Why Isn’t “Responsible Drug Abuse” Legal?
Question by jsprplc2006: Why isn’t “responsible drug abuse” legal?
Here’s my story.
I was prescribed Dexedrine in high school for depression and drowsiness. It worked very well, but I had to change psychiatrists (my previous doctor specialized in pediatric psychiatry, so I now had an adult psychiatrist), and the new one was reluctant to prescribe me more once I was in college. I’m not sure why, since I never had the slightest problem with dependence; nothing negative happened as a result of it.
So I found a different source for the same drug. It’s now pretty well self-prescribed, and I have been using it over the last 4 years while I earned my B.Sc. in Honors Physics.
Still, it has never caused problems for me. I probably take about 15 pills per semester, which averages out to about 1 pill per week. That’s nearly nothing, and definitely not showing any signs that it’s causing me problems (as evidenced by the advanced science degree earned at the same time).
I really would rather get this drug from a doctor though. I think it’s a shame that there are selfish people out there who go way overboard and take what is really a safe drug, when used responsibly with the appropriate knowledge about the substance. Kind of makes me angry they need to ruin it for the rest of us.
I don’t use it to get “high”. I don’t use it to stay up for ridiculous amounts of time. I have clinical depression, and although I’m on Prozac and Provigil, every once in a while I get in a bit of a depressive mood, and also have some work I need to get done. I take one Dexedrine, I feel much better, my mind is clear, and I can get back to work.
No doctor would see this as a drug habit. I get good grades, hang out with very nice respectable people, I’ve never touched a cigarette, or marijuana, and as far as alcohol goes, I drink maybe once a month, and never to the point of being drunk.
Still, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get my doctor to write me a prescription for it. I’ve never explicitly asked him, since I fear he might immediately see it as ‘drug-seeking behavior’, which it kind of is. I’m seeking drugs in the same sense that someone with a chainsaw wound seeks morphine.
What do you think my chances are if I’m just right upfront with my doctor and say “Hey, I don’t take very much of it, I never use it to stay awake for silly amounts of time, I’ve never take more than the prescribed dose, and it is very helpful for me when I’m a bit down(depressed, remember), and need something to cheer me up so I can keep up with the hectic schedule of a physics grad student.
And it just occurred to me, the title isn’t quite right.
It’s not drug abuse – I use it for it’s intended purpose, and never develop a habit. If someone were to suddenly cut off my supply, I could easily just stop taking it without any kind of withdrawal symptoms whatsoever.
It’s just self-directed proper use.
The law, unfortunately, calls this abuse, since there are an abundance of idiots who can’t control their own use of such a drug without going off the deep end.
Yes, Rar K, I suppose that might have been a bit harsh.
Some people do have a predisposition to addiction, but after their first experience with the drug (hopefully under legal and innocent pretenses), there was a point where they were lucid enough to realize that this could be a problem for then. Those who then decide to take another – those are the idiots.
Granted, it’s very hard to quite once you’re addicted, but it’s not difficult at all to use some self discipline and prevent it from being a problem, by not taking it again after the first try.
Best answer:
Answer by Joseph Shmo
No one is going to read all of that.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Knowing The Signs Of Drug Abuse / Educational Video – Knowing The Signs Of Drug Abuse / Educational Video. Public domain video.
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