HometownSource Blogs

Over the weekend, the Swiss decided to make a comprehensive legalized heroin project permanent.

The thinking is that instead of having drug addicts shoot up in the streets, let them go to a safe place where their doses are measured out, and a nurse is watching to make sure everything goes smoothly.

After reading the entire article, I’m still a little torn.

Sure, if someone is a drug addict, and they honestly don’t have an ambition to stop, yes, it’s better for them to shoot up in a place where innocent children, or really anyone for that matter, doesn’t have to see it. Personally, I’ve seen heroin addicts strung out on the streets, and it’s not a pretty site.

And yes, even though I personally don’t do drugs (except for the occassional cigarette, few glasses of wine and if you want to include caffeine, I’m an addict), but I do believe if someone is going to do drugs, fine. Let them do it. It’s their body, their choice. Survival of the fittest right?

But, I don’t like the way it’s funded. In Switzerland, which has a population of over 7.5 million, they are required to have health insurance. And for those who can’t afford it, the government will pick up the tab and pay the premiums.

So I’m going out on a limb here. But I bet for the majority of the almost 1,300 “selected addicts” on the program, most probably don’t have the best paying jobs, due to their addiction, and therefore probably don’t have health insurance.

If I was living there I’d be mad. Like I said, I believe people make their own choices when it comes to how they want to live, so I have no problem with people chosing to be addicts (all though I don’t really want to hang out or be friends) but from a larger standpoint I’m fine with it. But I wouldn’t be OK with having to pay taxes to buy people herion. That just doesn’t seem right.