https://www.yahoo.com/news/duterte-painkiller-draws-concern-philippines-084005965.html
Please let this be true.
And even then, hypocrisy would still be hundreds of entries down on the list of his negative qualities.
Oddly enough, I had to make a run on an addict once who was out of heroin, so he was boiling his fentanyl patches, and injecting the broth into his veins.
Wanna guess how that turned out?
That is some desperation, I can’t even imagine.
Duterte has said he uses prescription meds even now, and that’s ok b/c they’re prescribed (surely under rigorous guidelines and w/ NO privilege given to him as the President. The thousands of people killed at his encouragement this year were linked to illegal drug use so it’s fine that they’re dead.
Reminds me of the scene in Andromeda Strain where the homeless dude explained “squeeze” to one of the doctors.
I’m fairly certain that improper use of prescribed drugs is also illegal use of the drug in the Philippines.
That is, of course, Duterte’s viewpoint. I’m hoping you’re posting that ironically/facetiously/in a whooshing manner.
“It’s not illegal if the President does it.”
I have a feeling we’re all going to feel trapped in * Frost/Nixon* for the next few years.
The OP says abuse in the present tense. The article uses past tense. Quite a weak pitting.
It’s extraordinarily difficult for an average person to get a prescription for stronger painkillers in the Philippines. Perhaps not so difficult for someone who is in a position of power.
Sounds like something a power hungry Dick would say.
Isn’t this the ass wipe who “declared war” on drug users and actually bragged about killing a few himself?
He needs to commit suicide right away. It’s the only right thing to do.
I am aware of a lot that goes on in the Philippines, and I am unaware of any non-meth-related killings other than remarkably few innocent bystanders (or Mushrooms as they’re called in the 'Hood). The pot heads and dealers are not being targeted.
Killing them may not be the right thing to do, but it’s the practical course of action. To deal with the problem by Western standards would require reforming the ridiculously inefficient and corrupt judicial system.
Practical how? Duterte is telling the US to go fuck itself and cozying up to China. This Reuters story shows how they have it totally ass backwards. The vast majority (entirety?) of meth and its precursors that make it to the Philippines comes from China. China hasn’t really shown too much interest in stopping the flow.
Maybe he’ll kill himself.
The Chinese government doubtlessly could do more with export control. At least they aren’t exerting any pressure regarding Chinese citizens arrested in the Philippines on drug-related charges.
But on what basis are you questioning the practicality of killing meth people? Do you have a more workable solution? I doubt that the Chinese government could do much even if they wanted to. The ingredients would just come from elsewhere.
But the president has encouraged the death penalty for something he does himself. Abuse drugs.
Is it just meth? Are opiates or cocaine a problem there? So are marijuana users mostly left alone, it is just the people who abuse meth who are targeted?
What about the higher ups in the drug trade? Politicians, military and police who are involved in the drug trade? Isn’t there a risk that the country will kill users and low level dealers, but the powerful people in the drug trade will get away scot free?
It’s all meth. Nothing else appears in the news, at any rate. Opiates doubtlessly are there but meth is is cheap and widespread.
Drug abuse is something Duterte has done, not does. I already pointed that out once. He offered amnesty to all who would turn themselves in, and a large number did. Many who have been killed turned themselves in but went back to the drug trade. There is a lack of treatment facilities.
Duterte has released lists of public figures and government officials involved in the drug trade. Some of these people have been arrested or killed, most notably a mayor who was shot while a prisoner in his own jail. Many have gone into hiding.
Wouldn’t it be practical for gov’t to put money in that instead of killing meth users?
It would involve more funds, I would imagine, but maybe a little more humane?
Treatment capacity is being improved, here and at [this other place.](http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/29/1648506/at this other place) Foreign funding is key.
Of course treatment is more humane. Bullets and assassins are more affordable.
While your countries solution IS a hard pill to swallow…it does bring up an interesting debate…when does a poor society throw basic ethics to the wind because the threat the problem presents will destroy said society…
Yeah, yeah, all us modern people can get up in arms about such things…but the Eskimos put old people on ice floes…and it wasn’t because they couldn’t stand seeing another Matt Lock rerun.
Killing rather than treatment seems an odd choice for a Catholic country.