To think people are naive re cocaine

100% I bloody hate drugs and people take it thinking it won't affect them when it's graphically obvious to those around them that they are coked up or whatever.

The best DP I ever had was totally addicted and it killed him when he was a young man.

I've worked in a healthcare profession all my working life, in a lot of PAYE and freelance jobs and I have never worked in a place where no-one was taking drugs. It is pernicious and rife everywhere.

Those people driving in front of you, behind you and past you are likely to be on drugs. It's naive to think this is not the case.

It's interesting though, I have a friend who was at one time, as a young man, significantly involved in the drug trade, in particular cocaine. One of the things he has said to me is that he never did or would do coke, and when mid-level people like himself started to do it, they knew they'd lost the plot and wouldn't be around long. It seems like the people peddling it know the risks, just not the numb-nuts partying with it.

I remember being on nights out with people taking it and they would just repeat themselves over and over without realising thinking they were hilarious. Completely put me off trying it. I’m sure I know a few people who use it now and again but equally know a lot of people who don’t use it.

Lol at a twenty something telling us more mature posters we're naive re drugs 😂
Have you heard of the rave generation OP? Acid house etc? Today's drug scene is comparatively mild. One thing hasn't changed though, coke turns people into boring twats and it is glaringly obvious when someone has had a line, I always preferred MDMA 🤷

It has always been common place to take cocaine. Not in my family or circle of friends. Most people take a drug every weekend when they consume alcohol.

Im naive. Noone has ever tried to sell me drugs and I have never been out where I have witnessed someone take them, apart from weed.

I assume lots of people are taking them but I just dont know and cant tell.

I remember reading something about not taking cocaine when you've been drinking. Most people don't seem to know about this.

I have Colombian family and have seen the other end. There are people I know in the UK (not close) who take cocaine and think it's cool, but who are also vegan and go on about the environment and how they care about animal welfare and poor children abroad, yet the environmental impact of cocaine and the human devastation the supply chain leads to in developing countries like Colombia is unimaginably extensive.

Damage your own health if you like, but if you're going to buy cocaine acknowledge that you are also buying into human trafficking, child slavery, corruption and environmental destruction.

I don't touch drugs and I'm sure I am naive to how many people do. I find it all very hypercritical and self absorbent.

Really cause I worked in publishing and the stories of 1980/early 90s drug use in the toilets was legendary and then the long lunches. It was far more exciting back then

@Knockonw00d you are 20s right and then assume that you are the first generation to do all of this

you aren’t - it isn’t being naive about usage but it has changed and it is potentially more dangerous now with what it has been cut with

but it doesn’t change the fact it does alter your brain and whilst many will grow out of it and become the mumsnet members you are so disdainful of now and their partners some won’t quite be so lucky

I'm probably "hopelessly naive" but I've never taken cocaine, or known of any friends or colleagues to have taken it. And I've worked, in a city since the late 80s, in one of the sectors which is supposedly rife with high flying professionals using it recreationally.

I've never been offered it and wouldn't have a clue where to get it.

My husband and I have both worked in HR in the public and private sectors over the years and one of the most common reasons staff are disciplined in the last 10 years or so is failing random drug tests or being caught using at work. Its literally everywhere, people from all walks of life.

I'd bet money that most of the people in here swearing up and down they don't know a single person who uses cocaine actually know at least one.

I think you're correct. But 'normalising' it by essentially saying everyone is doing it is wrong and irresponsible.

I think those who take it are naive. They think they are different to those who have gone before. They are not. At best they'll spend a lot of time in toilets with coke head acquaintances, boring the life out of others, thinking they're the most interesting person in the room (deep down believing they're not, hence using cocaine). At worst they'll develop a serious problem and ruin their and their loved ones lives. No amount of cocaine will ever work to fill the void again. Where will their coke using buddies be then?

P.S. Find yourself a better social circle and get help to quit. No good comes from using cocaine or associating with those who do.

I'll admit to being naive about it. I don't [think] I know anyone socially who does cocaine, I accept I am almost certainly wrong. I've never been around anyone who would talk about it or do it anywhere near me or talk about people who did.

I was surprised to hear that two of my non direct colleagues were taking it on a works night out (not my department). Fairly serious consequences for both - which is how I heard about it. Both professionals, married with young children. Both a bit socially awkward - a bit 'try hard' (as it try to be witty but...falls flat) part of me thinks they did it/do it to appear 'cool'.

I think people are naive to the devastation cocaine use causes. As a social worker I see it all the time, people who think it’s just recreational fun.
They beat their partners
They get into fights - there is an aggression from a cocaine using/gym buff like nothing else
They commit offences
They take the family money
They loose their jobs
They neglect their children
They are really self absorbed idiots

I have lived nearly all my adult life in cities including London, Liverpool and Glasgow as well as others. So the lack of cocaine use in my social circle is because of the choices of friendships and relationships I’ve made, not because I live in a “sleepy town”. I’m sure it’s the same for many others on this thread.

As I’ve said, I do know it’s common in some circles but not in mine thankfully.

So yes I would be shocked if my partner or close friends I’ve known for over ten years were found to be doing coke. That doesn’t mean I’m “naive”. It’s just not normal or expected behaviour in my social circle.

How do you think people become addicted. I was a recreational user, until I wasn't, then I was an addict.
Me and my fancy handbag. Pathetic.

I think you’re wrong - people know how common it is and you are either in those circles and therefore you know because you’re it or you’re not and just realise it’s none of your business so ignore it. I don’t go out to bars anymore, I don’t socialise with people who take it and I don’t accept people who take drugs into my social circle. Professionally I leave work events if this is happening and I try to distance myself from those people in the work place.

I agree completely. In the process of divorcing my husband for this reason. He has well and truly fucked his life up because of it. I was aware that he and most of his friends did it occasionally, but totally naive to the extent of the use.

Since finding out, I’ve discovered just how naive I have been and how common this is in professional middle aged men. Wankers. I have no sympathy as there is a certain level of arrogance that goes with thinking they will be ok taking that kind of substance. Plus a massive hypocrisy.

I don't really care tbh. I can't control other people, if they want to do stupid things like take drugs then that's up to them. I've got much better things to spend my money on.

My understanding is that if you have cocaine you can convert it into crack cocaine.

I agree OP. I’m always bemused when I read such threads on here myself.

But I think it’s geographical. I’m in London, and know that here and all of the major cities, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastles, dealers are 10 a penny. So cocaine use is extremely common on weekends. The dealers will also supply to the bordering smaller towns.

However in sleepy little remote towns in the countryside of, say for example Wales, it will be harder to get hold of. Unless you’re from such a place, you are very naive to be unaware of how common it is. It want proof of this, look at the lifestyle of the dealers and distributors.

I can tell you arent very versed in this because you're talking about a few grams of weed in this same.
Lol, the irony.
I've been part of a recovery group for 10 years, grew up in the inner city where drugs have always been rampant, saw 1000's of families destroyed by drugs.
I can you are coming from a mc mindset.

My husband and his friends did it in their late teens/early twenties but not since but nobody in my immediate circle does and I don’t know that anyone I know does it.

Yes, and a lot of the people you see putting hours into their career and also managing the gym and managing to be completely on top of stuff are managing it - because cocaine.

I'm actually glad you posted this OP because I had kind of forgotten. And I often compare myself to those people and wonder how they get so much done.

Except it's never been tried.

Legit sources, at a reasonable price, from someone who isn't dodgy, free from worry about committing a crime. Entire supply chain legitimised.

It's more like cancelling prohibition. Yes criminals find something else to do, but they are hugely disrupted