And alcohol can be used in quite a benign way. Good reason to think opioids would see an even larger decline as they are high impact and unlikely to be openly consumed for group socialization the way alcohol is.
You can argue for legalization but it is a fallacy to believe that prohibiting something is bad if you can't eliminate it 100%.
Which is better for habitual, problem opiate users: a) they can get a clean supply of their drugs, a safe place to do them, medical support if they encounter issues, and connection to treatment programs and social services even if they keep using or b) they cannot get a clean supply of their drugs and needles which means increased spread of HIV and hepatitis (both preventable diseases), increased chance of interaction and overdose due to adulteration, active pressure to not admit use or seek addiction treatment for fear of criminal punishment, and active exclusion from social services?
Yes, not _everyone_ will stop using opiates if they’re made legal. THAT'S THE POINT - more users will quit when provided resources and the ones who don’t quit are better off than they were before while they work toward sobriety if they choose.
And alcohol can be used in quite a benign way. Good reason to think opioids would see an even larger decline as they are high impact and unlikely to be openly consumed for group socialization the way alcohol is.
You can argue for legalization but it is a fallacy to believe that prohibiting something is bad if you can't eliminate it 100%.