SWISS VOTERS SAY “YES” TO HEROIN

An overwhelming majority of voters in Switzerland approved a measure Nov. 30, making a government-run heroin program permanent. In the same election, voters said “no” to legalizing marijuana. The European country adopted its heroin program in 1994 in an effort to cut down on crime and give addicts a safe way to get high. Prior to that, scores of addicts could be seen openly shooting up in public parks and other spaces. Heroin, an opiate synthesized from morphine, is doled out in 23 centers across Switzerland where 1,300 addicts visit twice a day to receive controlled doses of heroin. 

The drug is manufactured in a government-approved laboratory. The 1,300 people selected for the program shoot up under the supervision of nurses who offer clean syringes and paraphernalia to cut down on the spread of diseases including HIV and hepatitis. 

Counseling from social workers and psychiatrists is also offered to users in the program. Approximately 2.6 million Swiss voters cast their ballots, with 68% in favor of the program. A citizens’ initiative to decriminalize marijuana failed after 63% of voters said “no.”

WORLD VIEWS ON LEGALIZED HEROIN

The program has received sharp criticism from countries including the United States, where legalizing such a powerful narcotic drug is thought of as promoting drug use. Other countries see the benefit in such a program. Australian and Canadian governments are considering similar programs based on the Swiss model, and the Netherlands has had a heroin program in place since 2006. The Associated Press reports that Britain has allowed individual doctors to prescribe heroin since the 1920s but is running a trial based on the Swiss program. Other countries running trials include Belgium, Germany and Spain, according to the AP.

THE GREAT HEROIN DEBATE

Addiction happens quickly for many when it comes to heroin and other opiates including OxyContin, Vicodin, Fentanyl and morphine. As addiction rates climb around the world, governments are scrambling to figure out how to cut down on associated crime, overpopulated prisons and disease. Social implications of addiction are costly for everyone. 

The prospect of a free market for heroin is frightening for many who believe it will compound the problems associated with it. But many argue the problem with illegal drugs isn’t the drugs themselves, but rather the black market created to support them. 

Many criticize the war on drugs, saying the criminalization of heroin and other substances takes the focus off what they consider a medical problem. Some say the billions of dollars spent on the legal, criminal and medical costs of drugs would be better spent on education, prevention and treatment.

SALVIA: HARMLESS HERB OR DANGEROUS DRUG?

Brett Chidester committed suicide in January 2006 after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning in a tent where he lit a charcoal grill. The subsequent hysteria over his death was attributed to more than the typical adolescent angst and depression so many teens suffer. Brett, 17, of Delaware, unknowingly would become the poster child for the anti-salvia movement, leading to a state-wide criminalization of a little-known psychoactive herb often compared to LSD. “Brett’s Law,” or Senate Bill 259, classified the herb as a Schedule I controlled substance in Delaware, attaching criminal penalty to its use. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency classifies drugs according to their potential to be abused and to cause dependence. Brett’s parents argued his use of salvia led to depression they blamed on his death.

HISTORY AND EFFECTS

Salvia divinorum, also known as “Diviner’s Sage,” is a member of the sage and mint family and grows in Oaxaca, Mexico. Historically, it has been used by the Mazatec people of the region to bring about shamanic visions during healing rituals. They would crush the leaves to extract juice, mixing them with water which they would drink. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimated in 2006 that 1.8 million people, 12 and older, had used salvia in their lifetime. Today, people smoke or chew the leaves, or make it into a tincture, using a glass dropper to take it sublingually. When taking salvia, experiences range from uncontrollable laughter, improved mood, a sense of calmness, increased feelings of insight and connection with nature. Effects don’t last long. When smoking salvia, effects last a few minutes. Other effects reported include increased sweating, weird thoughts, visions, lightheadedness and feelings of floating.

TO CRIMINALIZE OR NOT TO CRIMINALIZE?

No conclusive scientific evidence exists that says salvia is toxic or addictive. Negative media attention in recent years, however, has cast a dark shadow over salvia, comparing it to other psychoactive drugs. Salvia is legal in many states though some have bills in various stages that could criminalize it. Some researchers say salvia may have therapeutic benefits and could possibly help in the treatment of depression, addiction, chronic pain, schizophrenia, AIDS and HIV. Some fear criminalizing salvia will put an end to the research needed in those areas. A dozen states currently have legislation on the books to regulate its use and more may soon follow suit.

WHAT NOW?

Many people have not heard of salvia. That is sure to change as more states move to ban it and media outlets sound the alarm bell in covering the issue. The popular “Dr. Phil” show recently highlighted the herb in a segment on teens and risky behavior. The show featured a teacher and her son, both who used it. Dr. Travis Stork, host of the show “The Doctors,” was a guest on Dr. Phil and warned that continued use in young people poses a threat because their brains are still developing. Depending on which side of the fence you stand on, salvia could be seen as a dangerous threat to society, a substance with promising medical potential or something to use recreationally. What happens from here remains to be seen.