Drugs in Shetland

[mhutch]

^ If removing supply were possible then I'd agree with your point of view. I just don't think that effectively removing supply is a feasible option and whilst this approach is pursued the problems are made worse, not better.

 

Two of the most serious problems with heroin use are addiction (and associated crime) and risk of overdose. Unfortunately both of these problems are exaggerated by prohibition.

 

Partial prohibition, such as we have now, is counter-productive. It has to be 100% effective to succeed.

 

Given that theres 3 profitable means of entry , by boat where theres plenty taking a "bung" or in the car boot , sumburgh less likely , and lets not forget Scatsta, then theres ample opportunity to squeeze the supply network. If its harder to get in the knock on effect is theres less to get , hence less supply to feed on. Condoning its supply usage and culture is to condone and support the muggings robbery theft and deciept that goes with it , count me out of that from the start

Right, let's see what this approach would really mean...

 

Strip search everyone who comes in through Sumburgh, Scatsta, Tingwall, off a boat in Lerwick, Scalloway, Cullivoe, Baltasound, Hamnavoe, Symbister, that pier where the Altaire docks, everyone who takes a small boat out of any marina in shetland (you don't know what nefarious characters they might be meeting out of sight of land), everyone who goes out in a boat from any private mooring, anywhere or who launches from any beach, anywhere.

 

Oh yeah, and then you'd have to search the tanker crews at Sullom, and the pilot and tug boat operators.

 

Then you'd have to open every letter or parcel passing through the Post Office, every container landed in Lerwick or Scalloway, you'd have to dismantle every electrical or electronic device, or anything else which might have drugs hidden in it, regardless of whether or not it was meant to come apart, you'd have to strip down to individual components every car, truck, tractor, digger or other piece of plant being landed on the island, you'd have to rip open every bag of salmon or animal feed, fertiliser, sand, seed, cement and sift through every other piece of bulk product being transported up here.

 

In addition, you'd have to mount a permanent 24hr watch on every beach, cove, geo, voe, and cliff in the islands to prevent outsiders from sneaking in with cargo. And after all that, you could still grow the stuff in any suitably equipped greenhouse on the islands.

 

And I am sure there are a dozen or more points of possible entry into these islands that I haven't covered.

 

Now, mhutch, are you willing to put up with what I've outlined above (never mind paying for it).

 

northlink ferries wasnt just too hard to interprate , being 2 ferrys as opposed to every boat in Shetland. Other ferry terminals like Stranraer , Troon , Larne and Belfast have random car searches which wont turn over that many but it will all help. I know my big stick to the junkies approach in here is not going down well but am awfully sorry to say it goes down a treat out of here , so i shall leave you to your needles n debotchery until bobdahog needs a bit of support xx

[Ghostrider]

The thing that always puzzles me, is when reviewing history, both local and worldwide, the moonshiners of America's prohibition era and the Shetland smugglers of brandy, tobacco and such of the 19th Century and earlier are romanticised and spoken off as some sort of folk heros.

 

The same arguments and battles between pro and anti camps and participants back in the prohibition and smuggling days are exactly the same ones that are currently being fought over "drugs". It makes me wonder if in 80 or 100+ years, "drugs" will inevitably be as "accepted" and "legal" as alcohol and tobacco, and the users and dealers who are vilified today, will be next century's folk heros.

 

I'm sure some will say, "Ah, but, that alcohol and tobacco was "harmless" by comparison". I'm not so sure though, folk indulged to excess and went to some lengths to get at either alcohol or tobacco back then too. An oft repeated story was of a certain Sandwick lady, who from time to time would take so much that her long suffering man had to eventually take a wheelbarrow and go looking for her, and wheel her home in it when he found her wherever she'd passed out along the road. Likewise, I had a great, great grandfather, who as a teenager along with his brother, noticed a Bigton man en route southwards. Suspecting he was on his way to Grutness for alcohol they watched for his return, and when they saw him returning, carrying the lame pig of alcohol, they lay hidden in wait for him to pass. As he passed them, they jumped him, pinned him to the ground, took the pig of brandy off him, cracked the neck off it on a stone, and drank it between them while they held him down.

[shetlandpeat]

What may you be insinuating there???? Accusing folk of using needles is quite low. Not really a way to lead an argument or debate. And not a way to earn respect.

 

So, you want to strip search all who use the ferry?!!!!!

 

And not worry about the hundreds of vessels that visit Lerwick each year and the 2,500 fishing boat visits.

[OP8S]

lmao , i wouldnt change it, its cool. p.s drugs r bad

These are the kind of posts that I find pointless & frustrating. It brings nothing of any substance to the debate. " p.s drugs r bad ". We are surrounded by substances that are drugs. Is it bad for me to have my expresso coffee in the morning accompanied by a couple of rolly's, I know the damage I am doing to my health by smoking but tobacco is everywhere & one of the 10 most addictive substances in the world. Alcohol costs our precious NHS hundreds of millions alone, never mind the fags. Nearly every shop I go into sells one or the other, 3 bottles of wine for a tenner eh, that's a bargain! Though under their breath the manufacturers whisper in my ear " drink responsibly"...not quite loud enough for me to really believe them though.

Another death reported on the news tonight, a young boy overdosed on drugs, well he must have been a bloody waster that doesn't deserve our sympathy...oh no wait a minute, he drank himself to death after a hard week at work, so maybe he & his family do deserve some sympathy. Will folk call him an alchie ? I would think not as it is a derogatory term, much the same as the term junkie is to people that use opiates, or druggie for any other person that has the brass neck to enjoy a substance that is not fashionably or politically correct these days.

Drugs have been taken since the beginning of time & will continue to be taken, even if the death penalty is mandatory for intent to supply, as has earlier been pointed out. It's part of our evolutionary process, it's never going to stop so we as a so-called civilised society have to implement safe means of distribution & consumption.

[mhutch]

The thing that always puzzles me, is when reviewing history, both local and worldwide, the moonshiners of America's prohibition era and the Shetland smugglers of brandy, tobacco and such of the 19th Century and earlier are romanticised and spoken off as some sort of folk heros.

 

The same arguments and battles between pro and anti camps and participants back in the prohibition and smuggling days are exactly the same ones that are currently being fought over "drugs". It makes me wonder if in 80 or 100+ years, "drugs" will inevitably be as "accepted" and "legal" as alcohol and tobacco, and the users and dealers who are vilified today, will be next century's folk heros.

 

I'm sure some will say, "Ah, but, that alcohol and tobacco was "harmless" by comparison". I'm not so sure though, folk indulged to excess and went to some lengths to get at either alcohol or tobacco back then too. An oft repeated story was of a certain Sandwick lady, who from time to time would take so much that her long suffering man had to eventually take a wheelbarrow and go looking for her, and wheel her home in it when he found her wherever she'd passed out along the road. Likewise, I had a great, great grandfather, who as a teenager along with his brother, noticed a Bigton man en route southwards. Suspecting he was on his way to Grutness for alcohol they watched for his return, and when they saw him returning, carrying the lame pig of alcohol, they lay hidden in wait for him to pass. As he passed them, they jumped him, pinned him to the ground, took the pig of brandy off him, cracked the neck off it on a stone, and drank it between them while they held him down.

 

I doot the smuggling here o braandy n baccy was to cheat da revenues redder as prohabition ? maybe no. An is da "heroism" no bestowed on da dealers noo redder as in da future ? , just towts

[OP8S]

Is cheating the Government out of revenue not illeagal ? Or do you consider it to be " less " illeagal than breaking another law that has been passed by the Government of the time. If that is your thoughts on the subject then you're just the same as anybody else that breaks a law surely. I'm aware that some laws are of a more serious matter, but if you choose to break the law then you commiting a criminal offence whatever.

I'm sure most individuals disagree with some of the laws that are forced upon us & pay no attention to them at all. IMO people live by their own set of moral values which are instilled in our personalities by the enviroment that we develope them in. The laws made by Governments are there to oppress any individuals or groups of like minded folk from rocking the apple cart & to keep the ruling classes in power. It may not be as obvious in this country compared to many that are ruled by dictators & is far more subtely done with careful manipulation of the media & general public, but it is how Governments operate.

I consider myself to have quite high moral standards which I live by. I will not blindly accept what society considers the norm without educating myself through personal experience & the experiences of others. So I break a few laws that I disagree with as I imagine most of the British public do at one time or another throughout their lives. I harm no-one & do not condone violence, theft or any other crimes that may cause another human being or animal to suffer.

I've only got one life & I intend to live it by my morals, not some archiac laws.

It's not the differences between us that seperate & divide society, it's the indifference of some.

[shetlandpeat]

This is a very well put piece for Shetland Life, well done for those who took part in coming forward.

 

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2011/04/03/people-a-different-side-of-shetland-life

[OP8S]

I agree, the mothers that took part gave a very accurate description of how drug use can quickly escalate & destroy lives. 5 voices of sanity, who truly love their children, whatever. I wonder if they would run a story where actual drug users put forward their points of view, annonamously of course. After all who better to illustrate the life of some drug-users than the people who are actually using drugs. There is off course always two sides to the coin & though many users lead a chaotic lifestyle there are also people who use the same substances yet have not let it destroy their moral fibre or lives. I wrote to the Shet.Times once but was told my letter could not be published without my name attached to it. Which in a community this size I would not be prepared to do in case it had a negative effect on my work & family.

It's so often the case that the people really effected by these problems do not have a voice. Why ? Because of fear of reprisal & the fact that folk dismiss anybody that uses illicit substances as stupid. As usual the oppressed / victims have no voice in our society.

[tlady]

It's a shame this doesn't happen more often

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/07/3184542.htm?site=sydney

[X5H3AD]

I noticed a poem had been posted about the subject of heroin abuse. As a former user I feel I should post a similar verse which is a more poignant account in my eyes of what it can be like to be ensnared by the drug.

 

Take Me in Your Arms (Miss Heroin) - Anon

 

So now, little man, you've grown tired of grass

LSD, Speed, cocaine and hash,

and someone, pretending to be a true friend,

said, "I'll introduce you to Miss Heroin."

 

Well honey, before you start fooling with me,

just let me inform you of how it will be.

 

For I will seduce you and make you my slave,

I've sent men much stronger than you to their graves.

You think you could never become a disgrace,

and end up addicted to Poppy seed waste.

 

So you'll start inhaling me one afternoon,

you'll take me into your arms very soon.

And once I've entered deep down in your veins,

The craving will nearly drive you insane.

 

You'll swindle your mother and just for a buck.

You'll turn into something vile and corrupt.

You'll mug and you'll steal for my narcotic charm,

and feel contentment when I'm in your arms.

 

The day, when you realize the monster you've grown,

you'll solemnly swear to leave me alone.

If you think you've got that mystical knack,

then sweetie, just try getting me off your back.

 

The vomit, the cramps, your gut tied in knots.

The jangling nerves screaming for one more shot.

The hot chills and cold sweats, withdrawal pains,

can only be saved by my little brown grains.

 

There's no other way, and there's no need to look,

for deep down inside you know you are hooked.

You'll desperately run to the pushers and then,

you'll welcome me back to your arms once again.

 

And you will return just as I foretold!

I know that you'll give me your body and soul.

You'll give up your morals, your conscience, your heart.

And you will be mine until, "Death Do Us Part"

 

Not a nice way to live eh?

It is possible to get away though, I've done just that. I don't want any praise or congratulations- I did it to myself and have nobody to blame BUT myself- I know there are users out there who certainly DO NOT derserve a second chance, as they've passed that point 4 or 5 chances ago!

 

But what about people who are trying?

 

What I want is a second chance so people can see me for who I WAS- before I made the mistake of giving in to my depression and giving up on my hope.

Ask most of the heroin users AND alcoholics in Shetland-

"Are you happy with your life?"

I think the general answer would be the same.

 

If we can isolate and 'cure' the REASONS people CHOOSE to take the drug and KEEP taking it, such as depression for instance, we can hopefully try to 'cure' the cancer that is addiction to ANY drug- not just heroin.

Thanks for reading.

[Guest Anonymous]

well done on getting clean and good luck staying that way,

but what I wonder are your thoughts on the sharn written on here stating that is quite possible to function on heroin and lead a productive life.

quite frankly i think anyone writting that in a public forum should be made to take responsibility for the poor sod that reads it, tries smack then finds out the truth.

[mhutch]

well done on getting clean and good luck staying that way,

but what I wonder are your thoughts on the sharn written on here stating that is quite possible to function on heroin and lead a productive life.

quite frankly i think anyone writting that in a public forum should be made to take responsibility for the poor sod that reads it, tries smack then finds out the truth.

 

Also full praise from me too , well done and grab everything positive you can. Its probably not wise to say so but please go the "extra mile" and help stop so much of this poison getting in

[Graeme_Storey]

Full praise and respect from me too - most of us cannot imagine what you must have had to go through to get off the dependency.

 

Enjoy life now - you deserve it!!

[Ghostrider]

Its probably not wise to say so but please go the "extra mile" and help stop so much of this poison getting in

 

I wouldn't agrue if I believed it would serve any useful purpose, but I don't. I would go as far as speculate that virtually all of the "significant" busts that have ever occured in Shetland were "expected", and the material seized had already been written off.

 

There are many players on various levels all taking part in a smoke and mirrors act continously, which creates at overall illusion that some sort of "progress" is being made and "good" is being done. I don't buy it for one minute, its all just part of the charade. Yes, I know folk will try and argue that every gram seized is one gram less to reach end users, and that would be true, *if* it was intended for that purpose. It doesn't stand up though, if, as I believe, virtually all of what has been seized was never intended to reach an end user anyway, but if it did, it was a bonus.

 

Don't believe me? Just pay attention to the busts that go through the court over time, identify what they have in common, and apply a little common sense and logical thinking to that.

 

Until and unless our wimpy politicians finally take the bull by the horns and legally regulate the supply, doing anything is simply being an unwitting pawn in some dealer's plan.

[shetlandpeat]

Drug trafficking is a cut throat business. Those caught have small amounts, and while the attention is on them the larger, fatter mule is getting through.

Hence the need for intelligence when dealing with drug smuggling and dealing with it's devastating effects on folk.

Twisting and quoting out of context about this shows a lack of such intelligence and exposes the backward way these things are viewed, just to point score, while you are doing that, attention is then diverted from the discussion.

 

These substances should be regulated, but not like alcohol where it seems ok for kids to partake, stunt their brain development and fail along the line somewhere else.

We have failed them a little with alcohol.

 

Research is the key, unbiased and open minded, dogma not required

 

X5H3AD, it is always good news to hear someone has been able to have it in themselves to do a u turn in their life.

From the folks I have met, it is very easy to fall in, especially if you are vulnerable in any way. Many, get involved due to peer pressure, or apparent peer pressure.

Many folk do not realise as well that most folk are trapped, due to the lack of understanding. This is why regulation and better, more open control is needed along with proper reflective laws and punishments. this would make the path easier to come out. It would be like running the wrong way up an Edison screw, the slightest weakness can send you back a little.

 

 

But while we concentrate on opiates, the worst offender seems to go unchallenged.

 

Nearly half of all London street crime is committed by offenders addicted to cocaine or apparently dependent on the drug, a study has found.

 

This was 10 years ago, and through my experience of working in pubs and bars, it was rife and unchecked.

We would try all methods to curb this as it always ended in violence along the way.

 

This from 2008

 

Cocaine was again the most commonly seized class A drug in 2008/09, with 24,604 seizures, a 15 per cent increase on 2007/08. The number of seizures of cocaine has more than quadrupled since 2002. The second highest seized drug was heroin at 13,273, a six per cent decrease from 2007/08.

 

Also worrying, but dismissed by some here

 

NDTMS data for the North West in 2008/09 showed overall that 20,183 individuals (4.28 per 1,000) aged 15-64 were in contact with structured alcohol treatment.

 

So perhaps to stick to one subject of abuse which will easily get similar reactions to further a singular view is quite restrictive.

 

And then this

 

* 1 in 7 fatal accidents in Wales; other figures go as high as 1in 6;

* 1 in 14 serious accidents in Wales; other figures go as high as 1 in 11; and

* A range of between 1 in 14 or 1 in 25 slight accidents.

 

Other information about drink driving suggests that:

 

* Drivers over the drink-drive limit were involved in collisions that resulted in 1 out of every 11 of all the people who were killed or seriously injured on the roads;

* Over a quarter of car drivers killed in traffic collisions were over the drink-drive limit;

* However no motorcycle riders killed were over the drink drive limit; and

* There were 149 accidents in 2008 where the reporting police officer considered that a pedestrian(s) being ‘impaired by alcohol’ was a contributory factor to that accident.

 

And I know you may ask, so here it is

 

Drug driving

 

* For every ten accidents where the driver was impaired by alcohol, there was around 1 accident where he/she was ‘impaired by drugs’, both illegal and medicinal.

 

There is a good deal of info here about the stats, but too look further into the way this can be treated, punishment alone does not seem to work

 

http://www.drugscope.org.uk/resources/goodpractice/statisticsandavailability/statistics-crime