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5 Things You Should Know About Crack
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Posted By:
rjmm at 10/17/2008 4:17:49 PM
Comment:
???Argumentum ad ignorantiam??? is the presumption that something is true or untrue because there is no proof on the contrary. A famous example is people that say there are no ghosts because there is no evidence they exist. It has also been used about God, either to prove or deny the existence.
If we are talking seriously and publicly about a sensitive and important subject, shouldn??t author Wright quote a study that proves crak-cocaine does not affect babies? I put the main responsibility in his/her hands since he/she is the one stating it in public; others simply respond. Does anyone have real proof it is harmful or unharmful?
/// Now, regardless of that, I can infer from all points exposed here that crack cocaine use do affect babies. Even if crack was not harmful, mothers also do things that we know are harmful, like alcohol, cigarettes and not eating right or caring for them. Should a justice system punish that? I believe it definitively should. Maybe combining punishment and treatment, or going either way according to the case.
I have a strong feeling my comment will be judged by what the reader thinks my skin colour and social status is, so I will lay it out here for you: I am a 26 yr old man from Caracas, Venezuela, where there are many drug problems and race issues with the police as well (no man in jail are white) I am middle to low class. I graduated from college in journalism and I am employed right now on that field.
Excuse me if this is too much of a long post. Thank you for reading. -
Posted By:
rjmm at 10/17/2008 4:16:36 PM
Comment:
???Argumentum ad ignorantiam??? is the presumption that something is true or untrue because there is no proof on the contrary. A famous example is people that say there are no ghosts because there is no evidence they exist. It has also been used about God, either to prove or deny the existence.
If we are talking seriously and publicly about a sensitive and important subject, shouldn??t author Wright quote a study that proves crak-cocaine does not affect babies? I put the main responsibility in his/her hands since he/she is the one stating it in public; others simply respond. Does anyone have real proof it is harmful or unharmful?
/// Now, regardless of that, I can infer from all points exposed here that crack cocaine use do affect babies. Even if crack was not harmful, mothers also do things that we know are harmful, like alcohol, cigarettes and not eating right or caring for them. Should a justice system punish that? I believe it definitively should. Maybe combining punishment and treatment, or going either way according to the case.
I have a strong feeling my comment will be judged by what the reader thinks my skin colour and social status is, so I will lay it out here for you: I am a 26 yr old man from Caracas, Venezuela, where there are many drug problems and race issues with the police as well (many white prisoners here) I am middle to low class. I graduated from college in journalism and I am employed right now on that field.
I excuse myself if it??s a very long post. Thank you for reading. -
Posted By:
fsmith at 04/09/2008 4:40:46 PM
Comment:
Very few people who get arrested for crack are just trying it - they are usually regular users. They deserve to go to jail, and to lose their right to vote, no matter what color their skin. The fact that a higher percentage of black people are in jail is not the fault of society or the government. When the black community learns to take responsibility for themselves and their children, the disparities will disappear. Also, to even speculate that a pregnant woman using crack or cocaine is not harming her fetus is incredibly stupid. -
Posted By:
blessinggirl at 04/09/2008 12:52:15 AM
Comment:
I'm very grateful for the thoughtful scientific points made by some posters. And I applaud the school teacher who believes crack, powder cocaine and heroin do not affect the development of the brains and other organs of her students. The lack of studies is irrelevant, once you've seen a baby in such pain at birth. And oh, yes, the baby isn't cared for by the mother. She left the baby in the hospital to buy more drugs. We all ignore the poster who clearly believes this discussion revolves around absolving drug users because they are black. What none of us have talked about, I realize, is WHERE THE DRUGS COME FROM. Surely not from the street dealers. The question of who's bringing them in should be examined, especially since we now have an SS-style "homeland security" apparatus that is supposed to keep all bad people and bad things out of America. -
Posted By:
FunAndGames at 04/05/2008 12:01:06 AM
Comment:
As a PharmD student, I have to point out an error in your drug metabolism logic. Just because a drug is metabolized "quickly" otherwise known as a drug which has a short half life, this does NOT mean that the drug does not distribute throughout the body. On the contrary, any drug that gets into the blood will travel into any part of the body it is soluble in and then will be eliminated from the whole body in a period of time. Thus, what really matters is whether the drug is fat soluble enough to pass through the placenta -- a major drug barrier. Based on studies, however, it has been shown that cocaine is a Pregnancy Category risk factor C meaning as far as us kind of drug enthusiasts are concerned, the verdict on fetal risk is still out. -
Posted By:
female noah at 04/03/2008 9:11:47 PM
Comment:
i no for a fact the kkk put the whole thing in motion and now they have a secret sight on the ipod phone thats killing black people help me stop this evil
contact all people who have access to the media -
Posted By:
female noah at 04/03/2008 9:08:41 PM
Comment:
I no for a fact the kkk put all these things into motion. and now they have a secret sight on the ipod phone blacks dont no about, and they change the code every 6 hr this thing is dangerious to black people it can cause strokes
heart attacks and many other things.
please call me about this matter our lives depend on it
Shellie Anderson
(850-7233476
God Bless -
Posted By:
nancyt at 04/03/2008 7:45:05 PM
Comment:
I'm with Chrislrob on this one, legalize it. The money that we spend chasing (police and court) and incarcerating (jail and prison) addicts and dealers could better be spent on preventing addiction from the outset and by treating it once acquired.
The root of the problem is that poor people (the ones addicted to crack instead of much more expensive powder) do not have a vision outside of their small little piece of the world (ghetto). The only examples of people who made 'it' are the drug dealers and rappers-the answer is access to equal education and healthcare for all. Money is the great equalizer. We need to present the same vision to innercity kids that we present to the middle class and well off ones, that there is a big world, full of a thousand opportunities and choices, if you just go to college, stay focused and make a plan. We need to educate adult social service recipients on how to be trained in a profession, support your family well financially (minimum wage should be reserved for teenagers, not people trying to run a household) so that they can feel like the superheroes that they were meant to be and not need cocaine to artificially give them that feeling. That's really all any of us want, right?
I am not saying that jail should not be a solution once the addiction has carried addicts through to actual theft and other criminal acts. Matter of fact, I owe my daughters sobriety (and possibly her life) today to the fact that a very kind judge (finally, after countless charges had accrued) sent her to jail for a short while. -
Posted By:
bt1211 at 04/03/2008 5:50:28 PM
Comment:
Enter Your Comment -
Posted By:
mrssonyab at 04/03/2008 4:00:32 PM
Comment:
I agree with blessinggirl....where have you been that you would write something like that without checking it out? Children whose mothers have abused crack and cocaine during their pregancies, have given birth to children with all the symtoms of withdrawal, just like herion. Newborn children shaking and screaming day in and day out...Try going into the Foster System and see what Foster mothers have deal with when dealing with "a crack baby". Get your facts straight before you start making statements in public...I have seen it and you need to! -
Posted By:
Groujo at 04/03/2008 3:16:09 PM
Comment:
As a criminologist I was familiar with many of the crack myths presented in this article, but I was surprised by the section on ???crack babies??? enough to do a little scanning of the research. My short survey of the relevant work supports Wright???s argument (See, e.g., Mayer 1992). The research has not been able to demonstrate any causal link between mothers using crack while pregnant and disabilities in their children. The correlation that so many have noted (including a commenter above) is likely due to these same mothers smoking, drinking and providing little prenatal care and poor nutrition. I would point out that many of these factors are almost certainly exacerbated by the crack. Reducing mothers??? crack use would thus likely better the position of the kids. However, the drug war is clearly not the way to do it. -
Posted By:
metropolitan at 04/03/2008 3:12:56 PM
Comment:
i agree that the justice system is rigged and unfair, but some of these "myths" you claim to bust are not myths at all. you have obviously not met any crackheads and never helf a crackbaby in your arms. there's malnourished babies, and then there's malnourished crack babies. -
Posted By:
amkelly2008 at 04/03/2008 2:49:03 PM
Comment:
Where are you getting your information from? There are crack people all over. They are not hiding. Where have you been? Where is the justice in locking up these people when they can as much crack being locked up as they can get on the streets. I say you should viisit the streets and look at this first hand before you write anymore articles like this. -
Posted By:
amkelly2008 at 04/03/2008 2:44:56 PM
Comment:
I really would be glad when we come up with somthing else to put the drugs off the streets period. I am tired of spending my tax dollars on jails and prisons.We are the ones losing our homes and they are living good. I think a program should be enforced for them to go into the arm forces and get the help and manners they need to deal with. We spent too much money on war why do train them to be good soldiers? -
Posted By:
black at 04/03/2008 2:33:55 PM
Comment:
To Whomever edits these posts. I just want you to know how cowardly you, "The Root" and your race are in general. You carefully screen all of the comments to make sure that no one can say anything that disagrees with your viewpoint. There is no dialogue. No exchange of ideas. No opportunity for anyone on the other side of the issues to speak. It's the same sort of narrow focused, closed mindedness that I have come to expect from your society in general. You make a lot of noise in your articles but then you hide in the dark and plug your ears with your fingers like a little child and refuse to hear what anyone else has to say, or consider a viewpoint other than your own. As long as you are a cowarldy race, you will always be underneath those who have the courage to let those they disagree with speak anyway. I know you'll be too cowardly to let this post through, but it makes me feel better knowing that you read it. You're the one that has to live with your own shame I guess. You Sir/Madam are a gigantic ***! -
Posted By:
Groujo at 04/03/2008 2:23:29 PM
Comment:
As a criminologist, many of Wright's points about crack myths were well known to me. But I was surprised enough about the "crack baby" point to do a little scan of the research. Having done so, I can confirm that this is indeed very likely a myth, despite blessinggirl's comments. Causation (here, "mother's crack use" causes "baby's physical or mental defects") is a hard thing to establish, and in this case, it simply hasn't been shown. It appears that whatever harm has been observed in children of crack users, it is likely not due to the crack use, but rather to poor nutrition and pre-natal care, plus alcohol and cigarette use, all of which are commonly associated with crack use. (see Mayes, 1992).
There is no way to "see" causation, so no amount of experience with "crack" babies can demonstrate the cause of their developmental troubles. I would point out, however, that mothers' crack use (not crack's pharmacological effects) is very likely to be a factor contributing to the neglect and malnutrition that is in fact the apparent cause of the children's developmental difficulties, so decreasing crack use could still have positive effects on the abilities of the kids. That said, the drug war is decidedly not the way to do that. -
Posted By:
gratefulgirl at 04/03/2008 2:13:30 PM
Comment:
I agree with you on the fact that justice needs to be more in line with the actual crime.There are addicts who could benefit more from treatment than prison, and would have better outcomes if that were made an option in lieu of prison. As for the "myths" about crack - you obviously have never smoked crack, nor associated much with anyone who has. I am a recovering crack addict - it is the most addictive drug I have ever used. I took me 10 years to get clean off that stuff for the three years that I have stayed clean. Make no excuses for drugs, please. They kill people, ruin lives, and they do create crack addicted babies - go to ant hospital and ask to see the unit where they detox an infant off of crack/cocaine. We can fix the drug problem in America, not with prisons, but with treatment and 12 simple steps. -
Posted By:
sajakea at 04/03/2008 2:11:46 PM
Comment:
My mother worked in pedicatrics in a NY hospital and came home very disturbed on most days; a result of working with "CRACK BABIES" and others born to drug abusing mothers. I just can't believe it when people talk about the disparities. I'm not in favor of releasing black offenders because they make up a larger population of the prison system; I prefer to see more of every race banished to the same punishment. How can you justify wanting the release or reduction of sentences for people who destroy the lives of others. Crack may not be immediately violent in nature, but it is in the long run. You must have never lived in an urban neighborhood to see the results of drug use. Are you kidding me? Sometimes, I can't get us black folds. We are so focused on "equality" that we would rather let crazy, immoral black people walk the streets and be a threat to us than have them get their just reward. We MUST want something better from our people. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! -
Posted By:
mbw2128 at 04/03/2008 2:11:19 PM
Comment:
What trips me up here is the notion that a large number of those on crack are "wayward twentysomethings." There's a big difference between wayward twentysomething and someone who is hooked on crack.
Plus I find the 90 percent of federal cases are not violent argument to be a bit lazy because you haven't made any distinction between whether you're talking about arresting dealers or junkies. If you arrest a crack dealer and he doesn't have a gun on him, that's an arrest that doesn't involve violence and therefore fits into your 90%. Given how smart those in the drug business are, you'd have to be an idiot to have guns on you when the police roll up, due to mandatory sentencing laws, especially in places like New York, where I live. What seems more interesting to me-- and maybe it still supports your point-- is whether the people who are doing time on Federal charges are junkies or people in the business... because that's a monumental difference. -
Posted By:
OneLove at 04/03/2008 2:09:09 PM
Comment:
I agree with blessinggirl regarding the children. Adults shouldn't do drugs anyway, it is not okay to pass it to your children during pregnancy ( at any time for that matter ) ANY drugs including alcohol or nicotene. Get your head out of your ass! If one is in jail more than likely it was fault of their own. Most drugs are outlawed crack isn't special. Your just pissed because the majority of crack users are black. With white people hispanic people indian people black people everyone in prison is there for a reason. DONT BE AN IDIOT and you won't go. Surround yourself with people that make you a better person not a druggie! These are lifestyle choices and each to their own but don't go around making excuses for your issues nobody MADE you do anything. Anyone that does drugs or any other crime knows the consequences they don't care when their doing it just when they get caught EVEN when they are teenagers. Where are the parents. I understand the laws suck but they are still laws. What the hell are they expecting! Get over yourselves. -
Posted By:
chrislrob at 04/03/2008 2:03:19 PM
Comment:
Sorry, but I live on the far south side of Chicago and I have a hard time working up sympathy for drug dealers.
The drug trade fuels a tremendous amount (most?) of the street violence here.
I'm ready to have a discussion about legalizing it all. They fought in the streets over alcohol too until Prohibition was repealed.
Meanwhile, my sense of fairness tells me that disparate sentencing is an abomination. But my common sense wonders if I might not have to look forward to a future where I'm ass-deep in drug dealers instead of knee-deep. -
Posted By:
silly_sally at 04/03/2008 1:48:36 PM
Comment:
I have a math-based objection to this statement:
"Since its opening salvos in the early 1980s, the national prison population has grown at a faster rate than ever, according to Justice Department stats???by nearly 700 percent. Take that in for a second, it's a doozy. Now consider this one as well: In 1980, just 25 percent of federal prisoners were locked up for drug charges; today, the number is larger by half than the entire prison population of 1980."
If prison populations today are eight times larger than they were in 1980, and the number of people jailed for drugs today is 1.5 times the total prison population of 1980, than that means that 1.5/8= roughly 19% of the total prison population today is jailed for drug convictions. That is a lower percentage than the 25% who were jailed for drugs in 1980. This would suggest that there are myriad other arrest/sentencing reasons for the boom in the prison population, other than just crack laws. -
Posted By:
godsgirl1 at 04/03/2008 1:48:01 PM
Comment:
This is ridiculous. The answer is not to get upset about disparities and try to blame it on race. How bout you just stop using/selling ANY kind of crack? How bout that??? -
Posted By:
fsilber at 04/03/2008 1:40:04 PM
Comment:
I wonder how many people in jail for crack possession are known murderers who could not be convicted for their murder due to their efficiency at murdering witnesses who agree to testify against them. Still, that's the wrong solution to this problem.
Instead, I think we should ask ourselves the reason why crack is illegal in the first place. If it is illegal because we do not want it in our society, then clearly the penatlies need to be increased, not decreased -- because people are still doing crack. If keeping people off drugs is important, then one could argue that the law discriminates against white people by not caring as much about white people's drug abuse.
If we are to accept crack users in our society, then why outlaw crack in the first place? Why should we force abusers to become thieves and crack-whores -- dying miserably of AIDS? Let the government provide users with as much crack cocaine as they desire! If not for the cost of evading police, crack cocaine should be as cheap as sugar. -
Posted By:
deadybear at 04/03/2008 1:19:59 PM
Comment:
A wonderful synopsis of the problems with crack sentencing. We are paying for a policy that has been proven ineffective, and unfortunatley it appears that we lack the political courage to not just have a 1:1 sentencing ratio, but to find a way to make drug abuse a health issue instead of a criminal justice one. Lets also not forget that the scourge of the mandatory minimum laws has lead us to rely massively on the use of confidential informants who lack credibility and proper police ethical training. (I know, try not to laugh at the last part of that sentence) Excellent job Mr. Wright. -
Posted By:
deadybear at 04/03/2008 1:17:51 PM
Comment:
A wonderful synopsis of the problems with crack sentencing. We are paying for a policy that has been proven ineffective, and unfortunatley it appears that we lack the political courage to not just have a 1:1 sentencing ratio, but find a way to make this a health issue instead of a criminal justice one. Lets not forget that the scourge of the mandatory minimum laws has lead us to rely massively on the use of confidential informants who lack credibility and proper police ethical training. (I know, try not to laugh at the last part of that sentence) Excellent job Mr. Wright. -
Posted By:
BetyG at 04/03/2008 1:04:53 PM
Comment:
It is clear that you did not do the adequate research about such a delicate subject. Yes, its true that there are no research establishing crack to unhealthy babies but did you take time to consider that such research may be impossible to conduct?? WHAT KIND OF CRACKHEAD OR COCAINE MOTHER WILL ADMIT USING DRUGS TO HOSPITAL STAFF OR A RESEARCHER?!. they are not going to risk going to jail.
,
SO LETS HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE: if cigarettes harm babies don't you think crack and cocaine (both full of toxic chemicals) will do the same or worse harm to a baby?? Just because is not on a science journal does not mean that the link is not there. ... -
Posted By:
hotep123 at 04/03/2008 12:24:52 PM
Comment:
Drug ingestion appears to effect children. I teach school and it seems this way.Many young folks are "wirey" and lack attention........the research that you cite is questionable and if it"s from the C.D.C........it's trash ( don't forget Tuskegee and the HIV crap that they have invented)."Heaven HELP US all" [StevieWONDER)....Wake UP EVERYBODY- - Harold Melvin-Teddy Pendergrass.....hotep!!! -
Posted By:
tylerhsmith at 04/03/2008 11:50:16 AM
Comment:
http://www.crack-babies.org/intro1.html
I helped put together this website while working for the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation. It is very well-cited and totally debunks the crack baby myth.
In summary, there are no proven long term negative effects to babies who were exposed to crack in the womb. Yes they can go through withdrawal, yes often mothers who are addicted to crack do not get adequate prenatal care, or feed themselves enough, or also abuse alcohol (which does have proven deleterious effects (FAS). But the term 'crack baby' is scientifically meaningless. Check out the website for yourself. -
Posted By:
concreterose at 04/03/2008 11:36:11 AM
Comment:
I disagree with your comment concerning crack born babies i solely believe drug usage does affect unborn infants. Now far as the justice system yes, Blacks are more than likely to receive unjustified sentences simply because we lack education of the laws and also due to racism. All our lives we have been mistreated through the justice system and now some of us think everything has changed; we have became too comfortable and blind when everyday we know we should be fighting these unjustly laws we all should know the fight for justice never ended in fact it just began. -
Posted By:
jt at 04/03/2008 10:20:14 AM
Comment:
Anybody who says that crack cocaine does not produce dependency or is not dangerous and more deadly than powder cocaine has no idea what they are talking about. Worse to suggest there is no such thing as a crack baby is to be somewhat short of being a fool. You just have to ask any crack head on the street and they will tell you once you take those tugs off a pipe that's it. It's hell to get off. Not only that it makes you anti social because you are so paranoid that you go nowhere you simply want that next tug. Not so with powder cocaine. Powder cocaine doeas not influence anyonde to go rob, kill for the next fix, crack cocaine does. The Bush administration is right for once for keeping the law where it is. The law is not discriminatory against crack because it singles out black, it is blacks who single out crack because it sells cheaper than powder cocaine and gives you a greater rush. But make no mistake it is deadly. When last have you heard of someone on powder cocaine sell everything in their home to buy a gram. -
Posted By:
jl at 04/03/2008 9:17:54 AM
Comment:
Sorry to quibble, but Len Bias was a college star. He ODed after being drafted, but before ever playing an NBA game. I thought your article was generally interesting, but statements like this make me question your research/factual accuracy. -
Posted By:
jl at 04/03/2008 9:13:31 AM
Comment:
Sorry to quibble, but Len Bias was a college star. He OD'd after being drafted, but before he ever played an NBA game. I thought you made some interesting points in the article, but statements like this lead me to question your research/factual accuracy. -
Posted By:
jjjmac2003 at 04/03/2008 8:30:55 AM
Comment:
Not all states ban an ex-felon from voting. In California after a parolee completes his/her parole and is discharged from state parole, one gets his/her voting rights back in full !
Getting a job is another matter. -
Posted By:
jimcat at 04/03/2008 7:25:54 AM
Comment:
This may sound naive and a regression to the 80's but it has to be said. None of these people would be having these problems if they simply did not do crack in the first place.
Addiction is a real problem and deserves to be treated rather than punished. But everyone has to do something for the FIRST time, and they can always choose NOT to take that first step.
Given that the effects of doing crack are so destructive, and that they have been so widely publicized for the past two decades, why are people still using crack at all? Anyone who does so, knowing what destruction to their lives and communities will result, deserves whatever happens to them. -
Posted By:
Realistic Expectations at 04/03/2008 7:17:45 AM
Comment:
I, too, am appalled by the sentencing disparity, but if you're never been in the maternity ward and seen babies with cocaine in the meconium, you have no idea what you're talking about. These babies shake like junkies. You can actaully walk down a row of babies going, "Crack baby, crack baby, no crack baby, crack baby..." and be right with about 100% certainty. -
Posted By:
lilnono at 04/03/2008 3:46:45 AM
Comment:
This article does contain some exaggeration. There are only 2 states where ex felons are not allowed to vote. A lot of jails give out condoms. I do agree that the negative effects of crack on the community have been exaggerated. A lot of people who are branded crack heads are really just alcoholics who smoke crack occasionally. -
Posted By:
Noms83 at 04/03/2008 3:00:46 AM
Comment:
I had no idea that so much of what we learn about crack and cocaine is an exaggeration or simply untrue--and I'm i just took a class on drug policy! although I suppose I should, given what they say about marijuana. Is there really no such thing as a crack baby. -
Posted By:
amadeza at 04/03/2008 12:46:33 AM
Comment:
Blessinggirl, I have and do have children born with drugs in their systems in my classroom and I agree with the author. Can you cite a legitimate study that shows that children exposed to cocaine in utero are born addicted? One study? There aren't any. -
Posted By:
black at 04/02/2008 10:03:23 PM
Comment:
Why don't you just stop selling crack instead of bitching and moaning about how unfair it is when you get caught? Maybe you could stop shooting people while you're at it. It's always the same old lack of accountability. "Don't make us stop selling drugs. Just don't punish us when we're dumb enough to get caught". Society in general (Including all the other races) is getting sick to death of the "Life is so unfair to me because I'm Black, now gimme, gimme, gimme". What a crock. -
Posted By:
Devizier at 04/02/2008 9:25:13 PM
Comment:
"Excuse me, but I have seen the effects of crack and heroin on newborn infants. They can only be treated with paragoric during the first weeks of life when they experience painful withdrawal."
I have to disagree here. The NIDA (via wikipedia) "Many recall that ???crack babies,??? or babies born to mothers who used crack cocaine while pregnant, were at one time written off by many as a lost generation. They were predicted to suffer from severe, irreversible damage, including reduced intelligence and social skills. It was later found that this was a gross exaggeration. However, the fact that most of these children appear normal should not be overinterpreted as indicating that there is no cause for concern. Using sophisticated technologies, scientists are now finding that exposure to cocaine during fetal development may lead to subtle, yet significant, later deficits in some children." Similarly, its important to discern between cocaine, heroin, and paragoric opioids like loperamide (Immodium AD).
I don't doubt the possibility that cocaine has the potential for inducing developmental defects in children. However, controlled studies don't consistently back that assertion. As a result, anesthetic cocaine is rated as a teratogen in pregnancy category C, on par with virtually all antibiotics and many other commonly prescribed drugs. Similarly, morphine is also a category C teratogen.
The complicating factor in all this is alcohol abuse. By several sources, fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading cause of mental retardation in the world. Its apparent that consumption of indeterminately low levels of ethanol is not harmful (also a category C teratogen), but its clear that many pregnant mothers are, for lack of a better word, getting tanked. And they're getting tanked with full knowledge that they're pregnant, too, because the developmental defects that occur in fetal brains due to ethanol exposure occur later in the pregnancy. This is an alarming problem that eliminating access to cocaine and opioids will never solve. I would argue, on a gut assumption, that any pregnant mother who abuses street drugs will have no problem reaching for a can, glass, or bottle.
Anyhow, all of this is irrelevant to the first point of the article. We shouldn't denigrate the children born of substance abuse, and we should stop exaggerating their symptoms. -
Posted By:
black at 04/02/2008 8:20:36 PM
Comment:
Why don't you just stop selling crack instead of bitching and moaning about how unfair it is when you get caught? Maybe you could stop shooting people while you're at it. It's always the same old lack of accountability. "Don't make us stop selling drugs. Just don't punish us when we're dumb enough to get caught". Society in general (Including all the other races) is getting sick to death of the "Life is so unfair to me because I'm Black, now gimme, gimme, gimme". What a crock. -
Posted By:
test at 04/02/2008 8:18:40 PM
Comment:
Why don't you just stop selling crack instead of bitching and moaning about how unfair it is when you get caught? Maybe you could stop shooting people while you're at it. It's always the same old lack of accountability. "Don't make us stop selling drugs. Just don't punish us when we're dumb enough to get caught". Society in general (Including all the other races) is getting sick to death of the "Life is so unfair to me because I'm Black, now gimme, gimme, gimme". What a crock. -
Posted By:
bt1211 at 04/02/2008 6:25:36 PM
Comment:
Yes, I like how you used the phrase"If your a kid who made a few bucks on the corner" Like said kid was selling socks or bean pies. That it, just go ahead and say it " its not your fault, nothing you do is your fault, evey choice you make is not your fault." Commit crimes of your own free-will but don't man-up just blame the laws because their stacked against you. Dont want to go to jail for selling drugs? Dont sell drugs -
Posted By:
blessinggirl at 04/01/2008 12:04:02 AM
Comment:
Excuse me, but I have seen the effects of crack and heroin on newborn infants. They can only be treated with paragoric during the first weeks of life when they experience painful withdrawal. And have you been in a classroom trying to teach children born with drugs in their system? This is not to agree with the sentencing disparities, or sentencing nonviolent drug users to years in jail. However, your article presented no supporting statistics to show no harm to children born to crack or powder cocaine users. You should have edited that portion of your essay.
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