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April 03, 2007
"The two biggest physical effects of heroin use are sleepiness and constipation. That's it."
...if you don't overdose or get hopelessly addicted, that is. So says the author of a rather interesting study suggesting - not that it comes as a huge surprise - that Canadians generally overestimate the risks of drug use and underestimate the risks of alcohol abuse. That's the subject of my latest at Macleans.ca.
It really is a fascinating dilemma. I'm a staunch legalization guy when it comes to pot, but heroin? The addictive qualities alone strike me as cause for serious, ongoing concern. But some very intelligent legalization types will tell you that the drug itself is a tiny proportion of the problem compared to the complications prohibition adds to it - first and foremost, the lack of a clean, safe supply. I'm way less than convinced, but it's certainly true that our current approach isn't working.
When it comes to alcohol, though, it says here it's a matter of moderation and personality. That is, if alcohol turns you into a violent prick, stop drinking it.
Posted by Chris Selley at April 3, 2007 09:25 PM
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