Is this really a matter of rights being revoked? I think the issues that have been raised as concerns are all real. It will take time to measure the benefits as opposed to the detriments of having this law in place. I do think, based on the facts that we do have, it was worth taking the initiative and allowing this to go foward.
CULTURE
Smoke Job
Dr. Drew on New York's ban on cigarettes for addicts
Jul 29, 2008 | Updated: 1:40 p.m. ET Jul 29, 2008
Member Comments
-
Posted By: Kingrecovery @ 08/05/2008 9:05:54 AM
-
Posted By: skinnyminny2 @ 08/02/2008 8:16:39 PM
I've always wondered why addicts can't drink in rehab but they can smoke. Both are legal. Both are addidive substances. Given that, this bad makes perfect sense.
-
Posted By: thrasher32 @ 08/02/2008 1:08:17 PM
susie121: I think you're confused. Liberals don't take rights away, that's why they're called liberals. The conservatives, by definition, are the ones who try to legislate morality and take away your freedom "for your own good".
-
Posted By: gobbledegook @ 08/02/2008 5:26:41 AM
Dr Drew hate on Super Chicken
-
Posted By: Susie121 @ 08/02/2008 12:03:47 AM
I think it is funny that most people posting here are so outraged by the ban. This is what happens when you elect far left liberal politicians. Just like Pelosi and the fascist gang who shut down Congress early today to prevent an energy vote. If you don't think the goverment has a right to say you cannot consume a LEGAL substance....then maybe you should stop voting for liberal politician who think we are all children and cannot make decisions for ourselves. I have never smoked in my life and think it is a disgusting habit but I also think it is every American's right to choose for themselves if they want to smoke or not. This is just a small sign of things to come if we move toward Universal Health care.....forget having the right to consume a Big Mac at lunch if you want.
-
Posted By: maggiemae656 @ 08/01/2008 11:33:22 PM
With all the problems we are facing in this country today, I believe it is criminal to take away a small pleasure in life from those who enjoy smoking. It is abusive to deny someone with serious addiction issues a cigarette. This country has gone too far in the invasion of personal rights. The Mayor of New York needs to be dethroned--his power has gone to his head. Leave people alone and work on fixing the economy.
-
Posted By: rec19724u @ 07/31/2008 3:33:22 PM
First and foremost, I am a smoker, I started at the age of 18, and I really do regret the fact that I did, unlike some of the other comments, I have a sincere message, Iam not going to highlight how the scent of a smoker is, or yellow teeth (by the way, I have beautiful white gorgeous teeth- straight from my dentist) at any rate, If I can save one person from picking up cigarettes, that is what I would most want my message to be.
Smoking is not glamorous, it dosen't make you desirable or cool, it kills...
It's highly addictive and definately not worth your life, I had two aunts and one uncle who died of lung cancer from smoking, all within six months of each other, they all still smoked up untill the last moment of life, smoking took away their lives and away from their children (all young in ages) PLEASE, if your reading this stop...As for the ban of smoking in rehab, I think it should be encouraged, however, I feel that eary intervention, in schools etc is a positive step, if an individual is seeking treatment , I feel that weaning oneself off of the illegal drugs is hard enough, our society is so hypocritical, New York state bans smoking in facilities, however, they continue to distribute the drug and reap the proceeds.
PLEASE CHOOSE TO LIVE....STOP SMOKING NOW!!!!!! -
Posted By: observer101 @ 07/31/2008 10:45:25 AM
Smokers seem to think they are cool holding their cigs in there hands, smoke wafting around, and the cool yellow stains on their hands...Heck I want to smell like an ashtray, eat food with no taste and have my kid made fun of because they smell up the class with the smokey clothes they wear..Its cool! A smoker has really neat cig butt gardens in their front yard that has to be seen and smelled on a rainy day to be admired.. I want to look stupid in a car with the window cracked open an inch and my hand in the arm wrestlers positon with a cig dangling between my index and middle finger...Why do they do that?..Window open,cig sticking out of it, they take a drag, put the cig back in the window and exhale the smoke IN the car...Yumm!..I love looking at used cars and seeing that yellow film glazed on the window..Bottom line smokers suck butts...lol no pun intended. Their insurance should be ultra high if they want to continue smoking, and lowered if they go on some program to genuinly get them to quit..And for bans on smoking in restaurants?..You bet!..I hated going to a sit down restaurant and asking to sit in the non smoking section only to have to be WALKED through the smoking section to get there..Nasty...Not to mention the smoke didnt exactly stay in the smokers section....Good thing its banned from restaurants now.
-
Posted By: slimpundit @ 07/30/2008 10:51:34 PM
Most addicts internally would welcome the idea of being forced to quit smoking at the same time as quitting another addiction. "Kill two birds with one stone." How many addicts don't actually want to quit smoking? Sure, I love spending $7/day (over $2400/year), smelling like crap all of the time, afraid to talk too close to others because I know how bad other smokers' breaths smell, and spending countless amounts of time all to make my teeth bright yellow, kill my taste buds, decrease my endurance, and kill me early. Why quit? I don't know any long-term smokers who don't want to quit. Why does this article focus on Celebrities in rehab? They have an inherent penchant for doing what is "cool". They are not the norm and should not be used as examples. If a heroine addict decides not to get treatment because he doesn't want to quit smoking, he's not ready to get treatment. Embrace the opportunity, that's why you're there in the first place. To find out more about quitting addictions, check out my blog: http://slimpundit.wordpress.com/
You can also support those in need by sending donations to paypal account: digital_velocity@hotmail.com
We have limited funds and have committees set up to help people battle their addiction, please send your support. Even $1 helps if it's coming from many. -
Posted By: gertiebird @ 07/30/2008 5:14:29 PM
I think to ban smoking treatment centers is rediculous. As a recovering addict, I would never be so bold as to tell someone that they had to quit smoking along with everything else. When you are first getting clean, you have bigger fish to fry. My first sponsor in a twelve step program suggested that I not try to quit smoking for the first year. I tell my sponsees the same thing. If I wasn't able to hold on to something that was routine for me to begin with, I never would have made it. I know it seems silly, but even the experts will never understand addiction the way an addict does. I have now been clean for over five years, and just quit smoking seven months ago. Addicts need to be able to chose if and when to quit smoking in their own time.
Its something normal people will never understand, and I think it is totally bogus for them to try to regulate it. -
Posted By: gertiebird @ 07/30/2008 4:41:13 PM
As a recovering adict, I am appalled at this ban. In my twelve step program, my sponsor always told me we would cross that bridge when we came to it. I have recommended to those I sponsor, as was recommended to me, that you shouldn't try to stop smoking in the first year of recovery. There are bigger fish to fry and you need something to hold on to. Giving up too much too fast, in my experience, leads to relapse. I quit smoking seven months ago, but have been clean for over five years. Also, I refused to go to any treatment center that would not let me smoke. I have many friends in recovery who feel the same. FYI, you can be the greatest, most brilliant doctor in the world, but you will never know more about addiction than an addict. It pisses me off when doctors act all preachy about it. Live it first, and maybe then I'll listen to what you have to say.
-
Posted By: idonow @ 07/30/2008 3:54:31 PM
smoke em if you gottem we are going to get universal health care anyway so we all either get medical care or we can file a discimination lawsuit whoopee!! winner either way
-
Posted By: ngy460 @ 07/30/2008 3:24:58 PM
hey we that, fight in korea kill communists by the dozens ,they mostly non smokers as they govt didnt give them no cigarettes,our govt did ,gives us ,a carton a week for each man was the ration, also got some in c rations ,extra ,my outfit fo some reason got double rations ,2 cartons a week for each man,, some of em save em up and go on leave to seoul and trade em fo some korean nookie, they was lots of that down there ,,they sells em on the black market .
-
Posted By: ngy460 @ 07/30/2008 3:53:24 PM
i means the ho;s sells em ,not the G.I.'s,
-
Posted By: observer101 @ 07/31/2008 10:22:36 AM
Are you writing like a wannbe Ozark hillbilly/Compton Gman on purpose?..Or are you just kidding and trying to be funny?..Eitherway your points arent getting across...Im sure I speak for alot of other posters that you are making no sense and just want to post anything to see your name on here.
-
-
-
Posted By: dopelgangerA @ 07/30/2008 3:18:10 PM
Elected lawmakers should careful about micro-managing health care. Yes, of course we would all like to see both those addicted to illegal substances, and those who are not, to quit smoking. But, aren't the trained professionals who RUN treatment clinics the best-qualified to decide whether it's good to rigidly impose an absolute & simultaneous tobacco ban on ALL of their drug-addicted clients? This kind of statewide legislation allows politicians to pat themselves on the back & to try to score points with their constituents, but is it a wise law?
-
Posted By: FATJOEY @ 07/30/2008 2:28:43 PM
addicts smoke like fiends!!! i was watching "the 2 coreys" and that cory haim is a major druggie and he SMOKES LIKE A CHIMNEY!!!
-
Posted By: Ben Stroked @ 07/30/2008 1:24:46 PM
Heres an Idea! about trans fat, smoking, and fast foods in poor ereas! Suck this ya communist! Go back to where ever ya commy pricks are from and tell them people what to eat!
-
Posted By: ngy460 @ 07/30/2008 3:15:30 PM
right on bro,, anti smokers are nuthin but fuggin communists,,i hates em don even wanta be round em,,see em ,talk to em or nuthin, all r commies
-
-
Posted By: beanie @ 07/30/2008 12:55:10 PM
In China they dictate the number of offspring one may have. Is that next in the U.S. in order to keep costs of healthcare down??? Every American should truly be frightened by the socialistic leanings of the U.S. Government. Soon we will have no CHOICE -- perhaps dictating for whom we vote will be next.
-
Posted By: Interested American @ 07/30/2008 12:38:21 PM
C. Maclean - FYI, the NY Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services is a NY Government agency, i.e., part of the Government. So contrary to your argument, the Government IS telling citizens how to live their lives. And restricting people from participating in a legal activity.
What you fail to grasp, or are consciously trying to ignore, is that this is just prohibition dressed up as a "health" issue. Sooner or later, these laws will be so restrictive that a black market in smoking will be born.
Why not just be open an honest about your intentions.. for once, and just say that YOU know how people should live their lives and YOU are going to force them (using the police and a web of laws) to live in a manner YOU find to be better for them.
There is no different between your policies and the totalitarian abuses you allege the Government carries out against you. You just LIKE these policies... because you can force them on other people.
How sad.-
Posted By: C. MacLean @ 07/30/2008 12:56:06 PM
Yes, a government agency that deals with Substance Abuse Services - cigarettes are an addictive substance. This is not a prohibition dressed up as a health issue - this IS a health issue.
I don't have a clue how people should live their lives, but I have many clues on how to assist people to achieve abstinence from addictive substances, and that is by abstaining from ALL addictive substances.
As an aside, every hospital in the country now bans cigarettes for medical patients, and has for some time, partly because the government agency that determines Medicare reimbursement might deny reimbursement. I hear no hue and cry over people's rights for medical hospital patients - why are rehab patients any different?
The argument about banning cigarettes in the work place, public restaurants, etc may be about people's rights and Big Brother, but the argument about prohibiting cigarettes in addiction treatment is a treament issue, pure and simple.
It has nothing to do with totalitarian abuses, which, FYI, I haven't alleged the government has carried out against me. Yes, I like this policy - as a health care professional I find it an appropriate part of a comprehensive plan to help people get sober and stay sober.
-
-
Posted By: Pudbert @ 07/30/2008 12:13:11 PM
What a joke,, typical idiot Libtard stunt..
Now you're going to have either less people even TRYING to get off dope and alcohol, because they KNOW they can't quit ALL of their addictions cold turkey.. Or, they will try and fail at a much higher rate..
Like I said, typical naive and self-righteous Liberals. -
Posted By: allthereis @ 07/30/2008 11:57:51 AM
Not so long ago, smokers were ENCOURAGED to smoke though they knew the detriments and addictions of doing it. Advertising specially directed to youth . But of course this was ok then and overlooked because everyone was making money.- Businesses and the government. Now health conscious people want it stopped without looking at or caring about what it took to instill the process and what it will take to stop the habit. Now we have people belittling smokers who cannot stop the vicious cycle. It is an addiction. There are right and wrong ways of doing things and I am ashamed of the manner in which smokers have been treated. It is not that smokers think it is all about them but rather they have rights too. Where are the people responsible for all of this? What are they doing to right the wrong they pushed for so many years? Nothing. Just push smokers to designated areas which get smaller and smaller or non existent, scowl at them, like they are intentionally trying to affect you. So much for giving a hoot for your fellow man.
-
Posted By: BMA150 @ 07/30/2008 11:55:24 AM
Overeating is worse than smoking. People act as if there are proven cases in which someone got lung cancer from second hand smoke. That's never happened. And as for you breathing in the smoke and smell of people's cigarettes, ask them to move if it bothers you so much. Obese people are the selfish ones. How many times have you been in a store or on the subway and a person that weighs over 300 pounds is pressing against you, blocking your path, or dripping sweat everywhere. II have a feeling mariomera8 is obese and he doesn't think his weight problem Inconveniences anyone but he's wrong
-
Posted By: mariomera8 @ 07/30/2008 12:12:25 PM
Thats funny, this is like high school. I am not obese, I am an athlete actually, I play hockey and am an avid cyclist. Id like to see someone with smokers cough come ride a century with me. They'd sound like Magda from "Something About Mary"
-
-
Posted By: mariomera8 @ 07/30/2008 11:34:33 AM
Smokers are the MOST SELFISH people on the planet, they have this non-sensical idea that their addiction is only about them. To compare it to over eating is retarded, you cant DIE from someone elses diet. Smoking effects everything around them, clothes, hair all smell like vomit, skin and hair will discolor and smell. I dont want to breath their smoke. How would they feel if I farted in their wife's face. That probably wouldnt be too pleasant. But I could always fall back on their excues, " If you dont like it then go somewhere else." Maybe I should start farting in peoples faces and tell them that if they dont like it to go somewhere else.
-
Posted By: jack8472 @ 07/30/2008 12:48:18 PM
I am so sick of these retarded claims of death by second hand smoke. You are the same people that would get out of the pool if somebody urinated in it. People do understand the concept of dilution don't you? I'm not talking about allowing smoking where you work for 8 hours a day. Over the course of 40 years, I'll bet it raises your risk of cancer by upwards of 5%. Breathing in second hand smoke during lunch at a restaurant or the smoke that escapes from the smoking room at a rehab clinic or anywhere else WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR RISK FOR CANCER. I am cannot believe that people buy in to this BS.
Admit it. It is about the smell and about imposing your moral agenda on others. It has nothing to do with health. So, quit banning this practice just because you don't like it...
Admit it. What it is reall-
Posted By: ngy460 @ 07/30/2008 3:07:56 PM
right on ,bro,, ifin i'se smoke fo 64 years and don hurt me none ,why it hurt peoples from just the smoke ?,,is pure B.S.
-
-
Posted By: Interested American @ 07/30/2008 12:39:53 PM
Maybe you should start farting in people's faces and then deal with the consequences of your actions?
-
Posted By: NewYorkChad @ 07/30/2008 11:57:29 AM
That's awesome. Quote of they day. I think that's a good idea--everytime someone is smoking in public, just fart on them and ask them if they enjoy it. Hey, at least it doesn't cause cancer.
-
Posted By: FATJOEY @ 07/30/2008 2:31:13 PM
FARTING DOESNT CAUSE CANCER? WHEW!!!
-
-
-
Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 07/30/2008 11:11:13 AM
Life,Liberty,Persuit of Happiness
Yes, I'm addicted to something, i do so ENJOY, and supports this country! The country does not have the RIGHT, to make, or tell me, to quit! If this were the case when the GOV is sued, by Veterans who got smokes in the meals, get done. You will not have a GOV left to protect you from anyone!-
Posted By: NewYorkChad @ 07/30/2008 11:52:35 AM
That's awesome that you enjoy it. Enjoy it in your own home away from the rest of us that don't enjoy your stench. If you want to slowly commit suicide, at least don't try to take the rest of us out with your cancerous aromas. Thanks for the selfishness.
-
Posted By: NewYorkChad @ 07/30/2008 11:55:27 AM
New York law doesn't say that you have to quit. You just can't smoke in public places-the way it ought to be. Why should we have to smell that stench you voluntarily make that is harmful to us and we don't want? The government certainly has every right to ban it in public places. That is what the government is there for-to protect the majority from the selfish, whacked, minority
-
-
-
Posted By: Rulon @ 07/30/2008 11:04:42 AM
a disservice to our patience?
a disservice to our patience?
a disservice to our patience?
A disservice to our patieNTS! -
Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 07/30/2008 11:03:46 AM
Kick one easy[ier], quit two forget rehab! i prefere to stay a junkie and get my money on the street! I'm not giving up smokes, and meth, TOGETHER only one at a time, or none! Body shock is what happens when you quit two, like Opium and alchol in one drink, first remove the opium, after they recover, remove the booze! remove both =death!Have a nice day! Sit in your car,during traffic, and blame me a smoker for your view, just as eyes wide shut today, as they were yesterday! DON'T BLAST US SMOKERS. WHO ELSE DO YOU GOT TO TAX FOR CHILDRENS HEALTHCARE IF I QUIT? YOUR PROGRAM IS BUILT ON A UNSTABLE TAX BASE AND WILL NOT WORK, SO LET US SMOKE OR PAY WHAT THEY WANT FROM US OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET.!
-
Posted By: NewYorkChad @ 07/30/2008 11:49:22 AM
According to forner New York Governor, Elliot Spitzer, more tax dollars are spent on healthcare to treat diseases caused by cigarette smoking than anything else. So, I guess if you stopped smoking, we could use that money to pay for children's healthcare and then some. Hey, and maybe if you stopped smoking, kids wouldn't have to see the doctor so often. Ever think of that?
-
Posted By: ngy460 @ 07/30/2008 3:02:33 PM
spitzer, ,all he be doin' is smokin ho's
-
-
Posted By: NewYorkChad @ 07/30/2008 11:47:59 AM
According to former NY governor, Elliot Spitzer, more is paid in taxes towards healthcare treating diseases related to smoking... so I guess we could just use that money to pay for the children's healthcare. Hey... and if the children didn't have smoking parents, maybe they wouldn't need to see the doctor so often... ever think of that?
-
-
Posted By: kph99 @ 07/30/2008 11:01:49 AM
C. MacLean why does the government have to tell me what the best way to live my life is? Sure, there is a new study saying patients are 25% increase in maintaining abstinence from drinking or drugs, but why does the government force some new regulation because of this. First of all one study with a 25% increase seems like hardly enough evidence to base a new ban upon. Secondly, have you ever heard the saying nothing does more harm than a good intention. Sure the good intention is there, but it overlooks the fact that this may make rehab much harder for people. It is hard enough for people to admit they have a drug problem and admit themselves to rehab, but now on top of that they have to quit smoking too. Smoking is a legal drug, so if someone wants to have a cigarette, especially to get through some tough times, and is clearly aware of the effects it will have on their body, than why should we stop them. It is their choice to live that way, and even if it is a better more effective practice the patient should decide if they want to give their right to smoke up, not the government.
-
Posted By: C. MacLean @ 07/30/2008 12:14:57 PM
The government isn't telling you the best way to live your life. The NY Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services is telling you the best way to treat addiction. Please note the difference.
This is a health policy decision, based on what we know about addiction and the brain. This is not a governmental intrusion into people's private lives.
As far as rehab being harder without cigarettes - rehab IS hard. Period. Not being able to smoke while one is in rehab isn't any harder than not being able to drink or drug while one is in rehab, regardless of what an addict clinging to their cigarettes wants to believe.
It has been my personal and professional experience that (a) abstaining from smoking while in rehab is very doable and (b) abstaining from smoking while in early recovery supports recovery and delays or prevents relapse.
-
-
Posted By: barrett.archer @ 07/30/2008 10:58:07 AM
This is absurd. The government has no more right to control what substances the public uses and when and where they use them than they do to tell us what to eat. At this rate, we'll be getting fed manufactured meals shoveled out of a 40 pound bag like dogs. In "Like What?", the doctor points out that doctors at treatment centers have no say about how long their patients stay. There is no insurance money to allow patients to afford the treatment. No one in the government is holding the insurance companies accountable. Focus on the real damned problems and get your nose the hell out of mu business, government!
-
Posted By: patrickbuckles @ 07/30/2008 10:42:20 AM
Get the government out of our lives!!!! I'm a non-smoker. Quit 4 years ago, after 35 years of smoking. It didn't take the government placing bans on smoking, it took God, and self determiniation!!! STOP THE GOVERNMENT'S intrusions. We're all going to be real sorry one day!! The government will control us completely!! I'm hoping to be dead and gone by that time!! WAKE UP AMERICA!!
-
Posted By: KIM1_GRAPHICS @ 07/30/2008 10:42:00 AM
It's an enormous step for one to kick cocaine, etc., but to go to a treatment center and to also be FORCED to quit smoking on TOP of kicking drug habits? Addiction is the hardest thing to overcome in life - drug addiction & smoking, topping the charts. To kick both at the same time is RIDICULOUS. Here's the problem - THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ADDICTED!
-
Posted By: axelcarmen @ 07/30/2008 10:36:27 AM
What's next -- Coffee?
-
Posted By: Interested American @ 07/30/2008 12:42:06 PM
Don't worry... it will be for your benefit. And if you don't do it, well then we will FORCE you... for your benefit of course.
-
-
Posted By: nanoreid @ 07/30/2008 10:25:05 AM
I guess I won't be moving to New York or California any time soon. I like the fact that Virginia doesn't try to be a parent all the time.
-
Posted By: thisniss @ 07/30/2008 10:08:38 AM
This ban is bullsh*t, based on slim science and moral prudery. There are a few studies suggesting somewhat "better" results from nicotine cessation simultaneously with addiction treatment, but there is NO evidence to suggest that continuing to smoke "increases the likelihood of treatment failure" (as one poster claims). Much more research would be needed to prove the latter claim, particularly as it runs counter to most historical models. Anecdotally, I have seen many addicts recover from drug and alcohol abuse, and whether they did or did not smoke had nothing to do with their success. Nicotine is a deeply misunderstood drug, with many beneficial mental health properties. Its conveyance device (i.e., tobacco products) is terrible, especially when processed into chemically-enhanced cigarettes. Even still, smoking should be an individual choice as long as tobacco products remain legal. We tried Prohibition once before, and found out that it doesn't work.
-
Posted By: C. MacLean @ 07/30/2008 10:37:33 AM
People who are talking about personal choice, freedoms, etc. are missing the point. This ban specifically addresses recovery from addiction - nicotine is an addictive drug. If you enter a rehab facility to treat addiction, you need to treat all addictions simultaneously for the best outcome. Continuing to smoke cigarettes is a relapse trigger for many addicts, and especially for alcoholics.
This is not about morality, it is about best practice.
Treating addiction is partly about encouraging the brain to develop new pathways, and that includes encouraging new behaviors as well as extinguishing old ones.
I am a registered nurse in a dual-diagnosis unit, which means we treat people with co-existing mental illnes and addiction. Our hospital is smoke free - all cigarette smokers receive nicotine patches on admission as part of their detox protocol. Patients are still receiving some nicotine but in a lower dose than they would have if they were still smoking, but all the ritualistic behaviors that reinforce smoking are absent.
And Dr. Drew is off base on his remarks about caffeine - it is most assuredly a stimulant, and too much caffeine interferes with sleep, sometimes severely. Sleep deprivation is a significant health problem, and sleep deprivation in a person in early recovery is particularly problematic, and very clearly a relapse trigger.
Recovery from addiction is about changing behavior. It is also about addressing denial - allowing a patient to remain in denial about their nicotine addiction is not therapeutic.
And recovery is not for the faint of heart - recovery takes courage. Anyone can be an addict - it takes real bravery and committment to recover.
-
-
Posted By: thisniss @ 07/30/2008 10:08:14 AM
This ban is bullsh*t, based on slim science and moral prudery. There are a few studies suggesting somewhat "better" results from nicotine cessation simultaneously with addiction treatment, but there is NO evidence to suggest that continuing to smoke "increases the likelihood of treatment failure" (as one poster claims). Much more research would be needed to prove the latter claim, particularly as it runs counter to most historical models. Anecdotally, I have seen many addicts recover from drug and alcohol abuse, and whether they did or did not smoke had nothing to do with their success. Nicotine is a deeply misunderstood drug, with many beneficial mental health properties. Its conveyance device (i.e., tobacco products) is terrible, especially when processed into chemically-enhanced cigarettes. Even still, smoking should be an individual choice as long as tobacco products remain legal. We tried Prohibition once before, and found out that it doesn't work.
-
Posted By: BrownFoxNine @ 07/30/2008 10:05:03 AM
LOL, dont you jut hate new York? LOL
www.FireMe.To/udi -
Posted By: tchaput @ 07/30/2008 9:37:19 AM
Wow all of you making comments about the cost of health care...you pay too much attention to the ads on TV. What about all the people that have 5 babies at a time because they are on fertility drugs...who do you think pays for their hospital care for the months and months it takes to get them better. I don't see anyone up in arms about stuff like that. Incidentally, this article is about smoking in rehab facilities. I believe that most people have to pay for their own treatment.
-
Posted By: psoconnell @ 07/30/2008 9:33:52 AM
I am surpirsed by Dr. Drew's ambiguous endorsement (or not) of this regualtion. All of the latest research suggests that not to address nicotine addiction along with the other substances will increase the liklihood of treatment failure. Smoking is usually a ritualistic and integral part of substance abuse behavoir. The ONLY difference between smoking (nicotine addiction) and other addictive substances is that tobacco is legal! It would be interesting to see long term studies comparing other substances with tobacco with respect to causal disease and death. I would bet tobacco smoking would be high (if not the highest) on the list. Since the average pack a day smoker will die 14 years earlier that a nonsmoker, to not aggressively address smoking in this setting amounts to malpractice in my view. Most smokers also do not live a healthy productive life in those last 10-14 years either, so from a population perspective, are you truly helping this group to lead healthy lives?? The answer is NO. Most of those who die of smoking related diseases, die (or live) anguishing under the worst of circumstances. This regulation should, without a doubt, be incorporated into every addiction treatment center!
-
Posted By: tchaput @ 07/30/2008 9:32:00 AM
Really, ALL of your 20-year sober patients have died from lung cancer from smoking? Seems a little hard for me to believe.
-
Posted By: europatrizia @ 07/30/2008 9:31:39 AM
Who is transcribing these interviews? "...if we don't deal with the nicotine addiction as well, we are really doing a disservice to our PATIENCE" when what was said was patients. And the reference to "patients rights" should be possessive, i.e., patients' rights. This is really basic composition and I find it shocking that Newsweek would post this before correcting these obvious errors.
-
Posted By: tchaput @ 07/30/2008 9:31:16 AM
Really, ALL of your 20-year sober clients die from cigarettes? I find that a little hard to believe.
-
Posted By: MorrisseyFan1979 @ 07/30/2008 7:49:57 AM
I, for one, think this is a great idea. I entered rehab back in March as a non-smoker, and when I got out in April I was a smoker. By the end of April I had stopped, but it wasn't a ton of fun doing so. There's a LOT of data that suggests that those people who use drugs that involve smoking have a much higher relapse rate if they smoke cigarettes as well. There's also a lot of data that changing drugs, like I did, just leads back to using a harder drug.
-
Posted By: FATJOEY @ 07/30/2008 7:11:31 AM
DOES THAT BAN INCLUDE MARJUIANA TOO? OR JUST TOBACCO?
-
Posted By: Interested American @ 07/30/2008 12:43:53 PM
Why would they ban pot? They LIKE pot. These groups only want to ban the stuff that they don't like. The hypocritical nature of these arguments would be funny, if it weren't so damn sad!
-
-
Posted By: FATJOEY @ 07/30/2008 7:08:36 AM
ban an addictive substance from a REHAB FULL OF WEAKMINDED FOOLS? BLASPHAMY!!!
-
Posted By: ngy460 @ 07/30/2008 12:05:26 AM
now i'se just an old man 77years old ,and done smoked since was 13,when i ewas yuong ,everbody smoked ,y'all was weirdo ifs y'all didnt . never hurt me none ,had lotsa friends die much younger that never smoked ,,dont believe all they liberal lies about smoke ,,the liberals and controllers an micro managers done cooke d this all up,,an the stupid people fell fo it ..i don go no dr either ,,use all natural stuff ,,fo health ,,some think this strange fo a colorerd man ,but this one is different .
-
Posted By: movinon @ 07/29/2008 8:02:35 PM
well that just tops the charts for new york. you can't do this, you can't do that, you can't eat this. new york is the land of no. thanks to all you bleeding heart liberals. god forbid someone with an addiction wants help and because they smoke they can't get help. what a sorry state of affairs. this state needs to lighten up with all their rules and ridiculous regulations. it is becoming more clear to me why this state sucks. time to move. land of the free,,,,,,,,my ass!
-
Posted By: observer101 @ 07/29/2008 6:10:18 PM
Im all for freedoms as Americans to do as we wish..If you want to smoke til you die then great, If you want to eat til you pop, go for it...But dont go throwing yourself into the medicare/caid system and expect ppl to pay for YOUR stupid habits in the long run...It will cost more to keep ppl alive because of bad habits then it was for them to pay for the cigs and fast food to get them to that point...Eat and smoke all you want ...But put some of that money aside and look forward to paying YOUR own medical bills..Thats the real reason the government has to step in..Billions are being spent to keep ppl alive a few more days just to have them continue the habit that put them in the hospital in the first place...And that money isnt really coming from the government...Its coming from the WORKING citizens paycheck in the form of the ridiculous taxes and insurance premiums we have to pay. So slow down on smoking and stop super sizing everything. Besides a larger diet soda doesnt really count toward being healthy!
-
Posted By: sjbrock80 @ 07/30/2008 2:30:20 PM
While your logic is absolutely dead on, these ideas can be pushed into other ways of life too. If you want to take on the dangerous tasks of driving, flying in a plane, walking in a dangerous neighborhood, playing with stray dogs and running with scissors, it should not be covered by medicare either, right?
Everything (free) people do is a choice and many things can be dangerous. We as a society can't pick and choose which ones should and should not be covered by medicare. Your absolutely correct in saying smokers and obese people may cost citizens billions of dollars. But they are not the only ones for sure. -
Posted By: Interested American @ 07/30/2008 12:46:26 PM
Exactly! Want to eat and become fat? Cool. Don't expect help from people for your weight related issues... until you address those issues. Want to smoke? Cool. If you get lung cancer... it is on your dime.
Hmm, this sounds like we're asking people to take responsibility for their actions... Nah, that will NEVER works. It is ALWAYS someone else's fault!
-
-
Posted By: rh122240 @ 07/29/2008 5:30:27 PM
Personally; I am tired of "society" trying to encroach on our lives. The latest is a ban on fast food in South Central Los Angeles. Who are we to REGULATE what people eat? Whether it is beneficial or not is NOT THE POINT...FREEDOM OF CHOICE is the basis of this country. Without that freedom, who the *** needs America?
As for smoking; yes, I am a smoker for the past 56 years If that offends anyone; go and *** yourself. I don't care if they raise the price of a pack to $10.00>>> NO ONE is going. to dictate my life. That's why I live in this country for the freedom to choose. Take that away and we have exceeded Hitler , Stalin and Mao"s wildest dreams of controlling their people. Didn't we fight a war for that freedom to make our own mistakes ?-
Posted By: observer101 @ 07/29/2008 5:42:22 PM
You bet we fought for those freedoms...But I dont want to pay for the excessive treatment your stupid ass is going to need by the time you are in a hospital bed gasping for air...You may not give a sh*t about Americans having to pay for your treatments that your insurance wont cover, but I do!..Your just a dead man walking, and dont care anymore. And if ppl are to stupid to eat healthy and the government, (they so happily rely on) has to foot the bill for their medical care...Well then you bet your ass they are going to tell ppl to eat healthier and regulate fast food and smoking.
-
-
Posted By: cnn357 @ 07/29/2008 4:13:50 PM
This makes no sense. How could you take away someone's crutch becayse you think you know whats best?
You are asking someone to kick 2 habits, this will surely have an adverse affect on those seeking treatment.
I have quit smoking before and its hard enough by itself, I cant imagin having another habit to kick at
the same time.
Jeez - and they had to try this crap in my city.
NYers are volitile enough as it is-
Posted By: josh-levin @ 07/30/2008 9:34:17 AM
You have to take away the crutch, or else the person will not fully recover.
-
-
Posted By: kph99 @ 07/29/2008 3:09:27 PM
What a terrible idea, when will the government stop legislating personal choices. If someone wants to smoke, who should stop them. If they want to ride around without a seatbelt, let them it is their choice. The government is supposed to protect our rights and freedoms, not force some sort of moral code upon everyone.
Loading Menu
Discuss