I've noticed a resounding tendency in movies and shows I've been watching lately (not all of them new, just to be clear - this particular issue just always seems to jump out at me). I'm sure you've seen it too. The subplot where somebody is on drugs, critically addicted (almost always to heroin, in the filmed versions), and somebody else wants to help him/her (though let's face it - it's almost always a HER when the stories start going this way). The supposed hero wants to help the poor addict so much that he/she locks up/ties up/otherwise deprives the "lost" addict of personal freedom until the sickness magically wears off after 3 days and she sees the light and learns to be grateful to those who know best.
Okay, so... I've been a drug and alcohol counselor (hated it). Previous to that, I dabbled in my own bad-enough versions of substance abuse, and had close friends who went a bit harder than that. I've seen, very much firsthand and in many forms, what addiction can do and how destructive it can truly be. Especially opiate addictions.
And yet, I can feel nothing but disgust, abhorrence, and yes, a sort of panic when I see these sorts of methods being championed as "right" by pop culture. Totally misguided! Frightening! Laws protecting personal liberty do not technically cease to exist because someone is an addict. Yes, there may be some lettered leeway wherein the captor could claim the addict was going to harm herself severely otherwise - but I don't see it standing based purely on the fact that she's addicted to heroin. So is a large percentage of every population. If one truly believed the addict were in danger of imminent self-harm, the thing to do would be to call the police and have them intervene. Right? If they can't find probable cause, then the hero just needs to butt right out.
I firmly believe it is NEVER acceptable to tie someone up against his/her will (outside of a very specific, regulated, institutionalized medical intervention) for any reason, no matter how much of a hero you're trying to be. I can't see that adding anything but trauma, shame, and fear to a person who has already been through the emotional ringer. I have spoken to clients about such things and ruminated on them deeply, and even if you all disagree, I am pretty content that I'm not talking out of my ass.
And yet, such an action seems to be universally PRAISED in much of pop culture fiction/stories. I am appalled by that fact. Disgusted. I am afraid well-meaning, uninformed watchers might start thinking that is the way to deal with a close friend/relative-turned-addict. It isn't legal. It isn't right. It isn't moral. And it ultimately isn't helping!!!
Even if such a method anecdotally appeared to help isolated cases, this is not a trend that should be encouraged. What does everyone else think? Am I being too touchy? This issue has disturbed me for awhile now. I would like some feedback from my always-varied skeptical think tank at ISF.
(As always: please be kind. I'm just sharing thoughts. I really don't want to fight with anyone or pry into things that are overly personal for anyone. :)
Okay, so... I've been a drug and alcohol counselor (hated it). Previous to that, I dabbled in my own bad-enough versions of substance abuse, and had close friends who went a bit harder than that. I've seen, very much firsthand and in many forms, what addiction can do and how destructive it can truly be. Especially opiate addictions.
And yet, I can feel nothing but disgust, abhorrence, and yes, a sort of panic when I see these sorts of methods being championed as "right" by pop culture. Totally misguided! Frightening! Laws protecting personal liberty do not technically cease to exist because someone is an addict. Yes, there may be some lettered leeway wherein the captor could claim the addict was going to harm herself severely otherwise - but I don't see it standing based purely on the fact that she's addicted to heroin. So is a large percentage of every population. If one truly believed the addict were in danger of imminent self-harm, the thing to do would be to call the police and have them intervene. Right? If they can't find probable cause, then the hero just needs to butt right out.
I firmly believe it is NEVER acceptable to tie someone up against his/her will (outside of a very specific, regulated, institutionalized medical intervention) for any reason, no matter how much of a hero you're trying to be. I can't see that adding anything but trauma, shame, and fear to a person who has already been through the emotional ringer. I have spoken to clients about such things and ruminated on them deeply, and even if you all disagree, I am pretty content that I'm not talking out of my ass.
And yet, such an action seems to be universally PRAISED in much of pop culture fiction/stories. I am appalled by that fact. Disgusted. I am afraid well-meaning, uninformed watchers might start thinking that is the way to deal with a close friend/relative-turned-addict. It isn't legal. It isn't right. It isn't moral. And it ultimately isn't helping!!!
Even if such a method anecdotally appeared to help isolated cases, this is not a trend that should be encouraged. What does everyone else think? Am I being too touchy? This issue has disturbed me for awhile now. I would like some feedback from my always-varied skeptical think tank at ISF.
(As always: please be kind. I'm just sharing thoughts. I really don't want to fight with anyone or pry into things that are overly personal for anyone. :)
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/2lNlvYj
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