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AIBU?

to be a little shocked at the laissez faire attitude to drugs on here?

596 replies

ThatVikRinA22 · 03/10/2012 13:13

at risk of sounding like your mum and pulling a cats bum face Grin

im a bit shocked. Ive seen reference to drugs and recreational drug use on here before, and while i love the diversity of mn, im always quite shocked at what seems to be a majority? view that recreational drugs are just part of life, that its ok because 'professionals' do it too, that its not the same to be seen to use cocaine at the weekend as it is to be a shoplifter or prostitute with an addiction to herioin....

is it just that no one sees the murkier side of drug use?

i suppose i see the darker side because of what i do for a living, but even before that, i would never have been tempted to try. There are the wider issues with production, trafficking, crime, gangs, and the environmental issues in production
just one such story here

my brother was a heroin addict, and i lost my sister to drugs, one way or another, i believe drug use contributed to her death. Seriously, most the crime i deal with is in some way drug related. Two weeks ago i was involved in an attempted murder over cocaine and cannabis supply.

i am not some rabid campaigner, but this is mumsnet - are most of us parents? i find it odd that people can froth about the small stuff, that people get pilloried for some really bizarre stuff on here while threads about drug use get a fairly "meh" response. (yes its a thread inspired by the coke using teachers assistant....)

why is that? genuinely interested to explore why coke use is seen as ok, and wonder what is not ok?

if its ok for the TA to use coke at the weekend, is it ok for them to smoke crack? or use heroin? doctors were mentioned on the last thread....would you undergo an operation knowing your doctor or surgeon had used coke? or smoked cannabis?

if its just part of life, where would you draw the line?
do people not realise what it takes to get that gram of coke at the pub at the weekend?

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Thumbwitch · 03/10/2012 13:16

I haven't seen that attitude, Vicar - which threads am I missing?

But if I had seen them, I would also be Shock at a laissez-faire attitude as well. I was fairly shocked when one of my friends admitted she'd had cocaine at a party, where everyone there was either on cannabis or cocaine.

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Hemlet · 03/10/2012 13:19

I was surprised at the attitude of some one the 'To be shocked to learn that a teaching assistant take drugs at the weekend? ' thread.

Some saying that 'lots of people do it at the weekend' and 'why should the fact that they're a teacher affect it?'

I am dead against drug use and certainly wouldn't share the opinion of someone who thought it was ok because 'it's what everyone does'.

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SammyTheSwedishSquirrel · 03/10/2012 13:22

Because those of us who agree with you are shocked into silence through fear because, lets face it, AIBU can be a scary a place if you find yourself disagreeing with the majority of posters in a given thread.

I've never used drugs, apart from prescribed ones, and don't know anyone who does. The closest I've ever come to mind altering substances is my half of bitter shandy when on holiday.

I was going to put a Blush at the end of that statement and then I thought 'why?'. Why should should I be embarassed about it it. Confused

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ThatVikRinA22 · 03/10/2012 13:24

am i allowed to link to the thread?

if so its this one

if not im sure ill get deleted....

im curious as to how people can justify drug use - surely either all drugs are ok for all, or none are? they are all illegal - so why is coke seen as ok, while others arent?

what is the difference between herion use and coke use?

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MrSunshine · 03/10/2012 13:26

yabu to take a few viewpoints of a self selected sample and turn it into majority view.

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apachepony · 03/10/2012 13:26

I guess that you have seen the bad side of drug taking, whereas for the majority of recreational drug users it is something fun that they did/do at the weekends, which has created many great memories & not caused too many problems. In the same way that a child of an alcoholic may have a v different view of alcohol than a lot of people

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apachepony · 03/10/2012 13:27

To me the difference between heroin & coke is that heroin is more likely to fuck yours and your loved one's lives up

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HerOffTheInternet · 03/10/2012 13:29

that's not true though apache

coke is pretty devastating on families too

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Sidge · 03/10/2012 13:29

Drugs are drugs are drugs IMO.

I don't understand the tolerance of drug use and abuse on MN (and I include alcohol excess in that too).

As a nurse I too see the seedier physical side of drug use - as well as the social side (domestic violence, child neglect, financial problems) and I'm with you Vicar - it really baffles me as to why drug use is acceptable.

None of my friends use drugs, or use alcohol to excess. Are we all really boring? I don't think so - we have normal lives with all the ups and downs that entails, we just choose not to cushion reality with mind altering substances on a regular basis.

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Scaredbutdoingit · 03/10/2012 13:30

I think the problem is that people really are divided when it comes to opinion on drugs... whether they should be legal/illegal, whether it is about personal choice/public safety, and also how much of the really bad stuff surrounding drugs is to do with the drugs themselves, and how much of it is to do with the fact that they are illegal (thus pushing them underground). Also, how much of it is to do with the reasons people take drugs in the first place.

It really isn't as simple as "drugs are bad", although opinion is divided even on that. Smile

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Feminine · 03/10/2012 13:30

YANBU.

I was also [shocked] at the attitude.

also, I was amazed to hear how many people still 'do' drugs.

I have never taken any, despite being in a job that had it on tap.

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BigStickBIWI · 03/10/2012 13:32

I wonder how many of these MNetters will still be so laissez faire about drugs when their own children start experimenting?

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FunnysInLaJardin · 03/10/2012 13:33

I am always suprised when I hear about people I know taking drugs. It just doesn't occur to me that they might. I am too old to have been part of the late 80's drug culture just about, but lots of my friends embraced it fully. I am so glad with the beneift of hindsight that I 'missed out' though. Some of them are truly fucked up

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Proudnscary · 03/10/2012 13:33

I hardly think it's a majority, Vicar!

Sorry about your personal experiences. Of course that colours your view.

But we're not kids or children on here - we're not going to be darkly influenced by a Mumsnetter taking cocaine and led astray.

People on here are honest about their lifestyles.

I don't think anyone's championing drug taking on here but it goes on - and plenty of people do take recreational drugs occassionally with no adverse effects.

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greenhill · 03/10/2012 13:34

I was Shock at how many of my colleagues had recreational drugs habits at many of my previous jobs. They felt it didn't get in the way of their performance, but many seemed to plateau in terms of career as they'd reached a point in which they were satisfied with doing the bare minimum and lived for the weekend.

I've been out of the work force for 6 years though so wonder if this has changed due to recession / changed priorities as they aged / had families etc. At my last job, if caught, it was a sackable offence.

My DH is startled by the amount of casual mention of drug use at his workplace. We are in our 40's and weren't part of that scene at University either, whilst aware of it, obviously. I don't necessarily think it is a younger generational thing though. I think society has changed and a lot of that has to do with media representation. Just think how many celebrities tell of their 'partying' lifestyle and coded references are made to 'exhaustion' etc.

I've seen some of the so-what threads too, but have also seen genuine handwringing about a teen taking a bong to school though.

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ThatVikRinA22 · 03/10/2012 13:35

good question bigstick

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BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 03/10/2012 13:35

is it just that no one sees the murkier side of drug use?

This ^^ I think Vicar

When I was a teen I may have smoked the odd joint (not much, never really enjoyed it) and I have never known anyone who does hard drugs so no, I havent seen the devastation it can cause. I remember in the early 90's when ecstasy was the in drug a friend of mine asking if I wanted to take one - I said no and got called boring but it never interested me and I was always too scared to try it.

I have to say though, for DS drugs scare me. When I was at school we could buy a fag off the ice-cream man for 10p - what the hell will our kids be able to buy now??

I have to say though, I dont buy into the thought of smoke cannabis and gradually you will move to the harder stuff..I have always equated cannabis the same as say having a glass of wine. Niave or not?? I dont know as like I say, I have never seen the harder side of drugs.

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IneedAsockamnesty · 03/10/2012 13:35

yanbu to be shocked by it. it bugs me as well

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Viviennemary · 03/10/2012 13:38

YANBU. Oh well it's against the law but never mind everybody does it so why shouldn't teachers, childminders do it too. Confused And let's face it those drunk drivers always think their ability to drive isn't affected by alcohol. Well it is.

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Nancy66 · 03/10/2012 13:38

There's a world of difference between casual use and addiction though - just as there is between a social drinker and a full on alchie.

One doesn't inevitably lead to the other.

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HerOffTheInternet · 03/10/2012 13:40

Nancy, that's not the same at all

drugs are illegal substances - one use or 250 occasions of use, they are not legal

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Dolallytats · 03/10/2012 13:40

I was also very surprised with the posts on the threads, but there were so many saying the same thing that I didn't bother posting my opposing view!!
I found it really odd that people still see certain drugs as ok.

What a funny view apache, cocaine has a hugely negative impact on the user and their families just as much as heroin does (and cannabis does, and alcohol, and Ecstasy etc)

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ThatVikRinA22 · 03/10/2012 13:40

cannabis - i used to think it was harmless. not any more though do i think though - i dont necessarily buy the fact that it leads to harder stuff - but in its own right it can have a huge effect, and its worse when kids try to come off it if they have smoked it for years.

the drug of choice among kids at the mo is MCAT. very cheap and very nasty.

i do wonder how parents will deal with drug use among their own children if they think its ok?

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LemonBreeland · 03/10/2012 13:41

YANBU. I think taking a casual attitude to something that is illegal is crazy.

Drugs will be dangerous every time you take them, as you can never be certain what is in them.

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THERhubarb · 03/10/2012 13:41

Because it's a "cool" attitude to have.

Pretending that you are ok with drugs seemingly gives you a rebellious streak and because drugs is still seen as a bit 'rock 'n' roll' that's the attitude that some posters like to put out.

Don't believe everything you hear on Mumsnet. Most of those advocating drug use are probably recluses who never so much as touch a drop of sherry but want people to think they're some kind of rock chick.

I'd just ignore them.

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