What About the Antigo Drug Pushers?
by Albus
We got trouble, folks, right here in The City of Trees. We got
drug pushers selling their wares right out in the open, right under
the eyes of our City Fathers and what the Antigo Daily
Journal verbosely refers to as “law enforcement officials”.
I’m talking about known drug pushers… up-front drug stores…
regular pharmacies… okay, you all know them … Walgreen’s,
Wal-Mart, and Lakeside pharmacies.
On the one hand, this trio represents a critical component of
Antigo’s health care system. The daily well-being, and very lives,
of many of Langlade County’s citizens depend on the
pharmaceuticals and medical supplies sold by these pharmacies.
We really couldn’t do without them.
On the other hand, they are an Axis of Evil, peddling potent
poisons to the population. I’m talking about Trouble, with a
capital “T”, and that spells “Tobacco”! Cigarettes and
“smokeless tobacco” line the aisles on the way to the
pharmacist’s window. Their operational creed: Tempt them into
the store by serving a legitimate need, then push their habit
buttons to extract more cash!
Am I the only one in the county who sees a conflict of interest,
a serious confusion of morality, in institutions that purport to
serve and protect the health of the community, but at the same
time profit from dispensing proven addictive poison to a gullible,
hooked public? Shouldn’t this be considered “abuse of a
vulnerable adult”, and a crime against decency?
And please spare me the feeble argument that if you stop selling
tobacco in one place, folks will just buy it across the street
somewhere else, so you might as well sell it yourself anyway.
The fact is that those places “somewhere else” do not have the
panache and aura of health-care facilities, where any products
sold have the tacit stamp of medical and social approval. “This
is a pharmacy, so stuff you buy here is good for your health!”
Greed, taking advantage of weakness, is a proven marketing
ploy, and the basis for much of contemporary (and contemptible)
economics. It would be nice, for once, to see someone willing to
take the logical, scientific, moral, medical, and decent move to
stop selling tobacco products in a health-care establishment.
Come on, Walgreen’s, Wal-Mart, and Lakeside: Stop selling
tobacco.
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That is the stupidist thing I’ve ever heard, with a capital “S”. I highly doubt that someone going to pick up their birth control or antibiotic is going to be suddenly tempted to buy a pack of cigarettes or a can of chew. Give me a break. Maybe people should learn to take responsibility for themselves instead of blaming the pharmacists, retailers, or cashiers. When I check out my medications, they don’t ask me if I’d like to buy a side of nicotine with my purchase! Wait! They also sell food, maybe they should be responsible for obesity and diabetes! Two of those stores also sell liquor! OMG! Maybe they should be responsible for alchoholism too. You could be a Stella Award winner.
Hmmm… Ya think? Looks like I’ll have some stiff competition for the Stella Award, on this one issue alone!:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/30/BAC7121IRV.DTL
http://daveibsen.typepad.com/5_blogs_before_lunch/2008/09/san-francisco-to-ban-cigarette-sales-at-pharmacies.html
http://www.healthcentral.com/stop-smoking/c/89783/35789/pharmacies
Big Al, where does it stop after that? What should not be sold next? Who decides? Your intentions are good, but your argument is faulty. I hate tobacco products, but they are LEGAL. Adults can make up their own mind without you, government or anyone else telling them what to do. All of the businesses mentioned are there to make profit. They are doing nothing illegal or immoral. They offer products. If people did not buy them, they would not sell them. Personal responsibility is the key.
I keep hearing the lame argument that tobacco is okay, because it’s legal. There’s a fix for that, you know. Some 400,000 Americans die every year from tobacco-related causes. I think it’s fair to question the rationale for the legality of a product that kills its users.
Tobacco is not OK, but those 400,000 american’s chose to use it. CHOSE. To quote Voice which I never do “PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IS THE KEY”
Who said tobacco was okay? I know it didn’t come from my response. I said it is LEGAL. Okay or not is subjective, you can argue what you want on that one but you will be preaching to the choir with me. If you feel it should be illegal, knock yourself out and give it a try. Many will agree with you. However, many more like having personal choice.
In a free country there is a fine line to walk. We demand freedoms in some cases, and in others we insist that there be restrictions on those freedoms.
Even if tobacco were made illegal, those addicted to it would find a way to get it. There’s no need for me to elaborate on that, just consider any other substance that is illegal. Also, it’s quite a large industry with too many lobbyists, so shutting it down will never fly with legislators.
Personally, the first thing I’d like to see is smoking indoors in public be banned because that affects me. I don’t smoke because I’m not addicted and have no desire to be. But I’m forced to breath second hand smoke because of others poor decisions. Regardless, that kind of legislation will be quite difficult to pass in this or any other northwoods community.
Unfortunately, on this one, it sounds like you’re barking up a tree with no squirrel. That is while there might be some valid concerns surrounding this issue, I think finding resolution will be near impossible.
Lenny, I’m not pushing for an ultimate resolution. There is no silver bullet, or pill or patch, that’s going to end the global scourge of tobacco use all at once. But what we CAN do is push the notion that using tobacco is not socially acceptable, not logical, not sexy, not cool. Any step in that direction, like banning tobacco sales in pharmacies, should be applauded.
It breaks my heart to see teenagers, kids too young to understand the consequences of their misguided “free choice”, lighting up cigarettes, or tucking wads of tobacco into their cheeks. Anyone who who dismisses that misbehavior by saying “Well, it’s THEIR choice,” doesn’t understand how choices are made by kids whose choice-mechanism is still developing, and how contemporary pressures limit their option NOT to choose.
teenagers start smoking cuz its coolllllllllllllllllllllll and then there hooked. and years to try to quit this disgusting habit!
Al, your heart is commendable. I really agree with most of what you have written. However, banning tobacco sales in Lakeside, Walgreens, etc. will do nothing to curb the use of tobacco by minors. I join you in your disdain for tobacco but I don’t think your solution is viable. I wish I had a solution but I don’t think one exists for this problem. Problem is, many kids are drawn to what is not socially acceptable, not logical or not cool in our eyes and we as a society have not cracked down on this. I’m not even sure how to crack down on this anymore than the current laws. I just try to keep educating the kids in my classroom and those I come in contact with.
Voice, the “keep educating” approach is the right one, I agree. In my contact with kids (I’ve done coaching and substitute teaching, which brings up a big, long list of new topics), I’ve tried to trigger their intellectual curiosity with some hooks to critical thinking. Along that line, raising the issue that it’s illogical for “health” institutions to sell tobacco might give someone pause to think about the bigger issues involved.
Small threats work better than big threats for persuasion. Telling kids their lungs are going to rot and their hearts will clog up is less effective than explaining that their clothes and hair will smell funny and their mouths will taste less kissable if you want to get them to not smoke. While I doubt that Antigo’s city fathers, with their long-standing record of weak-willed leadership and weaker sensitivity to the core needs of the community, will do something as progressive as banning tobacco sales in pharmacies, or that the pharmacies themselves will come up with the moral fortitude to Do the Right Thing, it’s nonetheless valuable to bring up and discuss off-the-wall ideas.
From discussion comes motivation, and from motivation comes change. I think it’s worth the effort. We’re talking about our young people, and how to influence their thinking. I’d like to think that local adults could have more influence than a bunch of fat-cat corporate blood-suckers in North Carolina and Virginia on what our youths think is acceptable and right.
I have to agree with voice on this one; kids are drawn into what is socially acceptable and then hooked. As the child of a long time smoker, I lived the life where it was the thing to do. I married a smoker, we raised a child together and were hypocritical and said to the child “don’t smoke” ( I am sure this sounds familiar out there) Tp make a long story short, divorce occurred and said child witnesses a really, really tough time quitting smoking by me as I continue to say “Don’t EVER start smoking! See how hard it is to quit” By the grace of God the child has never started smoking which I am so very grateful for because I fear the addiction can be passed along. Yes, its an addiction for some and you don’t know it until you are hooked on the nicotine just like anything other drug. Ban cigarette sales completely for the good of all but the items will just go underground like other drug sales. THe “city fathers” stuff is crap in my book (I could do a whole blog on your weak-willed leadership and weak sensitivity but I will save that for when you actually post a subject on it because I disagree with the tact you are taking, Albus). Ban cigarettes here, they will go outside the city to buy them. Ban them in the county, they will go outside the county. Ban them in the state, they will go outside the state and haul them in by truckloads. You really want to fix the problem, treat cigarettes like the drug they are and make them illegal otherwise, you are stuck with what you get and the people struggling to break the addiction they got into. Telling a kid they smell bad and they are unkissable has no effect whatsoever; all you get is “not me, someone else” Think about the age group your post is talking about Albus, teenagers are illogical and they are supposed to be; this is the time when you are discovering who you are and who you want to be and there is no logic to it. You try things to see if that is what you are or want for the future, including cigarettes unfortunately. What local adults would you like them to follow by the way because I just gave an example how I as a parent was being hypocritcal and the story behind it? Should they follow the elderly person who says they cannot afford their medications but can afford a gas-guzzling Caddy and bottles of scotch? Should they follow the middle-aged person who laments not having a job but states he won’t work just any job unless it pays $40,000 a year because that is what he is used to? We are all hypocritics in one way or another; cigarettes is just another example of how you cannot legislate the behaviors of humans because if you do with “sin taxes” and laws, the behavior just goes underground. Why do they sell porn mags in gas stations? What do the two have in common? This too is illogical; would you like a law against it as well? Critcial thinking is a good thing to teach yes, but by teaching it you have to allow the learner to reach their own conclusion not give them the conclusion. Now, if you would like to teach your so called “city fathers” critical thinking we could be in business but you would first have to ungroup them from the label (this is against the critical thinking process I believe) and state who they are before the process will ever work just like you cannot group “teenagers” or “local adults” if you are going to teach critical thinking. Just my opinion stated on a public forum. Have a nice day all.
Fed Up, we are actually on the same side, you know. Part of the reason smoking is (was!) socially acceptable is that tobacco has been easily and readily available — everywhere! I’m looking for ways to make it socially unacceptable. Incremental accessibility bans, like the one in San Francisco, along with the publicity concerning the ban and reasoning behind it, heighten the pressure on the acceptability of the behavior. I would just as soon have tobacco declared illegal and be done with it, but the consequences and ramifications of that action need considerable more working out.
if u r to wanting to ban smoking and make it illegal then u should also ban alcohol for it is addicting too, and how bout the prescription drugs that our doctors so readily had out, these too r addicting alcohol is advertised just as much as smoking and i think more now. i do not smoke and have quit, but yes it is hard, maybe they should come up with a rehab for smokers like they do for alcohol and drug addicts. would that make u happy? these things r changing for the better and the best advice to offer u is to talk to your kids repeatedly and if u dont like the smoke go somewhere else, or start to complain to some of the businesses and maybe they will here u. i for one think that they have rights to and most businesses see that they can have both smokers and non in their establishment at the same time without the other being bothered.
antigo-
Smoking kills. You can have one or two beers and do little or no damage. In a reasonable amount, alcohol is ok. Smoking a cigarette “just a little bit” is still going to pollute the air, your body, and others around you. When used correctly, prescription drugs work wonders. But when idiots decide to use them incorrectly, it’s dangerous. Banning something that kills no matter what is a good idea. Banning something that is ok when used in the right way is stupid.
Remember, I’m only saying that selling tobacco in an establishment that purports to provide healthcare products is irrational and a bit sleazy. I’ve already stipulated that banning tobacco entirely is not in the picture… yet.
Walgreens, Wal-Mart, & Lakeside all have their tobacco products behind counters. You have to ask for them specifically to even get them. I think it’s a personal attack on the management and owners to say it is sleazy and irrational. That is wrong. If I remember correctly when Lakeside was on 5th ave they didn’t sell tobacco products, but now that they are also a grocery/convenience store they do.
Albus, I have noticed on all of your posts that you only answer part of people’s questions. Only one’s that you can continue to argue with. You and people like you only cause problems and have no real solutions.
STAN said:
“You and people like you only cause problems and have no real solutions.”
Not true, STAN. I, and people like me, raise issues that should be talked about and resolved. We don’t CAUSE the problems — we only POINT to them.
i think alcohol and prescription drugs r an issue and it does need some resolution. only one or two beers, or a reasonable amount u say, well who decides whats reasonable? u, me, or the police who say u have had too much to drink?, even if it was only two. some cant even handle one. driving under the influence is a huge problem in our area that also needs to be addressed. and as far as pollution, i do believe alot of that comes from beer cans, bottles and the carriers provided for them, not only that but pills affecting our drinking water. the issue goes far deeper than just having to hide cigs behind a counter and if the cashier is doing their job, it will help deter some of the underage use. and in case u dont realize alcohol and pills do kill no matter what, even if used properly, so should they b banned as well. just reading from your above post thats how i should take it, right.
Alcohol kills? When used in the wrong way, of course it does. It anihilates your liver. But look at all of the people that are over 100 years old. Almost all of them drink a glass of red wine a day. They probably wouldn’t have started the trend at 21 when they could legally drink, it would’ve been later in life. Maybe 65 years old. If they’re 115 years old now, that means they’ve been drinking at least 4 ounces of alcohol for 41,975 straight days. Alcohol doesn’t always kill…
and neither does smoking, an i’m not saying that is acceptable to you but people enjoy doing it. whether u like it or not.
and as far as alcohol killing you’re right it kills only when used wrong, which alot of kids in the younger generation use and do. i so often see many underagers drinking and driving and being foolish with alcohol to fit in. that to me is more unacceptable than smoking. the older generation did it yes, but with moderation. u dont hear of the binge drinking back in the days like u do now. teens need to be held accountable for their actions, make the rite decisions, fitting in isn’t always the best way to go. u can still be cool if u dont drink or smoke or do the drugs that go around.
“Antigo”, sometimes, in fact more often than not, people “do it” whether they enjoy it or not, and often even though they DON’T enjoy it. It’s called “chemical dependence”, or “addiction”. It’s a nasty, sad, expensive fact of biological, psychological, and social life. And it’s the basis for 100% of tobacco marketing, and maybe 25% of alcohol marketing. And remember, I was talking about the marketing here, not the habit itself.
I would not have said this earlier this eevening, but I have been enlightened. It would be devastating to our economy if we all quit smoking, even worse if we quit drinking also. Think of all the tobacco industry employees, not to mention the brewery employees, that would flood the unemployment offices Then there is the modified tax base, with no tobacco contributions how would we survive?
So keep smoking, and keep drinking, and if you don’t do it now, start. It may kill you but it’s the best thing for your follow citizens.
obviously u dont know what u r talking about. addiction is a very serious and deadly disease. and sorry to say but u must have a few of them to tell people to start drinking and smoking. i think u r and ignorant person for even suggesting the idea. and i pray u do not have kids that u r telling these stupid ideas too. as for industry, i dont think u have to worry about all the employees losing their jobs, its not going to happen, why because people will fight for what they enjoy doing. good or not.
Antigo Says, you’re doing exactly what Smackwater wants you to do, replying to his idiotic comments.
That’s not exactly what i wanted. What i really wanted was for somebody to read my post to Antigo says, then take a picture of the blank expression, a permanent record of the lack of understanding, and send 257 copies to a non existing address where they can be appreciated by nobody.