To think people are naive re cocaine

That a lot of people on here would have no idea if someone close to them was a regular cocaine user.

But isn’t that an issue as well of how much we downplay alcohol as well

At a university reunion this year, a third of my peers (all professional/city females in their 50s) were taking it. This is particularly shocking to me as we've only recently lost my ex (50s, male, banker) to a coke related death. It is rife and accepted by the wider circles the users move in as "no more dangerous than alcohol".

https://www.priorygroup.com/addiction-treatment/cocaine-addiction/cocaine-use-statistics

Actually my 10% seems high but I assume it just seems high to those who move around those circles

But let’s face it it isn’t new Opiates were around in the 19th Century the whole point of Sherlock Holmes is he takes cocaine/morphine/tobacco and becomes addicted and looks the negative sides of addiction and how it affected him

It’s interesting though isn’t it that by the time it was modernised it became heroin (Elementary) and painkillers (House) because some how cocaine was no longer thought of as a drug you could get addicted to and have negative impacts

Because nobody is going to be dishonest on a survey about coke use...

I did respond to that post.
Coke use in clubs didn't shock me and never has.
But coke use generally no longer shocks me as a result of various jobs I have had. It's everywhere. I am trying to learn the signs (this thread has been helpful) as I am single and would like to start looking, but I really do not want to inadvertently date someone who does it. I have done this once before (with coke)} and once with other drugs.

My latest one who did coke was an area supervisor for a retirement home company.

…in their 20’s…

people are using it recreationally and still functioning…in their 20’s…

this is using, not really abusing. And it will catch up with them. So yes. It’s normal and prevalent in your social circle. It will lessen in time.

The reason is age and problems of compounded use of drugs.

20’s ‘Coke fun’
30’s ‘Coke problematic’
40’s ‘Coke addled’
50’s ‘Coke (and other substances) disappeared from normal life or dead’

And if you have 50 year olds in your group hanging out with the 20’s ‘and they seem fine’…They are not fine.
That’s why they are hanging out with 20 year olds.

I stopped doing cocaine (only party recreationally) when I had an accident. I would not have done that thing, or realised the danger of it, if I had not been high. I did not realise until it had worn off that I had seriously hurt myself and had broken bones. I am still ‘injured’ really - it still hurts from time to time, and it has affected my ability to do some things.

I was in my 30’s. It had become problematic. I stopped.

Also… by your 40’s you can tell regular Coke users as they look like shit. It wrecks your skin, ages you so badly, bloats your face and makes you like an idiot.

Oh and the teeth and gums… dentists know and it will cost you money to fix.

But still the percentage taking cocaine is at its highest 10% which while a lot isn’t everyone

My reading comprehension is fine. I still think your assertion that you are entirely and absolutely always in control and that it is fine because everyone else does it is frankly naive

I know people who have taken cocaine - most of whom no longer do so and have long since stopped a couple who still do recreationally and some for whom it has negatively impacted their lives.

so yes I absolutely guarantee you know people from whom this will effect them and that your assertion taking cocaine has no effect is wrong.
because you take it for the effects no? Otherwise what is the point

I would say OP I am not sure this is accurate. I definitely know people who do cocaine. Quite a few. But I know more who never do it and some who have tried from time to time if others are doing it but would never buy it themselves.

I think it depends on your circle and environs.

I do know a lot of hypocrites on the topic of drug use though (as in they do drugs but hate drug dealers.)

I lack no sense of wisdom or judgement about cocaine, but I have zero experience of it.
That does not make me naive about it, in the mildly derogatory way used in the OP.
One doesn’t need hands-on experience of it in use by close friends or self to know the issues that banned substances cause - and as PP have pointed out, not just the usage of it!
Being shocked that a loved-one has been spaffing money on drugs, the effect of which could jeopardise their job and ultimately their family’s security is because of the breach of trust, more than the fact that in some places, “everyone” (although I don’t believe that for a minute) is doing it.
And I think you need to raise your bar, OP, and find somewhere else to go out to where not everyone is on cocaine - you’ll have a much better evening!

Why should jobs be bringing in routine testing? It’s none of the employer’s business what employee’s do in the spare time except for a handful of roles where it may impact their ability to do their work

Even if we know someone who does cocaine it doesn't make it alright. If I knew someone who did, I'd judge them and yes think what I said earlier on in the thread.

Quite. I imagine there is a high correlation between men who use cocaine and those who go to strip clubs where they allow men to snort off the womens bodies.

I know 5 teachers - none of them do cocaine, or any drug.

Anecdote is not data. And you're starting to come across as some desperate to "prove" you are "right".

I've read your comment, thank you. There's nothing conversational about the tone.

I asked you a question - you've told me my question is absolutely pointless, haven't answered the question, proceeded to lecture me on something I haven't asked about because it reinforces your opinion on the matter. You're speaking at me, not to me. That's the opposite of conversational, it's dictatorial.

But well done with the killer insult about the auto-generated username and suggestion that the problem lies with my comprehension of the written word. I'm obviously devastated and definitely don't think you're an obnoxious twat now.

Yes.

With cocaine are you able to have control over your actions after? As in some base level control not to assault/hurt another person?

Oh definitely in the strip club realm.

But years ago I'd have been very shocked to learn that professionals were regularly doing it in my local pub (I live in a village, very 'old man at the bar with his dog' sort of place).

Whereas I wouldn't be now, now I know just how common its use is among so many different spheres of society. This is from working in clubs but also working in law enforcement, and (later on) in mental health.

Of course people take it in clubs. But for me It's who takes it in the clubs. It wasn't (just) young nobby from the local estate, or some flashy tanned guy with a gold chain and gold teeth- it was solicitors teachers doctors lawyers law enforcers.

I don't 'move in circles' where my friends and family do it. But through working in both law enforcement and the sex industry, I have learned that it is far from an 'us and them' thing. I can believe people's close friends and family are not coke users (mine aren't either!)but their dog walker/hairdresser/local shop owner/mechanic they go to/kid's teacher etc etc?

Everyone knows someone who does coke.

@TooManyCupsAndMugs spot on. In our nice town I’ve seen poor kids on bikes, phone in hand, meeting some meat head in a blacked out 4x4 and passing stuff through car window. These kids can’t just decide not to do it anymore they are trapped. These dealers are nasty bastards who think nothing of threatening families and inflicting violence. I too know that doing coke is really common, I tried it in my younger more selfish days and it felt great but think of the chain of misery you are funding. I do get offered it from time to time but stay clear now. Still think the most dangerous drug is alcohol though if you look at the stats

I tend to think it is more acceptable in many social circles nowadays. It's no longer a shock to figure out someone takes drugs-there's obviously a heirarchy-coke, acceptable. Heroin, 'loser drug' to be terrified of.

It’s no longer a shock for YOU.

If you’ve had people sniffing coke off your body and worked in strip clubs not surprised you have a. Seen a lot of people doing it and b. Aren’t shocked by finding out someone does it.

For many of us though, we don’t move in those circles, those aren’t our experiences and it’s perfectly reasonable for me to be shocked if my friends or partner or nieces turn out to be “recreational” cokeheads.