Why are addicts seen as bad people?

[Orchid_Suspiria]

One of the things swim was not prepared for was how people would look at him if he got addicted to opiates.Some of them are sad for him because they love him.They are misinformed though thinking that opiates are the worst and most deadly thing for you yet they drink and that is more poisonous to the body than opiates.

Some other people however do not like swim anymore.They really have no reason other than that swim is an addict.Alot of people assume swim is not a good person and cares about no one.Even though swim is non violent they wouldn't want him in their house.In the movies up until Trainspotting and a few others junkies were portrayed as one dimensional evil characters.They were the characters that would drag people into alleys and attempt to murder them.Not that swim completely blames the media either.It's just this stigma has done swim alot of damage,especially when people finally found out the huge level of an addict swim is.It has cost him relationships,the trust of some relatives swim has never stolen from or wronged these relatives.People just look at swim in a different way now.

Alot of people seem to think like that not wanting methadone clinics within a certain distance from a school.This really upsets swim.In some ways it has made his life very bad in the past few months,not the opiate use but the judgemental attitudes of others.

[keats]

It's not fair, but it's not totally baseless either. By its very definition drug addiction is the continued use of substances despite negative consequences in your life. These consequences almost always extend beyond yourself into the lives of others too, especially if you have loved ones who care about you. It's very hard to get any perspective while you're still an addict, but once you've put it behind you it gets easier to see why others frown upon you.

Addicts do shitty things to feed their addiction. Not always, not every addict, but the more serious the addict the worse shit they do to get more, and opiates are notorious for this. Yeah, alcohol can be really bad too, but millions of americans are physically depdent on alcohol/drink every day and manage their lives fine. Opiate addicts tend to get their lives pretty fucked up until they can sort their shit out.

Once you get some perspective you'll realize being an addict is an incredibly selfish and destructive decision not just for you, but for everyone else around you. People are pissed because you're screwing up your own life and probably theirs in some ways too. Some people walk away because they can bear to see you destroy yourself, others just don't want to deal with the pain you're causing them; either way you can't really blame them.

You spoke in another thread of your annoyance with someone close to you for bothering you/getting in your business because of your addiction. Fair enough, but now you're speaking about your anger at others for walking away from you. What do you think they should do, just accept you're a drug addict and support you for it?

Don't get me wrong, there's no judgement here and SWIM understands, more than you might think. Some of the stereotypes about drug addicts are unfair and hurtful, but like most stereotypes they're also based on fact. You may not be dragging anyone into alleys and murdering them for heroin cash, but I bet you anything you're hurting others emotionally because you care more about drugs than them.

P.S. Obviously "you" in this case refers to your friend, who sounds like he may be in trouble.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	is keats a counselor? damn good post
	wow what a good response
	beautifully said answer. C
	helpful
	well put

[Nacumen]

Originally Posted by keats

You may not be dragging anyone into alleys and murdering them for heroin cash, but I bet you anything you're hurting others emotionally because you care more about drugs than them.

SWIM found that very helpful. Thanks for posting that, keats... it's something I think all of us should consider.

[geophagus]

I believe that the reason addicts are seen as "bad people" is because drug addiction is viewed more as a personality dissfunction than as a treatable medical condition. Granted for some folks it very well could be a personality dissfunction, and for other folks a treatable condition. It depends on the individual.

I see drug addiction as a part of the human condition, and I take it from there. I look at each case individually, and I avoid assuming all addicts are one way or another. The only thing I do assume acrosss the board on this issue is that it is without a doubt a part of the human condition.

In the USA we have what is called "The Partnership for a Drug Free America." The thing is, there has never been a society of people that ever existed on this planet that have been drug free. I think this line of thinking is what can be found at the basis of some of the notions of addicts being seen as "bad people." I also think that some of the notions for people seeing addicts as "bad people" could also be because of the deplorable crime and violence that tends to be associated with some of the hard core drug addictions. However, it's impotant to note that a very logical argument could be made connecting the deplorable crime and violence more with drug prohibition than with the actual hard core addiction itself.

[SpaceCadetGlow]

Originally Posted by geophagus

I believe that the reason addicts are seen as "bad people" is because drug addiction is viewed more as a personality dissfunction than as a treatable medical condition. Granted for some folks it very well could be a personality dissfunction, and for other folks a treatable condition. It depends on the individual.

I see drug addiction as a part of the human condition, and I take it from there. I look at each case individually, and I avoid assuming all addicts are one way or another. The only thing I do assume acrosss the board on this issue is that it is without a doubt a part of the human condition.

In the USA we have what is called "The Partnership for a Drug Free America." The thing is, there has never been a society of people that ever existed on this planet that have been drug free. I think this line of thinking is what can be found at the basis of some of the notions of addicts being seen as "bad people." I also think that some of the notions for people seeing addicts as "bad people" could also be because of the deplorable crime and violence that tends to be associated with some of the hard core drug addictions. However, it's impotant to note that a very logical argument could be made connecting the deplorable crime and violence more with drug prohibition than with the actual hard core addiction itself.

SWIM agrees very much with SWIgeo's entire post. The association of crime with drug addiction certainly adds fuel to the fire, and rightfully so.

SWIM also believes that the hedonism associated with drug users and addicts is responsible for a large part of society's disapproval. People, particularly some of the more religious, tend to look down on pleasure. They won't do things to make themselves feel good, and they don't want others feeling good either. This attitude isn't completely baseless; it's a common belief that pain and suffering feed the soul, and many religions seem to advocate suffering. So of course, people with this view on life are going to reject those who do not see things as they do. It's human nature to fear those who are different.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good post. Well said.

[Wflash]

Good answers above. Many addicts also behave in deplorable ways that they would never have believed that they would, and justify it to themselves because "it's what junkies do". If someone's going to be addicted to anything, they need to take responsibility for it and make sure it stays their problem - not anyone else's. Almost impossible to do though, but no one else should be made to suffer for SWIY or I's choices.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Originally Posted by keats

It's not fair, but it's not totally baseless either. By its very definition drug addiction is the continued use of substances despite negative consequences in your life. These consequences almost always extend beyond yourself into the lives of others too, especially if you have loved ones who care about you. It's very hard to get any perspective while you're still an addict, but once you've put it behind you it gets easier to see why others frown upon you.

Addicts do shitty things to feed their addiction. Not always, not every addict, but the more serious the addict the worse shit they do to get more, and opiates are notorious for this. Yeah, alcohol can be really bad too, but millions of americans are physically depdent on alcohol/drink every day and manage their lives fine. Opiate addicts tend to get their lives pretty fucked up until they can sort their shit out.

Once you get some perspective you'll realize being an addict is an incredibly selfish and destructive decision not just for you, but for everyone else around you. People are pissed because you're screwing up your own life and probably theirs in some ways too. Some people walk away because they can bear to see you destroy yourself, others just don't want to deal with the pain you're causing them; either way you can't really blame them.

You spoke in another thread of your annoyance with someone close to you for bothering you/getting in your business because of your addiction. Fair enough, but now you're speaking about your anger at others for walking away from you. What do you think they should do, just accept you're a drug addict and support you for it?

Don't get me wrong, there's no judgement here and SWIM understands, more than you might think. Some of the stereotypes about drug addicts are unfair and hurtful, but like most stereotypes they're also based on fact. You may not be dragging anyone into alleys and murdering them for heroin cash, but I bet you anything you're hurting others emotionally because you care more about drugs than them.

P.S. Obviously "you" in this case refers to your friend, who sounds like he may be in trouble.

So an opiate addict shoplifting on occasion to support his habit has his life "fucked up"but an alcoholic who is abusive and violent to those around him,even his family is not?There are some very good points here but swim isn't trying to hurt anyone.They just need to come to terms that this is the only way swim can feel normal and not be in a constant state of physical and emotional pain.Keats you do make alot of good points and swim can see you are a person that cares but swim has to ask,does swiy understand this subject from a first person perspective or as an observer?

[enquirewithin]

Many junkies will steal from their own grandmother if they have to. Sure, if the stuff was legal, they wouldn't have to.

[beentheredonethatagain]

keats your a smart intelligent sounding person , the answer was profound
and honest. The way addicts think and I know, is I am different than the other junkies, they just don't understand, I am a good person, I can use and it doesn't affect me like it does other people. I am misunderstood , they are wrong.
swim believed the same shit for some years.

[cyndi]

Swim feels that it is all bad, the judgemental attitude of others as well as the drug use. When one allows theirselves to become an addicted person and will not get out of the addiction then one must be prepared to face the consequences for their actions. Nonusing society is not going to accept or condone drug use especially in the states. Swim wouldn't want her sons to be with a using person, they tend to be toxic to a relationship. Swim is not judging but wants the best for her kids and doesn't feel a using person of any chemical is the best for her kids. Sorry but swiy needs to see it from a parent's point of view. As swim knows where swiy is going with his thoughts.

If one isn't prepared to stop their addiction, then yes society as a whole is going to be judgemental. Swiy you have to ask yourself how is your quality of life? Is swiy happy with the way things are? If swiy's answer is no, then there he is, he needs to make some changes or things will be no better.

Personally swim doesn't understand opiate use as swim is addicted to a different kind of poison, the tweak, but as swim once told swiy one person's hell is different than another person's hell. To swim the physical isn't as bad as psycological but swim has endured physical pain most of her life and can handle it. However, swim has to kick the tweak because of not wanting to hurt her family as well as remaining employed. Oh yes for herself too as she is feeling better now than has in a long time. The tweak as well as opiods could take all of that away oh yes in an instant. Swim could be all alone tomorrow with no family if she continued the tweak, but the difference is swim would not like it but understand why. A using addict is not the best mom or dad for the kiddos right? Oh yes the drink is just as bad. Noone should think because it is legal it is ok. Swim totally is with swiy there. Swim married an alcoholic and oh yes it was bad till he stopped drinking.

Swim reads a lot of pain in that post as well as others recently by swiy and really hopes the best for swiy. Swim is not on the computer as much as swim is kicking a monkey herself and obsessing with a computer is not good for getting rid of the monkey. Swim doesn't and can't judge, but know if swiy ever needs swim she is there for him.

[Santa]

Swim quit heroine for good about 7 years ago but has to remain on a maintenancedose of methadone because of a longterm 20+ years addiction but more so because of a chronic painproblem. However, the sad thing is that although Swim has a good job, a house, a boyfriend who never did drugs, a normal life, no criminal record, good familyrelations etc. etc. people still consider Swim 'a junky' when they know she's on methadone. That really pisses Swim off.
Swim notices that some people start to treat her differently and-or even mistrust her when she tells them she is using methadone so Swim just keeps it to herself now.
But it can become very frustrating and even stressful having to hide this all the time while Swim is not doing anything wrong... Swim wishes methadone wasn't so damn stigmatized...

[fnord]

lets do some simple math
35% of my friends are junkys
of that 35% 90%are thiefs
30-40%have sold there body for drugs
80%have ripped others off on drugs
now lets take the otehr 65 non junky people
5%are thiefs
0%have sold there body for drugs
10%have ripped off others for drugs

thats why people dont like junkys

not forming/stateing an opinion here just showing what i see in my friends.

[85gtdrop1]

SWIM thinks what is really unfair is in "straight" peoples lumping all drug addicts together. SWIM was in rehab and met some of the best people SWIM has never known, all drug addicts. Some of the stories of the way there family and friends treated them was sad. All SWIYs out there you know the real you, try your best to be a good person. That is all you can do.

[Alicia]

Swia believes its based on the persons actions rather then needs for addiction, People know the difference between right and wrong, DONT STEAL simple. Work for it. People who get themselves in a habit like this need to take responsibility for there actions. Swia has never had to steal even when faced with agonizing withdrawal, which she'd rather go through then have to steal and its been bad in the past.

As for the rest, the media does all the rest in why addiction is bad, and that naturally all people will resort to selling themselves, etc which is bs. I know alot of users who still have real jobs where they are ok with usage and still left over money to play with. Sometimes swia thinks people will use the drug they choose to be addicted to as an excuse for pity, or to do something stupid.To fit a classic stereotype of look what i'm doing with my life. WHICH gets them know where.

There are jobs out there.. Just because some one is an addict does not mean there a bad person thats defined by there actions.

[manda]

Because a desperate addict is capable of real evil bad things and everybody knows that.

[Henfer]

Originally Posted by manda

Because a desperate addict is capable of real evil bad things and everybody knows that.

unlike all of the other people inthe world. being capable of bad things is not something formed by drugs, it has something to do who you are by yourself.

it's not like addicts commit crimes to sustain their drug usage because of highly overprized black market drugs.

[manda]

Oh, I've been around a while- and I've been seeing the sickness and depravity of SOME addicts for the greater part of my life- So don't tell me crazed junkies don't rob liquor stores, because they do.
Some people are fine as users- and some folks slice and dice and rape murder pillage.
Don't think that crap doesn't happen, because I've seen it. Some dudes get tanked on cocaine and like to rape little girls.
This shit happened to me. I agree with you that yes, these freaks would have been pieces of shit with or without drugs, but drugs aren't good things to give to certain people- it increases their f-ed desire to rob and rape and pillage. That's why drugs get a bum rap- because freaks use them and offend, or they turn people freaking out-of-control or pyscho and they offend.
I've seen firsthand at a young age the evil that comes out in some under the influence...
Are you telling me that drunk fuckers didn't drag that poor African-American man to his death behind their truck in the south? Sure, they were predjudice pieces of shit to begin with- but the use of alcohol before this crime only made that shit worse.
Do ya know what I mean?
To hear about the crimes addicts commit to buy drugs, just watch "Cops" or the news...

[Alicia]

Originally Posted by manda

Do ya know what I mean?

Yes, but still people know the difference between right and wrong regardless of the desperation. period. what they do is by there own actions

People can only be judged by there actions and never a drug made me do it issue. which some like to say it is. When they let themselves get that way. The drugs are jus coincidental.

Yes sometimes, they dont help things but with lacking education and "oh no thats bad." attitude never helps and will never make any changes. whether addicted or not.

[unconditionaldl]

People don't hate addicts, people hate junkies, people once normal now dependant on drugs and need to feed there habit body by any means. The word scum comes to mind

Reputation Comments on this post:

not based on anything factual.

[manda]

O.K., Orchid S said: "A lot of people assume swim is not a good person and cares about no one.Even though swim is non violent they wouldn't want him in their house."

My "friends" used to steal from their friends, then blame me for it, then slash my tires to get "revenge" against me for stealing their friend's shit that they just jacked..They seriously did that once...And they got away with that crap, because I was a junkie, and by junkie I mean using a needle every chance I got.. That's the excuse these little f-cks used to use to blame me for every damn thing that happened... If cash got stolen, I did it. If dope was missing, I got thrown out of the house where it came up missing.
Never stole shit from anyone I hung out with, never stole cash either, or dope!
Yet because I used a needle, they got to be better then me somehow...
F--k that.
That needle ain't worth the social stigmatism it brings. I'd rather not come out of the gate at a disadvantage in society because I can't resist the urge to fire dope.
Because OS is right- even if you're the coolest, nicest junkie on earth, people treat you like a sub-human. It really stunk.

[tayo]

A person can grow more loyal to a drug than to a friend.

[manda]

No kidding. I once had a fiance, and we were slamming, and he went to jail because he hadn't paid some fines from years back, and they finally caught up to him.
I had the money to bail him out- he was just going to be there a few days, but I feel if you are in love, you bail your love out, right?
I took a ride to the bank the morning after he got arrested and paid a visit to tweaker man- and he put that shit in my hand...
Needless to say, my ex stayed in jail that weekend... I didn't even consider buying anything but dope with the money.

(Good thing this dude turned out to be a real tool or I'd probably still feel bad!)

[manda]

No substance can help someone who is already evil or mentally unstable. It isn't the fault of the drug, it's really the fault of the person for using the drug.
Is that what you mean, that the person is in control of what he/she uses and if he/she freaks, well, it's their own fault for doing the shit?

Even though we are totally disagreeing, you seem pretty cool. Before I got all old and boring I had your stance on this as well.

Have a good day, I've gotta go work.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	your a platinum!! live up to it!!no double posting!
	you seem experienced and not predisposed

[Henfer]

after reading your new posts here manda, SWIH can much better understand where you comming from. It'S SWIH's fault because he does not come from "that people", as his people are mainly users of stuff they're getting by doctors and therefore don't have to be that way.

at the end it seems just like the drug you choose is the one that forms your habit, where meth and H seems to be the hardest. maybe because H is just TOO good for mankind to bear with it.