Should Tax Dollars Go to Detox / Substance Abuse Counseling?

373>OK one, this problem is, other than crack-babies, SELF-INDUCED. If you%26#039;re going to have a welfare state - which I wouldn%26#039;t - but if you are going to have it, shouldn%26#039;t you focus on innocent victims? Detox dollars could otherwise be spent on breast cancer research.





Two, if they can afford drugs, they can afford detox!!! Why should we have to pay for it? I know - they stole the money for the drugs - - then they should be in PRISON for LARCENY!





Three, we spend tens of millions of dollars each year telling kids not to do drugs. They are exposed to anti-drug messages more often than they are exposed to geckos selling car insurance. When we also have public detox programs, that rewards people who ignore the warnings - sending a conflicting message to our youth. %26quot;Don%26#039;t do drugs....... or.... you%26#039;ll end up with government-subsidized housing....%26quot; Is that the message we should send our kids?





Four - they%26#039;re GOING TO DIE ANYWAY, why waste the money and prolong their agony?
Reply:If the choice is between spending tax dollars on prisons and spending tax dollars on drug rehabilitation programs, which is in fact the choice, I think that studies have shown that society gets a lot more value for the dollar on rehabilitation. First of all, it is cheaper than prison, and second, it has a better chance of creating a productive citizen at the end of the treatment.
Reply:No. I think Rush can afford it. He has enough money.
Reply:tax dollars should go to GETTING BUSH OUT OF OFFICE and whatever is left from there, sure why not.
Reply:ABSOLUTELY NOT! It%26#039;s bad enough that my medical insurance premiums are through the roof to cover those who are uninsured. Now you%26#039;re asking if I want my tax dollars going towards treating drug addicts? NO FRIGGIN WAY!
Reply:Granted, spending money on drug addicts is not a very popular way to use tax money. But it is a huge health issue. There are some rehabs that work well but many that just suck up money.


Drug addicts are people. Not all are violent and some really want the help. It doesn%26#039;t matter that the addiction was self induced. The problem is people like you are willing to throw away those that are struggling and different.


How can we spend so much money on a war that most don%26#039;t agree on and yet gripe about helping people that if given the opportunity, may turn their lives around an become productive citizens? I hope you never have a health issue that you can%26#039;t afford. We are all entitled to get help when we%26#039;re willing to work for it. We all make mistakes and bad choices. Some are just harder to live with.
Reply:It appears that you have a lot of energy tied up in the issue. You even answered your own question in your post. From the %26quot;information%26quot; you provided, it doesn%26#039;t seem like you would be willing to entertain any ideas contrary to your own. There aren%26#039;t many complicated issues that are as black and white as you made this one appear.