Why aren't fentanyl test strips more widespread? (2021) • Hacker News Board

Re: Why aren't fentanyl test strips more widespread? (2021)

#121

Post by [deleted] » Tue, May 24, 2022, 6:29 PM UTC

lostmsu wrote: post #119

humbleguy wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That could be because you probably assume that any drug use leads to addiction and despair. More often than not, despair leads to drug use as means for temporary escape and relief.

No, I assume most drug use leads to addiction except maybe "try once" cases, which I wouldn't call "use" like I don't call people who tried smoking once in their lifetime "smokers". Despair is not even in the picture. Too bad you paint it as a viable excuse for making yourself even more stupid than usual.

[deleted]

Re: Why aren't fentanyl test strips more widespread? (2021)

#122

Post by ZeroGravitas » Tue, May 24, 2022, 6:56 PM UTC

guerrilla wrote: post #112

throwaway0a5e wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you were a junkie looking to earn a quick buck for your next fix and you decided to engage in petty theft how long do you think you'd get away with that kind of behavior in Portugal? Compare to SF. There's your answer. It's not the drugs that's different. It's that one jurisdiction actually gives a crap about making sure the ancillary problems (that are the reason drugs were ever criminalized to begin with) are mi…

> If you were a junkie looking to earn a quick buck for your next fix and you decided to engage in petty theft how long do you think you'd get away with that kind of behavior in Portugal? No idea what you're trying to imply...

There's a whole prepackaged narrative for right wing types about drug harm reducement being so bad it's counterproductive.

Example headlines:

Why We Must Arrest Drug Addicts

This is revealing as to where they are coming from:

> People who want to kill themselves in the privacy of their own homes by smoking fentanyl should be free to do so. But people who use drugs, camp publicly, and break other laws stemming from their addictions, such as shoplifting, should be arrested.

And a big part of it is lying about how other countries deal with drugs to try to paint liberal American cities in a bad light.

https://michaelshellenberger.substack.com/p/why-we-must-arre...

Re: Why aren't fentanyl test strips more widespread? (2021)

#123

Post by WillPostForFood » Wed, May 25, 2022, 6:59 AM UTC

guerrilla wrote: post #114

WillPostForFood wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "just decriminalize" narrative about Portugal is a lie. https://twitter.com/shellenbergermd/status/14153458369139220... Portugal has humane, coercive policies to get people off drugs, public use is illegal, and people get arrested.

No, it's not "a lie." > Thing is, it's actually better there, regardless of what papers are written. Everyone's healthier, using less drugs and there's less violence. > Like HIV dropped by 90% among drug users, being the original goal, this is quite a success. Drug related deaths dropped to by 85%. >> Portugal has humane, coercive policies to get people off drugs, public use is illegal, and people get arrested. Okay?…

The lie isn't that Portugal has a good approach, the lie is that places like SF are emulating Portugal. SF is anarchy, and an insult to Portugal, and an immoral horror show for addicts.

The lie is that there are no coercive policies in Portugal for drug addicts. It is not all treated like mental health, especially in the US. Public drug use is illegal, police enforce it, and addicts who are arrested can be jailed if they have more than 10 days personal supply, and they can be coerced in to treatment. Open drug scenes like we have in San Francisco are not all allowed.

Re: Why aren't fentanyl test strips more widespread? (2021)

#124

Post by humbleguy » Wed, May 25, 2022, 2:03 PM UTC

lostmsu wrote: post #119

humbleguy wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That could be because you probably assume that any drug use leads to addiction and despair. More often than not, despair leads to drug use as means for temporary escape and relief.

No, I assume most drug use leads to addiction except maybe "try once" cases, which I wouldn't call "use" like I don't call people who tried smoking once in their lifetime "smokers". Despair is not even in the picture. Too bad you paint it as a viable excuse for making yourself even more stupid than usual.

Taking drugs doesn't make you stupid. However, ignorance is a powerful contributor.

https://www.businessinsider.com/scientists-and-geniuses-who-...

Re: Why aren't fentanyl test strips more widespread? (2021)

#125

Post by humbleguy » Wed, May 25, 2022, 2:14 PM UTC

Havoc wrote: post #7

Can one even get stuff not laced with it these days? As a casual outside observer I thought no. In which case test strips are less useful

Very much possible. Non street level dealers tend to prefer repeat customers vs large volume of random people. Because of that they tend to monitor quality of their own products. I've met dealers who go as far as actually wash the product. Funny enough, the only time I bought from a random guy, I got baking soda instead.