....to think the term 'junkie' is hugely offensive and ignorant....

[InFlames]

...following on from the Amy Winehouse thread...this will either take off or I'll be slammed for bad nettiquette won't I?

I think the term 'junkies' is really offensive. Would you refer to people experiencing psychosis or schizophrenia as 'psychos'?

AIBU?

I find any of the slang terms used for a paedophile offensive, although perhaps for slightly different reasons, but still offensive yes. I would also think it was ignorant to use such terms.

I think that compassion and paedophilia is an entirely different thread and not relevant here.

I think it's wildly unreasonable to bring that topic into a thread about people affected by drug addictions.

Agree with catgirl in that I also find the slang terms for paedophilia offensive, same as I do for those relating to ethnicity, disability, gender and sexuality.

I think I love you, Lady Of The Manor

Sigh...

I merely asked about your compassion for those with a different type of mental illness, fuelled by crime...and often chastised by society.

YABVU

That, my friend, is a wise decision.

not here LOTM you naughty thing

But yep, seriously those are all excellent points.

The inclusion of peadophilia in the DSM is a highly contested point.

LOTM do you honestly think paedophilia and drug addiction are comparable in terms of empathy, compassion, treatment, prognosis? Really?

I think you are arguing that both abusers of substance (drugs and children) are mentally unfit.

I would argue otherwise, but this is your debate. Do you pick and choose who you have compassion for when it comes to mental illnesses? If a woman burnt her house down with her children in it because she was having an episode of psychosis, would you feel compassion or perhaps anger?

When do you draw, you personally, draw the line with empathy?

Paedophilia is a very contested entry into the DSM - I do not believe it is a metal illness, and nor do many of my colleagues.

I choose not to work in that very very small area of MH as I am aware I could not be objective or therapeutic. I have worked with too many people go are suffering the long term impact of abuse to be able to work withthe perpetrated of abuse.

Psychosis is very clearly a mental illness. In scenario described above I would 100% have compassion, and have done - though not the exact scenario, pretty close.

Does that answer your question?

Perpetrators even

I do not believe that junkies have "mental health issues"...nor do I believe it is a medical condition.

kind of with you on that one lady.

my time in the police force was mainly spent clearing up the aftermath of drug use. most crimes seemed to involve it somewhere along the line

Oh absolutely. Gun crime, prostitution, theft, the list goes on. Not to mention what it does to the countries the drugs originate in. It isn't uncommon for children to die to due to the exportation drugs from my "home country".

Fortunately large swaths of the medical community disagree with you LOTM - what's your non medical, non mental health way of managing addictions then - prison for all?

Urm if there's non mental health issues, then isn't the ONLY way prison/community service programmes? Or will we see ALL criminals claim a technicality on mental health issues?

Because prison is such a great way of managing addictions?

You know what I think there's no shifting of either of our positions, best to leave it here than get into speculation.

What would you suggest, the NHS provide care? and at the cost of whom? The taxpayer?

I think criminals, unless found mentally unfit by a court, should be put in prison. THat is what prisons are for.

Oh, honestly, take no notice of LOTM.

Yes - I think the long term cost of addiction- to health, society and family- far outweighs the short term cost of intensive and timely treatment.

I think there is no shifting some people's black and White, holier-than-thou-ness. Am done trying here with you LOTM.

Yabu to start this thread because of another thread - and petty and childish!

hair I moved - well tried to! - the discussion that I was told represented a diversion from the thread it was on.