To be hacked off over "contaminated"heroin.

[fallon8]

I may have pressed wrong button and posted this elsewhere,I aplogise if I have.
Dog walking, thinking time.
Why does Radio Scotland in droning voice keep telling us that ex amount of peolple have died thru taking comtaminted heroin? Apparently is contains Anthrax and a few bods have died. Surely, they shouldnt be taking the bloody stuff in the first place.
Thru' no fault of my own,I have been treated for Breast Cancer 4 times and continue on long term stuff to try and keep it at bay. I sometimes have to argue my case to get a more expensive drug which has less side effects.Why should resources which could be spent on me and others like me be used for twats who bring it on themselves? Dont mention, smoking, too much alchohol, obesity either!!! To get into the Chemo Room,you rung the gauntlet of patients hooked up to their treatment fagging it outside,i know they maybe on the way out, but I dont care,but why waste the cash? I know, I know, I shouldnt let it get to me,but it does.

Thank you kaloki

You can lock an addict in a room and get them clean within a few days sometimes weeks without any medical intervention.

Oh dear lord it just gets better sorry but I do have to LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

Clarissimo - I think your point sums up my feelings perfectly :
But I wouldnt wish them to go without the help, just not to have needed it in teh first palce IYSWIM '

I am impressed at how many people there are out there who have managed to make their way back from heroin addiction.

The way I see it, people either manage to kick heroin, and become contributing members of society, or they don't, in which case they are likely to die young (as far as I'm aware there aren't many 90 yo heroin addicts). Either way, they are entitled to treatment. If they recover, they will contribute to NHS funds through taxes etc, thereby paying back effectivelythe cost of their treatment. If, unfortunately, they don't their early demise will save the taxpayer money (which it would appear garner approval from the OP ) as they won't require care in old age like the healthy people of today will. It evens itself out.

Similarly with the smokers and drinkers- they DO contribute a lot of money to the coffers via taxes (I imagine the government would be up shit creek if everyone stopped boozing and puffing) and, if all the warnings are to be believed, they will die young, saving years of medical expenses.

As someone who has lost a family member to cancer (and who also smoked) and also my mum to an inherited auto-immune disease (which was through no fault of her own) I still think it is horrific to suggest people should be "streamed" somehow for treatment, and that someone is more worthy than someone else. I can understand the exasperation of having a terrible illness when people who look after themselves far worse carry on surprisingly healthy, but I think that is something you would need to take up with a higher power.

You can lock an addict in a room and get them clean within a few days sometimes weeks without any medical intervention.

Oh dear lord it just gets better sorry but I do have to LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

^^

I did the same as above! Someone has seen Trainspotting too many times and failed to realise it's a film.

Alouiseg - You do spout out some rubbish dear.

OP, are you unhappy with the treatment you received? As far as I can tell you do get the more expensive drugs, what exactly are you not getting that others are?

Joolyjoolyjoo - the problem is they WON'T die young and save us money. They will die young after long, expensive and unpleasant debilitating illness.

OK- but they will still die young (sadly- I don't think that is a good thing, btw!) and despite costing a lot over that period, they will then save the NHS and taxpayer all the care and treatment they would possibly need in their later years. I still think financially it probably evens out roughly

Of course it would be far better to prevent the issues leading to drug abuse at all, but I was trying to assuage people's feelings of outrage that any money should be spent on addicts/ drinkers/ smokers at all! Maybe it will alleviate the sense of injustice some people seem to feel if they consider their premature deaths...

I have to say that when I was really ill and thought I wasn't going to make it I was quite furious with my grandparents for being in their nineties and quite fit and well. It was a fit of jealous rage (I love them really). So I feel quite a bit of empathy with the op even though I think she is in a bitter frame of mind.

Jollyjoojoo - it doesn't even out. They just have more care sooner. We should spend MORE money on addicts/drinkers/smokers but it should be spent on changeing behaviours.

TBH - those who have serious issues with drugs/alcohol due to horrible things in their lives etc - we probably CAN as a society afford to treat them if we address the vast mass of people leading moderately unhealthy lives - drinking a bit to much, not moving about enough, eating the wrong things.

In answer: I have no idea about eating disorders so i wouldn't know where to start.

Locking an addict in a room works, I know of 2 very strong families who have done this. Successfully.

It's about time we assumed some responsibility and stopped letting the NHS pick up our collective slack. There is not enough money to keep picking up the pieces for the feckless and reckless in this society. Drug addicts cost us an absolute fortune.

Aloiuiseg - What would you suggest we do with addicts who won't give up then?

Wait until they decide to give up because they can't be forced to anyway.

No one locks them away and forces them to get clean, they have to ask for help which they only tend to do when they have committed a crime. Then the court tells them to seek help to cut whatever sentence they are given.

So what happens now then.

This approach just makes drug abuse a criminal justice instead of a public health issue. Which helps no one, and costs more money.

It IS a criminal issue first and foremost because they are breaking the law by taking the stuff in the first place.

Then they get hooked and expect the rest of us poor saps to pick up their pieces.

Personally i would be happy to see it decriminalised. It costs the country too much to oversee. It would remove the whole organised crime profit element which in turn would cut the supply which would reduce the number of users.

It IS primarily a public health issue - drugs are illegal first and foremost because they cause harm.

Decriminilisation would certainly be a step in the right direction.

Nemo, you have done very well.
But you still drive a car - shouldn't you cut that out as well, don't you realise how much more likely you are to have a serious accident in a car? Doesn't bear thinking about how much it costs the NHS to treat "victims" of car accidents.

Alouiseg - hahaha

Sorry wukter I don't understand?

I am saying that we should support people in bad situations, whether that is having cancer, diabetes, addiction, or involved in an accident, no matter if it is their 'fault' or not. I am saying I do not believe in the idea that some people may not deserve medical treatment.

What is that to do with me driving?

steptsy fame mum, I get the treatment, because I am gobby,but why should I have to be? if you dont know the system, you get lost, and that is so unfair. i point out endlessly, its in their interest to give me what I want to get rid if me.
I was ONCE asked to be on a commitee, which would put togther a booklet,which wold be given to each newly diagnose patient. MacMillan nurse in post for 2 years,this period nearly up, nothing produced.Not her fault, commitee headed by doddery old blokes who loved meetings ,for eg , we would have to meet agian on the Monday, when I asked why,"to discuss what we have discussed today". Another lady pointed out, some of us could be dead by the time they got around to print. I only went once, that was 3 years ago, info , still printed. Yes, I get angry, but not just for me, for those who a\re unable/afraid to speak for themselves.
I have a friend who has a daughter who has been Bulemic since 14,she is now 35.Victoria has had endless treatment, months in private clinics , funded by us, the tax payer, she has lost her driving licence due low weight, she regales us with her tales of how they fight the Establishment, climbing on the roof to get the fire brigade out, the escaping to village shop, hiding the teaspoon of yogourt in her shoes etc etc, she comes ut and goes back to shoving her fingers down her throat,her mum just is fed up,widowed,no life of her own. Yes we see you Victoria, albeit, only just, but please give us all a break.

'I get the treatment, because I am gobby,but why should I have to be? if you dont know the system, you get lost, and that is so unfair. i point out endlessly, its in their interest to give me what I want to get rid if me.'

This is true for many things in the NHS but it's not the fault of the people you mention in your OP however unfair it is.

fallon8 good on you for fighting your corner and trying to help others. My lovely Mil passed away from cancer, she was treated shabbily, especially near the end. As a family we could have (maybe should have?) kicked up a fuss about it, but we didn't have the strength to be honest. Macmillan cancer support were fantastic though.

I think that Victoria has to have the will to stop on her own, her mum cannot do it for her. Perhaps all that money has been wasted because she is getting treatment to get better, and, right now, she just doesn't want to?

Give me a bit of sympathy now Ladies, Have walked the dogs 3 days in arow, loved it, lovely ,wild surroundings, alone, so can think, this morning, mr and Mrs Bambi show off new baby bambi,brilliant and I think this is the most wonderful thing. This evening I pay the price, bone pain, diarrohea,tiredness,gum infection,usual dentist not availble until August(he has teated me throughout,so, knows the history,cant bear to start again).bloody August?.Its not all great, really,Ok Im alive and on my feet, but at what price.

those you so easily dismiss so easily are someone son or daughter.i am sorry for your trouble and breast CA BUT health isnt so easily reductionist as play one illness off against each other.make no mistake addiction is an illness,and as such we treat those whom it affects respectfully