Pubdate: Mon, 09 Dec 2002 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: Chris Buors Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2189/a03.html RELIGION WON'T SAVE ADDICTS To the editor: Re: "Home remedies," Dec. 1. Why is it anecdotal evidence is never enough to persuade "reasonable" people of the benefits of illegal drugs, and scientific proof is demanded before any change in the law? In the case of forcing teens into "treatment," skeptical opinions ought to be considered. When it comes to the "evil" drugs do, there is no shortage of anecdotal evidence put forth as truth in order to change the law. In the case of forcing teens and others into "treatment," skeptical opinions ought to be considered. Addictions are, in fact, culturally conditioned stigmatizing terms. Addictions reflect more a property of the culture that believes in them than any actual supernatural force of allurement. All drugs are made from chemicals found on the periodic table. None of those chemicals have supernatural forces of allurement. Voodoo is the only other belief system where supernatural forces destroy free will. "Destroyer of will" theories always find receptive ears in a theological-based society. Today, the metaphor has been medicalized into the "loss of control" theories of alcoholism and addiction. Volition is the key to understanding that Canadians are dealing with vice and not disease. The truth is we all have free will that cannot be destroyed by chemicals or anything else. I would suggest to the supports of VARC, that they find out all about the four cardinal virtues of St. Thomas Aquinas. Prudence, temperance, justice and fortitude are those virtues. The drug war fails every virtues test. Drug prohibition is responsible for all the crime. Next, the supporters ought to learn to recognize the other five deadly sins. They are vainglory, anger, envy, covetousness and sloth. Here is one last little piece of advice from liberty's greatest champion: "The care of every man's soul belongs to himself. But what if he neglect the care of it? Well what if he neglect the care of his health or his estate, which more nearly relate to the state? Will the magistrate make a law that he not be poor or sick? Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves. God himself will not save men against their wills," wrote Thomas Jefferson. The taxpayers ought to be relieved from paying for any of this religion and nobody should be forced into anything. Harming people in the name of helping them has been going on since time began. Chris Buors, Winnipeg - --- MAP posted-by: Josh