[Closed] The Ubiquity of Drugs

I have never used recreational drugs and am no expert, but I'm not surprised at recreational use of (normal) cocaine and ecstasy at a festival.

Crystal Meth however, that's just proper nasty shizzle, on a par with crack cocaine, innit? I'd be surprised if it was the kind of thing that someone would have an occasional dabble at.

Was that all just a lie?

yes

Yes it was a lie. Cocaine is not addictive in the real sense of the word and to have any sort of dependency on it take a lot of money and dedication. MDMA is non addictive - tolerance builds so quickly that you simply can't stay high any length of time

Cocaine does turn people into really unpleasant arses tho and can be very destructive

Meth is pretty unpleasant and not that common anymore in rave culture I believe but times change and so do fashions in drugs. I am hardly down with the kids any more

the music scene has been awash and strongly linked with drugs since the 50s.

Ska and skinheads - amphetamines.

Psychedelia - cannabis and lsd

Rave / dance music - mdma and amphetamines

Reggae - cannabis

Raga - cocaine

Large sections of society take drugs regularly with little ill effect.

Getting hooked on powdered cocaine is pretty hard to do. As someone who has been around it for most of my adult life, as were most of my associates (though I'm long since away from both), no one I know ever for addicted, despite copius amounts consumed over the years.

Crack on the other hand is a different matter. Never encountered meth in the UK though.

Glastonbury = middle class = cocaine

Do any of you actually know what you are talking about? I mean like actual experience not just reading a pamphlet.

Do any of you actually know what you are talking about? I mean like actual experience not just reading a pamphlet.

I don't, which is why I'm asking.

I'd argue drugs are way less ubiquitous at Glastonbury than they were before the superfence went up / it turned quite so middle class.

First time I went was 2000 (and I'm sure that's far from the peak of the crazy years in the early-mid 90s), and I remember dealers openly walking around the campsites shouting out "HASH, TRIPS, Es, WHIZZ; GET YOUR HASH, TRIPS, Es, WHIZZ". It was a simpler time 😀

From that year I also remember two policeman walking through our campsite (probably the only police I saw all week), politely enquiring "have you seen a couple of Welsh guys with axes come through here?".

That said, I was working on the emergency exits/paramedic access gates for the main arena at Leeds festival last year, and in 16 years of going to and working at festivals, I've never seen so many drugs casualties. Mostly "legal" highs. A lot of kids were appallingly messed up.

Do any of you actually know what you are talking about? I mean like actual experience not just reading a pamphlet.

Oh yes, very much so.

first time I went to Glastonbury, (before the wall went up), it was all weed & ectsacy, mushrooms, still plenty of acid, travellers being on the edge and general hippies feeling the love.

Last time I went I had a moment of clarity at 3am in a glade, everyone was checking their phone for updates on where the next 'secret' set by fat boy slim was gonna be and every other person seemed to have a little coke sniffer, designer wellies and shades, que for showers, on the first day .....

It is a lot safer these days tho.

Anyway drugs fashion come and go

Maybe one day soon we'll all be drinking the shaman's post magic mushroom piss again 😉

I think anyone who's been to a pub in the centre of any provincial town has had to wait for a toilet cubicle while the occupants hoover up a line from the cistern. The other conspicuous issue with coke is that those who've recently tooted a line are generally unbearable company for a while.

If folk want to indulge on a night out or at a festival, then it's their lookout. The vast majority of recreational drug users are fully functioning, contributing members of society. Personally, I find tax avoidance more morally offensive than drug taking.

I'd be surprised if it was the kind of thing that someone would have an occasional dabble at.

I understand from watching Breaking Bad that Crystal Meth is rather moreish.

Personally, I find tax avoidance more morally offensive than drug taking.

To be clear: I said and wish to imply, nothing about the morality of it. I am not clear on that aspect myself.

The OP, yesterday 🙂

I just had to look up the meaning of ubiquity...It's good to learn a new word!

most of the people at the festival were popping ecstasy or [i]crystal meth[/i].

I doubt it, that's still quite rare over here. I suspect you meant meth as in Methedrone (not to be confused with Methadone - a heroin substitute)

Anybody looking at 'faces of meth' would probably have second thoughts before getting stuck in. I gather meth is potentially addictive from the first go. Though I'm site that also depends on the person.

Crack I find to make me too paranoid to really enjoy it. I've needed temazepam or similar straight after to deal with the come down paranoia.

Cocaine with a few drinks is enjoyable as long as it doesn't develop into a 4 days bender with it often did in my younger years. I learned much more moderation as I got older. I don't drink now and haven't for a few years which means I've not really had anything else too.

The wife and I will probably go to Glastonbury next year so I'll probably get on it properly then though.

Best experience overall is some decent ecstasy in a really good club (drum and bass for me) with NO cocaine (ruins the effect) and drink water.

I don't think this guy is just high on life
[img] [/img]

I suspect you meant meth as in Methedrone

I'll go with that!

Whilst Cocaine may not be addictive chemically, Socially and habitually it definitely is.

I had a couple of mates who, in the end up, couldn't go a night out without it, one ended up 12k in debt purely down to his habit.

Added to the fact most of the time you haven't a clue what's in it as well, sod that.

I agree with the above, it is absolutely socially addictive.

I understand from watching Breaking Bad that Crystal Meth is rather moreish.

crystal meth = meth-amphetamine =/= amphetamine = speed/wizz

So I'd go with a mix of lying and not knowing the difference on that one.

The one that pisses me off more is nitrous, most other drug users seem to stick to some unwritten rule and dispose of the paraphernalia discreetly, not just discard the canisters everywhere.

One of my favourites from back in the day was amphetamine sulphate..not tried any "modern" drugs so no idea how it compares..ketomin and pills seem popular round my way..

Hello lovlies, just back from Glas.

Drugs....hmmmm I reckon that in all the years going there's probs less drugs these days that ever, Searches are pretty hard when you que to get in, and there are sniffer dogs and amnesty bins all over the place. (although the cops did arreset some dude down by the Park stage on Sat night)

I've bought MDMA and herb there before, wouldn't bother now, and I reckon coke and harder stuff wouldn't be to hard to get hold of TBH, never seen stuff like mushrooms, but some of the old hippies would probs kno where to get it I suppose. Legal stuff all over the place tho.

Mind you, I was knackered by Sunday, and wanted to go home haha can't keep up anymore

You can mess yourself up properly on pretty much any drug - and cocaine being very moorish and expensive plus making you into an arse means if you do get into difficulty with it then its pretty spectacular.

Bunch of my pals went from occasional to regular/ frequent users of cocaine, realised it was becoming an issue in affecting the rest of their lives and then they all stopped just like that. I doubt any of them have had any now for years. No withdrawal

Hi emsz! Good to see you.

scotroutes - Member
middle class = cocaine

Coke is rampant in all classes these days. I don't really understand why, it's a terrible drug, particularly for the price. Weed does seem to be disappearing among the younger generation, probly an affect of the smoking ban/campaigns, and smoking becoming more and more socially unacceptable imo. Eccies are back to being mental, have been for some years. Meth I've never really heard of tbh.

to the OP, yes the whole addictive patter is largely nonsense, to a point, addiction is more to do with the person and their individual susceptibility to addiction. The vast majority can take drugs in a take it or leave it weekend recreational fashion.

[I]Added to the fact most of the time you haven't a clue what's in it as well, sod that.[/I]

very little cocaine most of the time, probably about 20-30% these days. The rest of it is probably ephedrine, caffeine, nicotine and other such stimulants with a bit of baby teething powder thrown in to make you think it's the coke that's causing the numbness.

The one that pisses me off more is nitrous, most other drug users seem to stick to some unwritten rule and dispose of the paraphernalia discreetly, not just discard the canisters everywhere.

I never even realised that was a drug until hearing our local community centre car park is littered with the canisters. I thought I was what people put in cars!

The wife and I will probably go to Glastonbury next year so I'll probably get on it properly then though.

No festival next year, so you'll have to make do with a 3 day cream tea and scrumpy bender.

Do any of you actually know what you are talking about?

Mibbe.

As mentioned above, there are am awful lot of fully functioning (well, maybe not 100% fully functioning on the following Monday) drug users.

I dread to think how many little white pills or brown or white powders I ingested during my teens-early 20's.

Had many a great night out. Admittedly some of them have been forgotten (and some of those on the train home).

But, in all my time doing "drugs" not once have I seen someone get shirty with a bouncer, smash a bottle over someone's head, intimidate some girl, etc.

Obviously we had the drug talks at school. It really just informed us what was OK and what you probably shouldn't touch. It helped educate and made us more curious/inquisitive. It certainly didn't stop us taking drugs.

[i]Weed does seem to be disappearing among the younger generation[/i]

are you joking?! 😆

Hi emsz

*waves*

Drug use in the young is actually dropping.

When I was a young reprobate in the late 80's,early 90's at the height of the whole Acid House/Madchester thang, me, my mates, everyone I knew, and what seemed like the whole of the north west of England spent 48 hours every weekend absolutely ripped off their tits on industrial quantities of weapons grade MDMA

What is worth remembering is the 'culture' in the town centres before this revolution. It consisted of people called Bazza and Tommo going out in their shit Top Man suits, drinking 20 pints of Fosters in some stand up shithole called Rumours, or something equaelly crap, while listening to booming Stock, Aitkin and Waterman pop pap, then having a fight outside a kebab house, and shagging some pissed blonde bird called Sharone (not Sharon.. Sharone....) over a big red Biffa wheely bin in a back alley. And yes... it was as awful as it sounds

Drug use has had a massively positive effect on our culture. Though of course this truism is one that dare not be pointed out, for fear of being burnt at the stake. Deal with it!! This country really does need to address its pathetic, juevenile, in-denial, totally ineffectual just-say-no attitude to drug use

But, in all my time doing "drugs" not once have I seen someone get shirty with a bouncer, smash a bottle over someone's head, intimidate some girl, etc.

I've picked up many a victim of those attacked by people taking drugs and have been abused and assaulted myself.

Addiction is not about the withdrawal symptoms it's about feeling the need to take it.

I would say I've lost more friends to alcohol than to drugs. Weed is so prevalent round my way it doesn't get a mention..

emsz - Member
Weed does seem to be disappearing among the younger generation

are you joking?!

Just from what I see around me, very few of the younger crowd I know touch it.

I'm aware my experience may not be completely representative. But as a dedicated toker, I think it's noticeable! 😆

Coke is rampant in all classes these days. I don't really understand why, it's a terrible drug, particularly for the price.

I quite like it but it is definitely over priced. We need some price controls on these drugs.

kerley - Member

I quite like it but it is definitely over priced. We need some price controls on these drugs.

Aye, coke dealers most definitely need reported to the monopolies commission! 😆

Drac - actually thats the definition of addiction - withdrawal symptoms

Drugs are different in their effects. Coke plus booze = aggressive fighting loon. Amphetamine plus booze the same. MDMA = want to hug everyone. Smack - sit on a sofa doing nowt Mushrooms - giggle a lot.

You in your profession will always and probably only come accross th e stroppy ones / problem users. Same as the police. The vast majority that cause no problems simply remain invisible

no one really smokes weed anymore

On three or four occasions recently I've been outdoors when I suddenly got a strong whiff of dope from somebody nearby - hash rather than grass. I was surprised by how open they were about it. These weren't in typical pot-smoking venues. Once was in the queue to buy a train ticket, in broad daylight. He was a seedy looking character, mind.

Either my sense of smell has improved, it's fairly prevalent, or it's too small a sample to mean much. Obvs not the last 😉

I quite like it but it is definitely over priced

But what if its arisan coke, made in a small town in Yorkshire?

I had to google ubiquity for the meaning as well
What about viagra or its cheap cousin kamagra , half a tab and you feel like a spotty teenager again

Weed consumption is definitely down in the university I work at, and not just because I stopped. When I was here as a student most people still saw it as a bit edgy and conspiratorial, then it became so matter of fact that it lost all of that, it's way less likely to get you laid, it's just smoking weed. Drink about the same, pills we don't really see but the stats say down a bit (and safer), coke I think we're pretty much not the target market so has always been underrepresented here, no reported crystal use at all, various other chemicals and new highs which being in my 30s I don't understand. Mostly it's nice to see how few kids smoke (lots of vaping, which I only mind when the person thinks they look awesome)

Hello, Hello. My names Terry and I'm a law abider
There's nothing I like more than getting fired up on beer
And when the weekends here I to exercise my right to get paralytic and fight
Good bloke fairly
But I get well leery when geezers look at me funny
Bounce 'em round like bunnies
I'm likely to cause mischief
Good clean grief you must believe and I ain't no thief.
Law abiding and all, all legal.
And who cares about my liver when it feels good
Wwhat you need is some real manhood.
Rasher Rasher Barney and Kasha putting peoples backs up.
Public disorder, I'll give you public disorder.
I down eight pints and run all over the place
Spit in the face of an officer
See if that bothers you cause I never broke a law in my life
Someday I'm gonna settle down with a wife
Come on lads lets have another fight

Eh hello. My names Tim and I'm a criminal,
In the eyes of society I need to be in jail
For the choice of herbs I inhale.
This ain't no wholesale operation
Just a few eighths and some Playstations my's vocation
I pose a threat to the nation
And down the station the police hold no patience
Let's talk space and time
I like to get deep sometimes and think about Einstein
And Carl Jung And old Kung Fu movies I like to see
Pass the hydrator please
Yeah I'm floating on thin air.
Going to Amsterdam in the New Year - top gear there
Cause I take pride in my hobby
Home made bongs using my engineering degree
Dear Leaders, please legalise weed for these reasons.

Like I was saying to him.
I told him: "Top with me and you won't live."
So I smacked him in the head and downed another Carling
Bada Bada Bing for the lad's night.
Mad fight, his face's a sad sight.
Vodka and Snake Bite.
Going on like a right geez, he's a ****,
Shouldn't have looked at me like that.
Anyway I'm an upstanding citizen
If a war came along I'd be on the front line with em.
Can't stand crime either them hooligans on heroin.
Drugs and criminals those thugs are the pinnacle of the downfall of society
I've got all the anger pent up inside of me.

You know I don't see why I should be the criminal
How can something with no recorded fatalities be illegal
And how many deaths are there per year from alcohol
I just completed Gran Tourismo on the hardest setting
We pose no threat on my settee
Ooh the pizza's here will someone let him in please
"We didn't order chicken, Not a problem we'll pick it out
I doubt they meant to mess us about
After all we're all adults not louts."
As I was saying, we're friendly peaceful people
We're not the ones out there causing trouble.
We just sit in this hazy bubble with our quarters
Discussing how beautiful Gail Porter is.
MTV, BBC 2, Channel 4 is on until six in the morning.
Then at six in the morning the sun dawns and it's my bedtime.

Causing trouble, your stinking rabble
Boys saying I'm the lad who's spoiling it
You're on drugs it really bugs me when people try and tell me I'm a thug
Just for getting drunk
I like getting drunk
Cause I'm an upstanding citizen
If a war came along I'd be on the front line with em.

Now Terry you're repeating yourself
But that's okay drunk people can't help that.
A chemical reaction happening inside your brain causes you to forget what you're saying.

What. I know exactly what I'm saying
I'm perfectly sane
You stinking student lameo
Go get a job and stop robbing us of our taxes.

Err, well actually according to research
Government funding for further education pales in insignificance
When compared to how much they spend on repairing
Leery drunk people at the weekend
In casualty wards all over the land.

Why you cheeky little swine come here
I'm gonna batter you. Come here.

Drac - actually thats the definition of addiction - withdrawal symptoms

We've had this conversation before, that's an old way of thinking it needs to stop. It's about why they people become addicted to something not the consequences of withdrawing as they can be treat but there's no point if you don't fix the reason why they became addicted.

This video is great at explaining it.

You in your profession will always and probably only come accross th e stroppy ones / problem users. Same as the police. The vast majority that cause no problems simply remain invisible

Nope I come across lots variations.

I remember dealers openly walking around the campsites shouting out "HASH, TRIPS, Es, WHIZZ; GET YOUR HASH, TRIPS, Es, WHIZZ"

You mean it's not like this any more?

Not been since about 1992, there were scallies shouting "black 'ash" and "pills" just about everywhere then.

I'd be very surprised if drugs were MORE ubiquitous now. If that's not an oxymoron anyway.

Crystal Meth is getting more common in certain scenes, especially the gay chem sex scene.Users I've met seem to be able to operate in real life

But what if its arisan coke, made in a small town in Yorkshire?

Sour dough coke anyone?

Only festival I've been to this year - Eden Festival - plenty of dope being smoked there, tbh it is probably one of the "crustier" fests.

Through my 20's dope was thing amongst me and my friends - everyday, some grew their own. Had plenty of other mates on E and speed but I preferred dope. One day I just stopped. As have all my friends now. Now I just like brown drinks, however alcohol is by far and away the worst abused "drug" out there. Lost family members to it eventually. I truly despise the hypocrisy of the "war on drugs" which simply drives the criminal economy.

Drac - sorry dude you simply are wrong on this. Understandable as you only will ever see the problem users and widening the definition of addiction is about medicalising a social issue.

more than 10% of the population use illegal drugs. Probaly far more than that on a saturday night out.

You simply will never see the non problem users who are the vast majority. I have known doctors, nurse, lawyers, police, teachers ( in the far past) all of whom use drugs recreationally and all of whom have never had any issues with them ie still go to work on time and straight, don't get into debt or legal trouble, don't crash their cars or get into fights

Police and ambulance service will allways have a skewed vision of drug users simply because the few problem users cause so much trouble and these are the only drug users they come up against

Great video, Drac.

TJ trust me your wrong I know what I see in my job and it's not just the problem users.

I have known doctors, nurse, lawyers, police, teachers ( in the far past) all of whom use drugs recreationally and all of whom have never had any issues with them ie still go to work on time and straight, don't get into debt or legal trouble, don't crash their cars or get into fights

What you mean just like demonstrated in that video, so I'm right then.

Police and ambulance service will allways have a skewed vision of drug users simply because the few problem users cause so much trouble and these are the only drug users they come up against

The problem is you think that.

Drac - sorry dude - what non problem users have you come into contact with?

You are wrong on this because of your skwed sample you have met.

How would somone who has had a couple of ills in a club, danced all night and then walked home happily come into contact with your service?

Edit - no the problem is that you think the unrepesentative sample you come accross is representative.

social model V medical model

Go on drac - what non problem users have yo met professionally? Under what circumstances.

YOu will never see the vast majority of drug users who have no problems.

TJ you have absolutely no idea what I have met why are you trying to tell me what I have, where have I even claimed that all drug users are a problem?

Go on drac - what non problem users have yo met professionally? Under what circumstances.

Well it's simple, attending for none drug related incidents where there tell me there history or what they have taken that day or recently.

YOu will never see the vast majority of drug users who have no problems.

FFS! I forgot how painful you are.

Edit - crossed posts. Ok so incidental then. their drug use was not a problem

I haven't said that Drac. I am asking you when you have met professionally non problem users. I cannot see how someone would come into contact with your service unless they were having problems

Jesus that's because of your thinking not mine

Drac - I'll drop it 'cos its going nowhere.

Sorry -0 I forgot myself in turning informative discussion into banging heads. apologies.

Please do as your arguing about what patients I see, I think I know the answer that better than you.

What is worth remembering is the 'culture' in the town centres before this revolution. It consisted of people called Bazza and Tommo going out in their shit Top Man suits, drinking 20 pints of Fosters in some stand up shithole called Rumours, or something equaelly crap, while listening to booming Stock, Aitkin and Waterman pop pap, then having a fight outside a kebab house
Drug use has had a massively positive effect on our culture. Though of course this truism is one that dare not be pointed out, for fear of being burnt at the stake. Deal with it!! This country really does need to address its pathetic, juevenile, in-denial, totally ineffectual just-say-no attitude to drug use"

This x1000. Back in the early eighties, every weekend was a nightmare of vomit, blood n broken glass

Went to the SW4 festival last year with the g/f. Strict searches on entry....

I think we were the only two people there not drinking, smoking or taking any form of substance (save caffeine)!

The stench of weed and the ridiculous number of wraps on the floor explained the number of people totally off their faces, and I mean that literally!

It actually ruined the event for me TBH as I felt it very stressful that pretty much everyone was out of control.
Won't do that gig again!

When up in [s]Drug[/s]Manchester, one of the most sad (as in 'upsetting') circumstances was the occasions when Mrs Baron was called to echo a coke head's heart - often less than 35 YO.

For all intents and purposes (i.e. playing football with yer nippers, etc.), the ticker was pretty much f00ked.

I'd be very surprised if drugs were MORE ubiquitous now. If that's not an oxymoron anyway.

Tautology 😉

lol @

I just completed Gran Tourismo on the hardest setting

I always liked that line.

lazybike - Member
I would say I've lost more friends to alcohol than to drugs...

At my age I've seen quite a lot of friends and family die. When I was young it was motorbikes, but from my 30s on it has been smoking tobacco.

There's been a few drug deaths, but mainly people who over indulge just screw up their lives.

Smoking eclipses everything, and why the hell the directors of tobacco companies aren't in prison, only the recipients of the [s]large bribes[/s], sorry, political donations know.

I just completed Gran Tourismo on the hardest setting

I liked that, but don't recognise it. I found myself reading it in Mike Skinner's rhythm/voice. Is it his?

Edit: pasted into another tab. Yes.

Its an interesting point that countries that have gone away from the "war on drugs" have far less issues with drugs causing damage to society

the Netherlands, Portugal, and IIRC now some south american countries

A comparison with heroin addiction in the netherlands to the UK is startling.

I'm sure that like most people who've encountered a lot of drugs in their life, what stands out, now that i think about it, is what an absolutely tiny minority of people actually have any 'drug problems'

I'm sure my experience is similar to most

1. Start experimenting with drugs
2. have a right old laugh, on account of them being bloody great fun!
3. Grow out of it
4. Get on with life

The trouble is that when it deviates from that course, the consequences tend to be pretty dire.
the other problem is that the ridiculous 'war on drugs' makes this far more likely, and then actiavely prevents any issues that arise actually being addressed

It really is totally bloody stupid! But such is the head in the sand attitude of the authorites, terrified of Leah Betts tyle tabloid hysteria, that I can't see this changing any time soon

I've never been interested in smoking weed, at Uni (when first exposed to it) I was going through a fitness phase and didn't want to smoke anything. These days I'm going through an unfit/fat phase and have enough problems with snacking without adding weed to the equation :p From what others around me say though it can be harder to get hold of than speed/coke/crack/smack.

As for other drugs, most of the issues I see with them are the crap it's mixed with & not knowing it's strength, not saying legalising and regulating drugs will solve all the problems relating to it, far from it, but the current situation certainly isn't working either.

OP, If she went to Glastonbury then she missed out the drug most of the young people seemed to be taking. Come 11 PM it was like being involved in a zombie movie as the Ketamine Kiddies took over - they didn't even look like they were having much fun!

Cocaine is not addictive in the real sense of the word

That doesn't even mean anything. The "real" sense of the word? As in the definition? Cocaine is hugely influential in behaviour and habit forming, which is what makes it addictive. Just like alcohol, riding a bike, using a smartphone, and arguing.

Three fish. the real meaning of addiction is that you get physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop. Like alcohol, heroin and barbiturates / benzodiazipines.

Medical establishment especially in the US ant to use a much wider definition that would include things like you say as this means inthe US they canmake money off it. I believe as do many professionals this to be wrong. the whole concept of "psychological" addiction is very much disputed and IMO is not at all useful

apart from anything else it cause great confusion and makes it harder to treat the real addictions.

There's a couple of places that you can get some very interesting information from via podcasts. Check out say why to drugs, which just gives out the information that is known and also leap UK, who are definitely worth your time to investigate

and arguing

Sick burn!

Coke can be destructively habit-forming, end of story.

The rest is semantics and you should know better TBH.

Police and ambulance service will always have a skewed vision of drug users simply because the few problem users cause so much trouble and these are the only drug users they come up against

In what feels like a previous life I was in the police in Glasgow from the late 1970s onwards working in some rough areas - Maryhill Possilpark. Hard as it is to believe now when I first started there wasn't widespread drug use there. Drug cases were so rare the Drug Squad handled most of them. In the early 80s it exploded. My anecdotal impression was that when cannabis and heroin use became huge it reduced some crimes of disorder. The number of fighting drunks seemed to go down. Rather than going out getting drunk and fighting they were getting stoned. From the policing point of view give me someone who has smoked a couple of joints over a drunk any day of the week.

Of course my experience was only one viewpoint at one place and time. I did wonder whether I was remembering correctly how little drugs use there was in the late 1970s. A quick google suggests I was. From Hansard 1981

The report claims that, after a steady but small rise in drug addiction in Glasgow since the early 1970s, it shot up by 388 per cent. in the first six months of this year.

one of the report's authors, has told me in conversation—this is not in the report—that the addicts come largely from working-class backgrounds. In the past this type of addiction has tended to be in university towns where there are large student populations and among children and young people from a more middle class background

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1981/oct/22/drug-abuse-glasgow

Much of problems drugs cause are a consequence of the fact they are illegal. If you are a drug dealer and someone rips you off you can't take them to court can you?

As for users - it has to be dangerous , depending on the drug, when you have little idea of the purity or dosage of the substance you are injecting, or swallowing.

When even large parts of the USA are legalising cannabis it looks like the way forward. Other drugs? I don't know but I'd listen to arguments from people that do. We have tried prohibition and it hasn't worked.

the real meaning of addiction is that you get physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop.

You're referring to chemical addiction. Other addictions are available.

I'm still astounded that marijuana is legal in several US states. There are ads on bus stops for it in San Francisco and every other suburban house seems to be growing a few plants. Canada is about to legalise it too. It's a triumph of common sense. The Lib Dems had legalisation in their manifesto here but I'll not hold my breath on it changing in the UK in my lifetime.

As with so many things in life, Richard Pryor summed it up perfectly....

[i]Cocaine? Gonna get hooked, not on no coke, you can't get hooked, my friends been snorting 15 years, they ain't hooked. ... I'm not addicted to coke, i just love the way it smells![/i]

Weed does seem to be disappearing among the younger generation

Loads of da yoof smoking it in the streets of Cambridge, smell it all the time.

Surprised someone said they think weed use is declining, where I live it seems more prevalent than ever, hard to walk through town without smelling it or vans driving past and the smell wafting out.

The new graduates I encounter seem to drink far far less, if at all compared to me and my friends at there age.

Three_Fish - Member

the real meaning of addiction is that you get physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop.

You're referring to chemical addiction. Other addictions are available.

Back to semantics. Ok lets drop the word addiction as it has so many uses and definitions in peoples minds. Use physical dependency and psychological if you want.

When you see someone withdrawing from alcohol or benzos and fitting uncontrollably requiring large amounts of tranquilsers to stop them - and they can die from it or Heroin withdrawal where they are shitting and puking uncontrollably ( but they won't die) it seem very differnt to someone being abit grumpy for a few days "withdrawing" from cocaine.

I suppose part of my issue is seeing folk claiming addiction to weed as an excuse for being a horrible scally in court.