Sterilizing Drug Addicts

[The Shadow]

Article here

Should drug addicts be paid to be sterilised?

Barbara Harris thinks they should. She's already started a campaign in America, now she's coming to the UK...

Harris doesn't think addicts should have children, and her charity is using cash incentives to make sure they don't. In the 12 years since Project Prevention launched in the US, she has paid 1,307 people $300 to be sterilised, and given money to many more in exchange for long-term contraception. In total, Harris has bought the fertility of more than 3,000 Americans with drug and alcohol problems – only 47 of them men. Now she's turning her attention to Britain.

"To me, it's about preventing child abuse," she says. "This is legal child abuse." Babies are being born in withdrawal, underweight, with serious medical problems, she says, and if they survive, they are destined to a bleak future. "What's the quality of life they're going to have? How many problems are they going to have? The cycle will keep repeating itself. But it's preventable. It's just common sense to me."

Whatever you may think of her intentions, this just disgusts me and I refuse to call anything other than what it is -- eugenics in a fancy, sanitized package.

[Greenday]

Whatever you may think of her intentions, this just disgusts me and I refuse to call anything other than what it is -- eugenics in a fancy, sanitized package.

What's interesting is that it's eugenics of people who chose to be the way they are. And it's people that choose to be criminals.

Edit: I'm not saying it's right, but for once, it's not eugenics of people who can't control something.

[The Shadow]

Edit: I'm not saying it's right, but for once, it's not eugenics of people who can't control something.

You obviously don't know much about addictions, do you?

Addiction is a disease. The brains of an addict are wired and they can't control their behaviour once they start.

And anyway, the driving force behind it is basically the same as earlier eugenics -- the notions that certain people shouldn't be allowed to reproduce. She even says flat out that addicts shouldn't be having kids.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Does she include in her condemnation all the people who are addicted to prescription drugs, or is it just illegal drug addicts?

Hell, most of the human race has at least one addiction; if all addicts were sterilised, the human race wouldn't last much longer.

[AdminAssistant]

Addiction is a disease. The brains of an addict are wired and they can't control their behaviour once they start.

I'm sorry, but no. You choose to drink that bottle, snort that cocaine, or shoot up with meth or heroine. Even if you do eventually become chemically dependent on the drug, there was an initial choice.

My father is an alcoholic, and I will not excuse his behavior as a "disease." It's a choice. He is choosing to drink himself into an early grave and ruin his relationship with most of his family. He could stop, go to rehab, or otherwise get help. Something that can end with a personal choice is not a disease. Cancer, for example, is a disease. One does not choose to get cancer. And you can't wake up one morning, say, "I'm done with cancer," and go to rehabilitation for it.

I do wonder though - is she sterilizing smokers? Because a person can also be addicted to nicotine. What about sex addicts? Food addicts? I mean, the list can go on and on.

[jackfaire]

You obviously don't know much about addictions, do you?

Addiction is a disease. The brains of an addict are wired and they can't control their behaviour once they start.
.

Yes but the point behind Eugenics is to breed out an undesirable GENETIC trait. Addiction is something you can be predisposed to but even that is no guarentee of an addicition

[Plaidman]

I'm on the fence.

Mixed feelings.

Like she said, she pays people to do it by choice, so it's not like it's a gun to the head. If anything some drug addicts may enjoy the fact they can basically not ever have spawn.

Even Vasectomy's can be reverse now, so I'm curious as how it's done. Does she like, inject a virus that destroys spermatozoon type A or something in males?

Some people can be born from drug addicts and still be a great person. I don't see it, but people think I'm great. Not all drug addicts however, think of their kids needs first. My mom did. At least my physical needs, not emotional. They're parents out there that would sell their children for their fix. Be it the kid itself, or the kids bodies in the worst.

The long term contraception is a good idea.


Basically I'm torn on trying to prevent a POSSIBLE painful childhood, be it with birth parents, or resentment from foster care, or the worst being the adults that never even had a stable home and they can turn to drugs, and giving them a chance.


As much as I hate people. As much as I resent their abilites to do anything and everything better then me, their ability to get whatever they want without a single try, I still am against it.

[Greenday]

I'm sorry, but no. You choose to drink that bottle, snort that cocaine, or shoot up with meth or heroine. Even if you do eventually become chemically dependent on the drug, there was an initial choice.

This. Addictions start with a choice. You may be screwed after that point, but you had to willingly start to unwillingly be craving it later.

I understand it, addictions suck. I have what I consider two addictions myself. But I had to start doing these things in order to get addicted to them.

[Boozy]

Even if you do eventually become chemically dependent on the drug, there was an initial choice.

Agreed.

Furthermore, even if you find yourself addicted to a substance, you can still quit. You just can't become a casual user again.

I've permanently altered my brain chemistry by becoming addicted to nicotine. That means if I introduce any amount of nicotine into my blood stream again, I'll be instantly (chemically) addicted once more. That doesn't mean I have no control over my behaviour. I can still choose to smoke or not smoke.

Obviously, I choose not to, since one cigarette will give me the option of starting up again, or going through physical withdrawal for the next 72 hours. The choice is obvious -- I don't have the cigarette.

Casual users of nictotine are able to have one or two here and there, and not become addicted. I'm not one of those people. It doesn't mean I have a "disease".

[joe hx]

While I may not like this, since the sterilization is voluntary, I am not against it. Also, since the brain chemistry that makes some people get addicted easier than others is often inherited, and thus a genetic trait, it does qualify for "eugenics in a fancy, sanitized package."

Furthermore, even if you find yourself addicted to a substance, you can still quit. You just can't become a casual user again.

Not necessarily. Withdrawal can cause seizures and be fatal (well, I guess that would be quitting). From the all-knowing wikipedia:

An instantaneous full stop to a long, constant alcohol use can lead to delirium tremens, which may be fatal. Withdrawal from sedative-hypnotics other than alcohol, such as benzodiazepines or barbiturates can also result in seizures, delirium tremens and death if not properly managed.

(articles withdrawal and delirium tremens)

[Greenday]

Not necessarily. Withdrawal can cause seizures and be fatal (well, I guess that would be quitting). From the all-knowing wikipedia:

(articles withdrawal and delirium tremens)

You do know you can quit something in stages and cut back, effectively preventing severe withdrawal symptoms?

[Plaidman]

Not to mentioning taking wikipedia as fact...

[Nyoibo]

In those case wiki is right, cold turkey from serious alcohol and barbituate abuse can be lethal, however, cold turkey from things like heroin and cocain, while unpleasant, is not harmful.

[Lace Neil Singer]

If this woman's going to pay people to be sterilised, does that mean that she's going to bypass the usual rigmarole, ie that of a doctor saying, "You're too young/you might change your mind" for the person?

If so... can I pass myself off as an addict and get this sterilisation?

[Greenday]

If so... can I pass myself off as an addict and get this sterilisation?

Yea, I thought the same idea already.