Kristin (Nicoson) Merritt’s response to Dean May’s earlier letter shows some misconceptions held by much of the public. Describing Meth as “a POISON, a TOXIN, a KILLER.” and its effects on users and their families and neighbors, may well be true. But compared to “legal” drugs the effects are very similar to antidepressants, stimulants, tranquilizers and sleeping pills, antipsychotic drugs, and “mood stabilizers.”
Kristin mentions the dangers of recreational pharmacists. A free market for these drugs and those types listed above would bring safety and cost to the best possible position. (This appears to be the best of a bad situation.)
Kristin believes Mr. May is “… obsessed with the ‘artificially defined crime of the state.’” Well, one reason we have the highest percent imprisoned in the world is that a few solved drug cases look better on the resume than a solved crime case. Also many lives are wasted and fortunes made defending and prosecuting the accused. The prison industry is supported by these follies.
Before we finish, a look at the “legal” drug industry may prove educational. For drugs that kill, search Evelyn Pringle and add the word Vioxx or similar suspected drug.
For drugs that make people do crazy things, read Dr. Peter R. Breggin’s book, “Medication Madness.”
For unreasonable corporate actions against employees read “The Whistleblower” by Peter Rost MD known for his speaking out on drug reimportation. Within these two books you may notice that only drug companies see the danger of drug reimportation and the FDA has no study proving antidepressants work, only drug companies have such studies. (Antidepressants plus tranquilizers have some effectiveness, but some doctors view this combination as VERY DANGEROUS.)
Drug companies extend patents with Me Too drugs, changing doses and possibly glue for a “new” drug. (Seen with Cholesterol drugs) Saying the drug is now for children can give a patent three extra years. Perhaps you have heard of the new PMS drug. It is just Prozac but of course you do not pay the generic price. (I don’t know if the dosage is much different.) Marcia Angell discusses much of this in her 2004 book, “The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It.” She goes into some detail on what passes these days as research and education. The pusher man has nothing on these guys. You may expect some of this knowing President H.W. Bush was on the board of Eli Lily.
Billions in fines for promoting unapproved uses for approved drugs. Yet I don’t see many of these law breakers behind bars.
Bottom line is, if your local meth folks had the billions of drug companies, their work may also be viewed as beneficial. This then, would be another misconception.
In Liberty ,
Ed Gluck
