Discussion Boards - The Big Issues

What can we say to young people about not taking drugs and that it is wrong if it is decriminalised ?

Gal 5:20 Sorcery/witchcraft, is from the Greek word, "Pharmakia" the same word we get pharmacy from. it means the general illicit use of drugs (same application as today) and the use of drugs to cast spells etc.

The Bible speaks more about not getting drunk, than it mentions not to take drugs ?

I teach my kids about natural endorphin highs and then help them experience some. :-) Yesterday, I took my teens up Mt Tibrogargan, better than any drugs! LOL

I'm totally against decriminalisation from a biblical, social & medical point of view. Can you imagine the increase in car accidents etc, not to mention the public health burden?

God has given us ways to experience incredible joy by worshipping Him, if we can share His message, who needs drugs? :-)

best drug education i did for my sons was to take them for a day out in Nimbin, asked them to sit and watch the people and how they behave. they were silent on way home , a day or so later they both said 'if thats what drugs do to you, then no way i am gonna take them"

Thanks for that Cossie re Gal 5. Great stuff.

There were these photos taken of people from a police department in America, they then had photos of these same people taken again. Some within a few months and you can see the dramatic difference in their appearances due to drug taking. I showed my children and said 'see, that's what drugs do to the outside of you, you can imagine what it does on the inside of you?'.

I think, what is the reason for taking drugs? Surely there is a void that is trying to be filled? How can we teach our children that sometimes life takes some nasty turns and if they can work through those they may not need to find other ways to cope ie take drugs?? I'm just throwing this out there, as my children as still young and I have no idea on how my children's future decisions will turn out ....

Peace :-)

I agree with all of the above: If you want to 'drug proof' your kids you fill them so full of all the 'good things' that they have no desire for the counterfeit that drugs provide. There will always be a reason not to do drugs - even if it is decriminalized. And if you create great opportunities for conversation - and be the sort of person that your kids want to talk to then you will get the chance to tell them in a way that they will hear.

But I think that our present system which punishes damaged people - the users - often pushes them further into the 'lifestyle' and providing an 'education in criminality' focuses attention in the wrong area. Our legal system needs to come down heavily on those who take advantage of the weak - the drug dealers and those who cook - but take a harm minimization approach with their victims.

That does NOT say that drug use is ok, - it simply focusses attention where it is most effective.

I think legalising drugs is not necessarily a bad thing. While drug use is not biblically condoned, we are giving the dealers far too much power by keeping them illegal. It's not like drugs are hard to come by just because they are outlawed. If any one of us wanted drugs, we could have them within 5 hours - and that's without knowing where to start looking.

I can't see society being any worse off by making drugs available in the same manner as cigarettes or alcohol. In actual fact, it might be better. Think about it... people who don't want to use drugs now are not going to start just because they can buy them from the local Woolworths, but by legalising the sale of these things, we are giving money to established businesses, rather than some guy on the street who is going to use the money for further illegal activity.

Drugs are the root of many of society's problems, and they are funding many other, far worse, illegal activities and they are already freely available. By making them legal, we will take money, and therefore, power from 'cartels' that rely on the illegal drug trade to fund their existence.

Please don't take this as me condoning drug use. I just think there is a larger issue here than the evils of abusing substances.

There is a WORLD of difference between decriminalization and legalization. Some think of it as the same thing. - but it is not! Decriminalisation says that it is no longer illegal....Legalization says that it is ok - socially acceptable in some circles (even though it still may be ill advised) .... Classic example is tobacco - and just LOOK at all the problems (mainly medical) that has come with legalizing that! (And as a secondary issue - it opens the door to all sorts of other legislation as we realize that we had not thought through this or that implication - ie the struggles that there have been to stop tobacco advertising!)

I just don't even want to THINK about explaining to my 4 year old grandson why we don't want to try the new kinda biscuit he's found in the supermarket that is cheerfully labelled as 'hash brownies'...-even if they do 'make you very happy'! Ridiculous example I know, - but I think that you get my point! Legalization opens up a pandora's box of possibilities that we then need to further legislate against.

Decriminalisation /harm minimisation Yes
Legalisation ....no! - no way!

The biggest drug problem in Australia is legal stuff. Smokes and booze cause more problems than all other drugs combined.
I'm not keen on legalisation, I don't want to see that junk in shops. But at the same time I don't believe in making people criminals for using it. So I'm for decriminalising it.
Prison and financial hardship through fines doesn't address the underlying issues that drug users have. Compassion and loving kindness is how we should be helping people.

Coming from my criminology background, I think the question is why are certain drugs criminalised and others not?

I just had to pay $85 for a relative to get a drug testing done today, and discovered on line that I can purchase home drug test kits for about $11 if needed in the future.
My son works in the mines up North and said that they have to have random drug tests done by their employer, I think it is such a great idea these days so they are held accountable.

yes, becoming a necessity I am afraid. Far too many people flying without benefit of aeroplane these days. Sad that it is necessary though.

Would be nice to think that your son's employer would insist that employees caught out be sent to compulsory drug education etc rather than sacked for a first offence.

For starters alcohol is a narcotic. Using drugs is sinning, drinking alcohol and using drugs has consequences and that is separation from God. Ask any alcoholic or drug addict about their relationship with God and they would run. They r disconnected from Him:)

Nathan189 Just a question about the drug thing what if a person has to take medication is that sinning? I know you all are referring to illegal drugs (from the streets) but what about those that need to take medications. Medications are drugs that are prescribed by doctors and given to patients through a pharmacist.

Recent illicit drug use increased in 2010, mainly due to an increase in the proportion of people who had used cannabis (from 9.1% in 2007 to 10.3% in 2010), pharmaceuticals for non-medical purposes (3.7% to 4.2%), cocaine (1.6% to 2.1%) and hallucinogens (0.6% to 1.4%). However, recent ecstasy use decreased, and there was no change in the use of meth/amphetamines, heroin, ketamine, GHB, inhalants and injecting drug use.

Of all illicit drugs, community tolerance has increased for cannabis use, while people in Australia still consider heroin to be the drug most associated with a drug problem.

taken from the National Drug stratgey household survey 2010.

On the whole illict drug use is not that common. Remembering that these stats include people that have tried the drug once.

Yet 15.1% people smoke every day (this has decreased) and 20.1% drink alcohol at a dangerous level.

People on drugs I think are not aware of what they are doing (from a training nurse's point of view).

If people are injecting themselves then they make it harder (over time) for the medical team to be able to get to the veins. I have heard of stories that are unbelievable but they do happen.

Drug uses tend to find any means possible to get a high. (I know this from people i know that are ex druggies and from nurses that have experienced it).

The only way to get theses drugs of the streets is to stop the demand for them and looks to be a really hard task to do. Hopefully through education and the police (maybe media) can help with the issue along side if people knew people that were taking drugs and they spoke up then maybe they can help them get out of the habit.