Bizarre

Apparently drug addicts are committing crimes so they can get into prison to recieve treatment. Prison psychiatrist, Theodore Dalrymple, writes about similar efforts whereby the addict makes a suicide bid for the same reason. But in a bizarre turn of events there are British prisons considering "quietly retoxifying" addicts due for release. Otherwise there is a risk that when released the prisoner, whose tolerance has declined while inside, kills himself with an accidental overdose!

If they don't value their own life, why should the rest of us? Leave them alone to get on with it. Even more bizarre is we spend millions trying to stop the production of drugs, millions trying to persuade people not to use them, millions putting people through the courts and locking them up, millions policing all the associated crime because we insist on prohibition, and now some to make sure these hapless creatures will be back for more.

If grown-ups want to smoke, drink, drug or eat themselves to an early grave - let them.