegal drug use was taking place in public and that something should be done to drive this activity out of sight. I have to agree that it is an unpleasant sight, but I would argue it is necessary that it occur out in full view for it is this openness that denies the majority of public their favourite refuge from complex, messy, thought requiring issues – Denial. For all too much of the public out of sight is also out of mind. Even if we must endure the ignorant and feebleminded ramblings of those who are unable to understand complex problems and that the complexity of the problem is going to require creative and many faceted approaches in address these complex problems. This in your face openness generates discussion – some of which will be cognizant and directed to taking effective actions.

Locking the drug users up is not a cost effective approach to reducing the scourge of addiction and the side effects caused by our current drug policies. I say cost effect as failing to consider costs vs. benefits not only results in the waste of vast sums on money, but prevents basing actions on approaches that can be effective. In calling for the police and courts to be throwing all the drug users in jail the question becomes “who is going to pay all the costs”, the $1,000.000,000s needed. When I posed the question of paying to the “shoot ‘em” advocate above, once he had shifted to the “I only want to shot ‘em because the courts will not lock them up” line of defending his demonstrated lack of ability to cogitate, I got a tirade about government waste. All of this taking place as he stood in public feeding his addiction, which fortunately for him is nicotine and legal (at least at this point in time).

They speak of a “drug problem” and a “drug war” Some are wrong or some are lying (or spinning the truth) in order to pursue their agendas or protect their vested interests. Have you ever seen drugs run up someone’s body and force themselves up their nose? When was the last time you saw a drug turn itself into smoke and force its way into an innocent bystanders lungs? No this is a people problem. When you wage this war you are waging it on people, as though their addiction was not enough of a burden and punishment. Reality is that because at its very roots this is a people problem, it is going to be extremely messy and lacking in neat, easy answers. In truth, given the nature of people, there is no actual solution. There are decisions we can make and actions we can take that will be more effective than others – provided we are willing to see the reality of the situation for what it is, and not as we want it to be. Without any solution, outside of human extinction, we have to look at what set of problems we can best achieve effective actions against and what set of insolvable effects we would rather live with.
It is not neat, tidy and definitely not a reality we like – but that is Life.