Pubdate: Thu, 08 Apr 2004
Source: Sidelines, The (TN Edu)
Copyright: 2004 Middle Tennessee State University
Contact:  http://www.mtsusidelines.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2861
Author:  Sandi Van Orden

ILLEGAL DRUG USE, ABUSE NOT VICTIMLESS CRIME

Sandi's Logic

If I had a stance on why illegal substances should remain that way or be 
legalized, I would've written about it sooner.

While there are many who may choose to use or abuse illegal substances in 
private, that doesn't always make that choice a victimless crime.

For example, I have a good friend I will refer to as Beth. Beth married a 
man I will call Dan.

After Beth and Dan got married, they encountered a problem. Dan began using 
illegal substances.

With Dan's state of mind being altered, he began to abuse his wife. After a 
few years of abuse and Dan claiming that he was going to quit using drugs, 
the couple divorced, and Dan didn't change his habits.

If going through a divorce over substance abuse weren't enough, Beth and 
Dan have children together.

Dan used these substances in front of his young children. Drugs kept Dan 
from being a suitable person to watch his children, but also putting the 
children at risk of getting into something that has a potential of being 
lethal.

It was Dan's choice to use these substances, but there were victims.

His former wife was the victim of an abusive husband who wouldn't seek help 
for his substance abuse.

His young children are now growing up without the presence of their father. 
When they understand what was truly going on, they'll be left with the 
knowledge that their dad didn't want help for his addiction.

They'll be left wondering why their father was more interested in being 
high than in keeping the family together.

We make choices everyday, and those choices affect someone in our lives. It 
may not have as large of an impact as the previous situation or abortion, 
but it does have an impact.

That doesn't mean that we shouldn't be able to make decisions about what is 
best for our lives. It just means that we all need to realize that we are 
accountable for the choices we make.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager