Something needs to be done about drugs in UK

Do alcohol and cigarettes serve a purpose?

It's really not. How many people like a beer or a glass of wine on the weekend. It's got to be a good half of the population at the very least. Last I checked half the population aren't dying of alcoholism or liver failure.

People die of ODs primarily because they have no guarantee of what they're taking, how pure it is etc. This is what happens when you make something illegal, you generally make it more dangerous.

(The one exception to that I'll grant is weaponry, particularly gun control)

Are drugs killing lots of healthy young people? I thought the increase in drug related deaths was in part due to an aging population that are using drugs. That doesn’t mean that we don’t need to sort things out though.

I’d agree we definitely don’t have it right at the moment, though I don’t know how to improve things. In addition to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids there is a challenge of all the people addicted to prescribed medication (opioids, benzodiazepines, z drugs etc.).

Still don't understand how people get addicted to it.

No one knows why some people get addicted and some don’t. Lots of people are prescribed opiates after an operation or for pain and some people can stop taking them and some can’t.
Likewise, most people can drink moderately and but some become alcoholics.

I agree there should be more NHS rehab facilities but an addict still has to want to give up if rehab is to work.

I was given morphine in hospital for severe pain - it got rid of the severe pain plus all the minor aches and pains I normally take for granted, and made me feel as though I was floating about on a soft cloud. I can see how it is addictive.

Drugs are killing healthy young people. How is it that a drug dealer is not tried as a murderer?

I don't know anyone killed by an overdose. However a friends brother (year below me in 1977) was killed by a speeding car.

I refer you to my previous point. You want to ban things that kill people ? I know where I'd start.

Do you want to ban rock climbing, or basejumping, or parachuting, etc so that "beautiful young" people stop dying of those as well? Or it it just drugs?

Life is dangerous. We can put checks in place to make it safer, but too many and you infringe on peoples freedoms. Banning things outright generally just forces them underground and makes them more dangerous, not less.

Against your will? No. You were offered it and you took it. Don’t twist things.

Arguably then, most people don’t take drugs, they are given them. No?

I want addicts to stop terrorising the public.

So what are you going to do about it?

So you're not actually interested in debate.

Nobody gets addicted to gas and air. Jesus wept.

You don’t understand that it numbs the physical/mental pain for people? You were presumably in labour and felt desperate enough to take hardcore drugs to stop the pain.

Get it now?

@RegretMisery using hardline tactics like certain other countries is criminalising the unwell. Human beings have their reasons for taking drugs. Rich ones get them off doctors. Poor ones get put in jail.
Have you never drank alcohol? Met anyone with ED, obesity, gambling issues. Addiction is very powerful. Freedom to do things in moderation is also something most responsible people shouldn't have to forgo. It's not easy to understand but the way you are speaking is you can just delete all perceived drugs from everyone and they'll all be fine, with what support are you suggesting? Would you ban sugar? You can't ban stuff that's already illegal anyway.
If it was legal there would be less crime at least.

Decriminalise them. Control the distribution before fentanyl makes it's way over here, get the money out of the gangs hands. Legalise weed - go back to old the old school strains, and sell them like wine.
There's no use trying to do more of what we're doing now, it's clearly not working. Harsher punishments won't work unless we're also going to tackle the exploitation of vulnerable young people though county lines. You think the gang leaders will give a shit if a teenage boy is sentenced to death?
Unfortunately I don't think there is any incentive for governments to tackle drug abuse. Why would they care to?

It's a choice to take them them OP first and foremost reason

Depends on your agenda really. Most "anti drug warriors" are really pushing their own agenda for command and control (and are therefore best ignored).

Surely purveyors of alcohol cigarettes and fast food along with those who incentivize unhealthy sedentary lifestyles would also have to be tried as murderers?

I’ve had diamorphine and ketamine medically. 20/10, had a great time, would try both again if I wasn’t so scared of dying or being arrested after taking drugs.

Im not mentally ill or ADHD or suffering from trauma. They were genuinely good fun, aside from the issues needing me to have such drugs obviously.