If anyone has the TV channel VH1 on their cable or satellite, they've done an extremely accurate and well thought out series call "The Drug Years" that is well worth watching.

It goes through each decade since the 50s or 60s and goes into great detail about the government and drug company's agendas that have affected our current laws regarding both illegal drugs and medication.

The very last segment, which deals with current issues, has some information on today's hysteria about the "misuse of prescription drugs by our children," a common thread throughout the years. I found it very chilling in what it's going to mean to those of us who depend on these medications to lead quality lives.

I had thought, that as those of us considered "baby boomers" by age grew older and developed more health issues, that by our numbers we would have a greater effect on the need for medications to relieve suffering, but it seems the opposite is happening.

I'd love to hear some feedback from anyone else who has seen the series. Being on VH1, of course, means that it's going to play over and over and over, so as long as you have that channel, you should be able to see it.

CatLady

Hey CL, Yea, I saw it yesterday, but only up until about 7:15, so I didn't see the end of it, but what I saw was really good, and seemed accurate to me, from everything to MJ, LSD, COKE, and they were talking of free basing and crack, when I had to leave.
I quit watching when they were talking of the white man (mostly) starting to buy crack from the inner city and projects, and what an econimic boom for the low income, and then started turf wars and gun violence.
Then hip hop turn more into gangsta wrap, broaching the subject.
I did like the spoofs of SNL, and Cheech and chong, because it was so true.
I sure wish I saw the end, about the current prescription drug issues, and look forward to more views as well.
Great topic, I'm glad that you brought it up!!
Codi

Codi, it'll play again. When you watch the last couple, check out what it says about prescription drugs being the new 'drugs of choice'---scary. Also, I especially liked the way it explained the CIA's involvement in the heroin epidemic of Vietnam vets. I lived through that and most of my compadres my age are Nam vets. What the special said was right on the money. That information has been available for years but it's never brought up in the press. Hmmm, could there be an agenda?

Also, the stuff about the formation of the DEA was good. I really didn't know about that. What scares me about that is that they will fight tooth and nail to make sure their agency continues to function and get funded and if it means waging war on sick people---which they are already doing---we all know they don't have a problem with that. I see a bleak future for those of us with health problems that call for medication to ease pain and suffering.

CatLady

Yea, I'll be watching for it, and I agree 100% with you on all that you said!!
You are so right about the DEA making sure they don't loose any money!!!
Hopefully, I get to watch it soon, and some others as well, since you brought it to everyones attention!
Codi

I've seen the whole series.

Pretty interesting. It's worth watching.

There's another series called something like, "Hooked: Illegal drugs and how they got that way".

I highly recommend that one.

It's curious how many people don't realize that less than 100 years ago there was no such thing as an illegal drug.

What's even more curious is that back then there wasn't much of a "drug problem."

Makes you wonder if it's the substance or the laws relating to the substance that is the real source of the "drug problem" these days.

Personally I don't wonder about this. I'm convinced that prohibition has killed more people than drugs have.

You don't see convenience store owners shooting bullets at each other in order to be the only beer and tobacco vendor in the neighborhood.

I've never, ever tried a cigarette in my life and yet I hope they never make them illegal. The day they make tobacco illegal is the day that people start killing each other over it.

Yea, that series "Hooked:Illegal Drugs, etc., usually plays on the history channel, it is very interesting to watch as well.
Codi

that is a great series!! i also watched a great series on the history channel called "illegal drugs and how they got that way". if any of you get a chance to see it, check it out.a lot of the reasons why drugs are illegal is based on racism. pretty interesting!!