OT- Phillip Seymour Hoffman

[August_West]

one more thought on this. People will say "Heroin and Cocaine (and the rest of the hard drugs) are far too dangerous to be legal. We can't have a nation of junkies and crack heads."

Well, can I point out that tobacco and alcohol are both legal and kill millions every year. Cigarettes are legal, they kill, and are widely acknowledged as one of the more addictive substances out there. Well ,does everybody smoke? No, everyone does not smoke. Why doesnt everyone smoke, after all, its legal ? Because they know it is bad for them and prefer to live a healthy life.
How do they know this? Because over the years they have been educated to the dangers of tobacco.

There are less smokers today than at any time since their introduction.

So just like cigarette education,why cant the same be said for hard drugs?

 

[jibsey]

You make some good points about the purity of drugs and no question about it that current policy is not working but there is the problem of widely available legal narcotics, pills like oxy. It's everywhere. Putting this stuff out there legally in wider circulation maybe avails it to someone who couldn't get it otherwise and the addictiveness is so strong that just a couple times of use could doom someone. Don't want a high school kid finding it in someone's medicine cabinet. Ruin a life. Someone gave it to Hoffman as a young man. As far as dealers getting more time than more violent criminals? You can kill people with this drug without a violent act like shooting or stabbing.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

C'mon. Take the money we spend on locking up non-violent drug offenders and spend it on treatment. Mandatory 10 year sentences for users? Just what this country needs.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

C'mon. Take the money we spend on locking up non-violent drug offenders and spend it on treatment. Mandatory 10 year sentences for users? Just what this country needs.

Prison is a Big business
Especially with more and more private prisons

 

[AZHuskiePop]

OOPS spending too much time on the CR board

 

[David 76]

I think it is hard for a lot of people to understand the strength of the disease of addiction. Phillip had 23 great, productive years. That is a good thing for all involved.We got to see that he was more than his disease
People in recovery shudder when things like this happen because they know it could be them. And the moment they forget that it could be them, they are in deep trouble

 

[huskyharry]

The diversity of characters that he could convincing play was truly amazing. My favorite was the character, Gus in Charlie Wilson's War. A bit ironic that the substance that ultimately killed him likely came from Afghanistan (source of >90% of the world's heroin)

 

[superjohn]

I'll never understand how people can decide to stick a needle in their arm but it happens all the time, it's a choice to stick yourself with a needle but that seems to be where the choice ends, addiction is very real and incredibly hard to break. Philip Seymour Hoffman was an amazing talent and this is just so incredibly sad. There does seem to be a heroin epidemic and some Connecticut towns are losing a lot of people to this drug.

 

[Fishy]

I agree with John - sticking this stuff in your arm is a bridge I cannot imagine crossing.

I remember living in Willimantic for one summer in college and seeing the heroin addicts in the park. Flash forward 20 years....and it is still a problem.

It would seem that the plan to cram as many people in prison as possible has not made an appreciable difference in the problem.

 

[jibsey]

I think actually that heroin is introduced to a lot of people by snorting no needle required, so crossing the bridge goes from drinking, getting high on pills, then snorting, then once your hooked.....I also heard that with pills being clamped down on, it's easier to get. Don't know if there is any solution for this problem but if I had kids in high school, frankly I would be frightened to death specifically about their froends who they trust and believe more than their parents at times.

 

[David 76]

I think actually that heroin is introduced to a lot of people by snorting no needle required, so crossing the bridge goes from drinking, getting high on pills, then snorting, then once your hooked.....I also heard that with pills being clamped down on, it's easier to get. Don't know if there is any solution for this problem but if I had kids in high school, frankly I would be frightened to death specifically about their froends who they trust and believe more than their parents at times.

True. A lot of people start with synthetic narcotic pills (oxycodone, perkasets, oxycontin) but because heroin is cheaper than pills and more potent than it used to be; many make the switch.

 

[superjohn]

I think actually that heroin is introduced to a lot of people by snorting no needle required, so crossing the bridge goes from drinking, getting high on pills, then snorting, then once your hooked.....I also heard that with pills being clamped down on, it's easier to get. Don't know if there is any solution for this problem but if I had kids in high school, frankly I would be frightened to death specifically about their froends who they trust and believe more than their parents at times.

You're right, if I had kids in high school I would also be terrified. I've made some dumb mistakes in my life but never touching an illegal drug is something I'm happy about.

 

[Strummer]

You're right, if I had kids in high school I would also be terrified. I've made some dumb mistakes in my life but never touching an illegal drug is something I'm happy about.

Come Come. Don't let the "legality" or "illegality" affect your decisions. If the Govt was any good at protecting you from yourself, nicotine would be illegal, and a slew of other "legal" drugs that killed people would never have been introduced. Case in point, I'd much rather my children to be pot heads than alcoholics or pain med addicts, if those were the only choices.
Now, more to the point, the whole sticking a syringe in your arm - yeah well, I suppose you have to seriously want your high to do that. As for crossing the barrier to get there? I've never been close, but I can easily picture how other people get there. I had the benefit of a nice home and caring parents and access to education and a great wife. If I was born into a different situation, who knows? There go I.

 

[Bryan Lord]

Just drive around Hartford for 10 min and heroin is everywhere. Literally guys standing on street corners are just a head nod away. Kids out there as young as 13 moving product on a daily basis. Not sure if CT is worse than average but it's proximity to NYC and the coast make it an easy landing place for heroin. We have some of the most potent stuff in the country and it's a problem that hits home for me. I've lost a few friends and several acauntinces to the drug. Not saying they all died but for all intents and purposes they are close to dead still. Treatment works initially but it's a monkey on your back for life. In PSH case it took 23 years for the monkey to break his back.

My advise is if your friends get into the stuff, RUN don't walk away. Don't think you are strong enough to just smoke some weed while all your friends next to you are snorting and shooting. Heroin is awesome until it KILLS you or at the very least takes everything away from you. Some people make it out alive but not many.

I'm at just about 3 years clean and it set my life back about 10 years easily.

 

[Bryan Lord]

PSH tradgey should serve as a reminder to us that this thing doesn't end the day you stop using. Stay in treatment and don't ever take your foot off the gas. 23 years of sobriety is no different than 23 months. Keep fighting and stay plucky.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

I hate what Hollywood and even the music industry has become. It seems that stars that have drug issues or even die from it are looked at romantically. Morrison, Hendrix, Cobain. All heroes because they lived hard and died young. I liked Hoffman, but in my eyes he's a loser who may have ruined the lives of his family and friends with his drug use. I always point out to my 10 year old son someone that dies too soon from drugs. Be it the radio or TV, I never miss an opportunity. I hope you other parents do the same. They need to hear a parental message and for us to point out all those who thought they could handle it and lost.
August_West, my condolences to you and your family and to anyone on this board affected by such a needless thing. I can't imagine the pain that you must feel and I hope I never do. Stay strong.

 

[superjohn]

Come Come. Don't let the "legality" or "illegality" affect your decisions. If the Govt was any good at protecting you from yourself, nicotine would be illegal, and a slew of other "legal" drugs that killed people would never have been introduced. Case in point, I'd much rather my children to be pot heads than alcoholics or pain med addicts, if those were the only choices.
Now, more to the point, the whole sticking a syringe in your arm - yeah well, I suppose you have to seriously want your high to do that. As for crossing the barrier to get there? I've never been close, but I can easily picture how other people get there. I had the benefit of a nice home and caring parents and access to education and a great wife. If I was born into a different situation, who knows? There go I.

I agree with what you're saying but what was meant when I said I'm glad I've never taken any illegal drugs, I was talking about never picking up a joint, blow, needles etc. I do drink alcohol and just recently stopped smoking, those are certainly drugs. The biggest drug problem we have in this country is legal big pharm drugs. It's unbelievable how easily they are prescribed and how many people are addicted. It sounds like most of our current heroin epidemic can be attributed to prescription drugs. People get addicted to oxcontin and vicodin which leads them to the cheaper high of heroin. I've always thought I'm all for the legalization of marijuana because it's less harmful than alcohol but I don't agree with people when they say it's good for you and there are no risks because it comes from the natural cannabis plant, anything that alters your mind is not all good.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Come Come. Don't let the "legality" or "illegality" affect your decisions. If the Govt was any good at protecting you from yourself, nicotine would be illegal, and a slew of other "legal" drugs that killed people would never have been introduced. Case in point, I'd much rather my children to be pot heads than alcoholics or pain med addicts, if those were the only choices.
Now, more to the point, the whole sticking a syringe in your arm - yeah well, I suppose you have to seriously want your high to do that. As for crossing the barrier to get there? I've never been close, but I can easily picture how other people get there. I had the benefit of a nice home and caring parents and access to education and a great wife. If I was born into a different situation, who knows? There go I.

The morgue and obituary page are filled with people as good or better off than you were from a financial and social structure standpoint.

I don't sympathize or empathize with the junkies but I can't think of a single segment of society that's batting a thousand against addictions.

 

[Walker11]

It is alarming how many people in my age range (mid 20's) abuse pharmaceuticals on a consistent basis and I as well think this is contributing to the increased heroin use. Oxycontin and percocet especially to get messed up at night, adderalls and vyvanse to get through work, it truly is sad. And these are good kids from good families from nice areas in Ffld county. I see people stoop to unbelievable lows and imagining someone putting a needle in their arm is very easy. Additionally, heroin is no longer as stigmatized since people will just snort it

 

[CAHUSKY]

Additionally, heroin is no longer as stigmatized since people will just snort it

That was the change that moved it out of the shadowy corners and in to the burbs. Once those that were comfortable snorting a line of coke/meth found out heroin was available in powder form it was off to the races. Once the stigma of shooting up was taken out of the equation it made it that much easier to make the plunge.

 

[jibsey]

Just drive around Hartford for 10 min and heroin is everywhere. Literally guys standing on street corners are just a head nod away. Kids out there as young as 13 moving product on a daily basis. Not sure if CT is worse than average but it's proximity to NYC and the coast make it an easy landing place for heroin. We have some of the most potent stuff in the country and it's a problem that hits home for me. I've lost a few friends and several acauntinces to the drug. Not saying they all died but for all intents and purposes they are close to dead still. Treatment works initially but it's a monkey on your back for life. In PSH case it took 23 years for the monkey to break his back.

My advise is if your friends get into the stuff, RUN don't walk away. Don't think you are strong enough to just smoke some weed while all your friends next to you are snorting and shooting. Heroin is awesome until it KILLS you or at the very least takes everything away from you. Some people make it out alive but not many.

I'm at just about 3 years clean and it set my life back about 10 years easily.

Bryan,
Thank you for being upfront about your situation because you have a perspective that many on this board do not have. I applaud you for making it out and wish you nothing but the best to keep it that way. Sounds like you would be a good person to address high school kids, someone who has been there.

 

[John]

He was one of my favorite actors. Great in the Talented Mr Ripley and absoulutely great in Doubt

 

[Bryan Lord]

That was the change that moved it out of the shadowy corners and in to the burbs. Once those that were comfortable snorting a line of coke/meth found out heroin was available in powder form it was off to the races. Once the stigma of shooting up was taken out of the equation it made it that much easier to make the plunge.

Pretty much. Everyone starts with snorting it but most will end up on the needle once a tolerance builds. The only reason pills are still more popular is that you can get them down the street or from your grandparents even. Kids from the burbs still have to venture into the city in most cases to buy H.

I'm also in my twenties and it's crazy how desensitized all the kids my age have become to opiates. I really think it's gonna get worse before it gets better. Just had my first son and I'm terrified already that he might get into the stuff. I will probably never tell him about my affliction but you can bet I'll spot the signs before most would.

 

[James]

Heroin use is up like 70% over the past decade

 

[NYC_HUSKY22]

The Hartford / 860 area was BAD when I was graduating high school in 2006. I lost a lot of friends to Rehab (luckily nobody died just a few that are dead to me now for stealing from other friends, robbing houses, etc). One of my best friends though is 7 years clean, so focus on the positives. Luckily when it was getting really bad was when I left CT for my undergrad and was no longer surrounded by it.

But from what I understand it's getting increasingly worse in the surrounding areas of Hartford. My mother is still in the public school system and it is becoming a more frightening issue by the day. Younger and younger people are getting involved with it, it's flying under the radar and becoming more "socially acceptable" - for lack of a better phrase. Bryan is spot on "it's going to get much worse before it gets better"