Problem generation. Says who?

There are two ways of accounting for the rise reported in the Economist on illegal substance use among the over 55s, both should give rise to concern.

First, the demographic shift as another cohort growing up with a wider assortment of available substances are getting over the line. That they had to spend a lifetime at the mercy of illicit markets and the moods and vagaries of a vengeful criminal justice system is a constitutional scandal.

www.economist.com

Secondly, increasingly people are reaching for solace to overcome the disappointments and physical trials of old age. Pretty much what Plato thought of the appropriate role for wine. Let us reframe these instances of delayed initiation as a maturing into drug use. Shocking to think that after a lifetime of raising families, performing their workplace duty, paying their taxes these people are denied the right to choose how to spend their twilight years.

Why though is a supposedly overstretched Criminal Justice System busying itself arresting senior citizens? It’s not for their own good, OAPs are hardly ruining their lives. Nor are they setting a poor example to the young. Indeed, encouraging the elderly to puff and snort may put off a generation of youngsters. Reason why they are being arrested is simple, because criminal justice, like any social system, does what it can. That is why drugs have no place in it.