I agree with the other comments. You did a lot of work to produce an informative and educational look at the opioid crisis and drug addiction, it’s effects on people, and on families and communities.
Mere days later I cringe a little more each time I reread Nov. 4 comment. Truth is there's nothing wrong with either thesis or title: stigma can kill and be stupid both: just depends on how you look at it. I was being pretentious, officious, pedantic, i.e. a jerk, to dispute this. My apologies, Ms. G.
Grace, your article is the most complete coverage I’ve ever read about the toxic drug emergency. So much of it has real impact: comparing it to constant plane crashes and WW2, the lack of political will, the hypocrisy, the ramifications of stigma.
Your article quite hit me because, a year ago, toxic drugs killed a son of my best pal. He was just about to celebrate his 36th birthday, a really bright light, snuffed out.
I'm in general agreement with all of the above. Ms. Golightly's article is an honourable and praiseworthy entry into the literature of substance abuse and of what can be done about it.
I do, however, disagree with the thesis in her title, that stigma is killing young people. Stigma isn't killing anybody: It's the poisoned drugs that kill. The drug dealers who put the stuff out on
the street are killers, too. The pusher who provides the drug to the user is likewise a killer. And, callous though it may sound, the user who injects or inhales the drug that kills him cannot
escape major responsibility for that killing. But stigma? Stigma is at worst an accessory after the fact, or in its vicinity: not the killer.
Thank you for such a well researched, heartfelt and deeply compelling post, Grace. I found it very readable and am SO going to share!
Now THAT is an eloquent, well-researched, perceptive article. Brilliant work, Grace!
I agree with the other comments. You did a lot of work to produce an informative and educational look at the opioid crisis and drug addiction, it’s effects on people, and on families and communities.
Mere days later I cringe a little more each time I reread Nov. 4 comment. Truth is there's nothing wrong with either thesis or title: stigma can kill and be stupid both: just depends on how you look at it. I was being pretentious, officious, pedantic, i.e. a jerk, to dispute this. My apologies, Ms. G.
Grace, your article is the most complete coverage I’ve ever read about the toxic drug emergency. So much of it has real impact: comparing it to constant plane crashes and WW2, the lack of political will, the hypocrisy, the ramifications of stigma.
Your article quite hit me because, a year ago, toxic drugs killed a son of my best pal. He was just about to celebrate his 36th birthday, a really bright light, snuffed out.
I'm in general agreement with all of the above. Ms. Golightly's article is an honourable and praiseworthy entry into the literature of substance abuse and of what can be done about it.
I do, however, disagree with the thesis in her title, that stigma is killing young people. Stigma isn't killing anybody: It's the poisoned drugs that kill. The drug dealers who put the stuff out on
the street are killers, too. The pusher who provides the drug to the user is likewise a killer. And, callous though it may sound, the user who injects or inhales the drug that kills him cannot
escape major responsibility for that killing. But stigma? Stigma is at worst an accessory after the fact, or in its vicinity: not the killer.
Wow! Such a brilliant collection of information to put the opioid crisis in an every day perspective.