To think people are naive re cocaine

Nope straight up correct.

Forces would have hardly anyone left. Introduce drug testing and prepare for anarchy.😆

When I see my friends we do things like fitness/art classes, theatre, games like VR or shooting clay, darts, golf, escape rooms, pretend jury trials etc. or we go travelling but largely do the same things

I’m a millennial and most of that sounds fun to me. Especially the theatre.

Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy the chaotic millennial clubbing from 17 to 27 😂but I wish I’d done more arts and culture “stuff” .

Although I didn’t drink or take drugs so I’d be the type to go clubbing then still be able to go to an art museum the next day on a clear head.

But yeah I wish I’d explored more activities and not sure how good the clubbing was for my overall mental health or self esteem. Where I lived things have changed now no doubt, but back then I feel there wasn’t as much to do aside from clubbing and shopping.

When I moved down to London in my mid 20s is when I joined creative writing groups, went to poetry and live music nights and street markets on weekends and started going to the theatre loads. I went clubbing only very occasionally.

But yeah this is another thing Op is missing, they’re claiming everyone is doing it in the bars (false) but even if that was the case not everyone hangs out at bars and clubs.

It’s bizarre that they can’t seem to grasp their experiences and way of socialising isn’t necessarily universal.

It’s a bit unclear what the OPs point is anyway 😂 Even if it is more common that we think what was the point of this thread other than patronising women who are understandably shocked when they find out their husband/daughter /friend is doing it ?

Are they saying it’s okay and not that harmful because “everyone else is doing it” or what?

And why do they think they know what’s going on in our social circles more than us?

It’s all a bit strange.

But I’m glad most posters have pointed out that cocaine is very much a harmful thing that shouldn’t be normalised. I agree it’s a shame she’s not engaging with the points people are making.

No offence taken, I’m glad not a millennial either!

But it always amazes me how oblivious people are to how common it really is.

As far as I know, none of my family or closest friends take it - and yes, we have discussed it among ourselves. We don't go out very much and most of us won't see 60 again. Our drug of choice is alcohol in moderation. Yes, there are probably people in our local pub who take it, but I don't know them., and I haven't noticed any signs of people taking it either. It's just not part of my life.

I hate that on mumsnet posters say that everyone is taking it. No they aren't. Neither DH nor I do for a start, and I judge people who do.

Indeed, a very sad post. Never in a million years would I touch something like that. Not worth the risk. These people taking the drug are the naive ones, not realising how dangerous cocaine use is. And I'm not even going to go deeper by mentioning how damaging the trade is for people who grow the coca plant. Drug cartels come to mind. If you use their product, you're complicit to some of the most brutal organisations on the planet, murdering and wrecking lives.

You're not engaging with any of the ones discussing what the thread is about either though. Many of us have told you that it's just the circles you're in, it's common but nowhere near as common as you think.

You barely engaged either with the people who refuted your point about behaviour changes, you're calling other people naive, but it's not the people on the party scene the same thing as you who will notice behaviour changes when they start, it's generally their partners who start to notice the effects and suffer the consequences of them.

So the only point is the numbers not the effects of it either to take or how it is produced.

Like a lot of things it becomes less as you grow older have kids and get responsibilities- I can’t go out clubbing and stay out all night before pitching up at work feeling awful anymore I have children and pets and I am fairly certain the vast majority of the people I know are the same - I still have friends from those days but a lot now are school mum friends who I have only ever gone out with drinking!

You sound in your 20s oblivious to any dangers and personality changes because you are I assume on it at the same time. It’s real it happens.

I have a teenager all to aware about the drugs etc in the high school environment and how much much worse it was than when I was younger

But of course it just stands to reason that use of cocaine will be much higher amongst the bar and club regulars on friday and saturday nights.

Most people live in a world which extends beyond that. Most people who use recreational drugs when they're young probably grow out of if when they have responsibilities and a little more worldliness.

I used to dabble when I was young. Haven't touched anything in many many years and nor would I. And amongst my close friends that's absolutely the norm.

As for it not changing personalities, I'm afraid it is you who is naive. Town centres are notably more aggressive than they were 30 years ago when everyone was taking ecstasy. Coke makes people easily agitated. It also turns people into intolerable boring bastards.

Yep in some countries they are far less likely to mix it with alcohol so even though it's risky it's not as risky, but obviously the culture in the UK etc is predominantly to take it with alcohol.
I don't think it needs to be regulated, they could do a government campaign warning of the dangers of mixing it, but I really don't think that that would stop many people who currently do it. Perhaps it would have more of an impact on people who haven't yet started to take it though.

But I think everyone or almost everyone knows that energy drinks shouldn't be mixed with alcohol, but yet it's a very popular combo. And many ignore the advice about prescription meds too, even when they are told that warning face to face by doctors.

Do you not care about the human and environmental damage the cocaine trade causes. I hope you aren't someone that pretends to care about the environment whilst happily taking cocaine.

This.

I think it is probably both over-assumed and under-assumed in equal measure.

I went out partying including all-night benders when I was in my twenties, blackout drunk a couple of times, out til 5am consecutive nights. I worked 60-80h weeks. I never touched drugs, I was just young. Some people will have assumed I was on drugs, but I never touched them.

And yeah, there will be no doubt people I know who take drugs, but not people that I know intimately. My genuine friends are happy drinkers, socially conscious and straight-laced. I don't particularly see what it adds to know that the guy who did my conveyancing has a habit, or my dentist or whatever, except to be sad that so many people are willing to finance misery.

That’s fair enough I know, personally I had kids so young (pregnant at 15 and born at 16) that I’ve never done drugs in my life because I’ve never had the time. Although you’d be right to point out there’s kids 14 and even younger doing drugs I suppose.
in all honesty I forgot what my original point was and had to scroll back, I guess I just wanted to say I’m someone who’s in their mid twenties whose never even tried cocaine seeing as the op is implying everyone is a regular user

What is the obsession with people wanting to poison themselves?

If it was regulated maybe we would be better educated on it. I didn't know cocaine and alcohol was a lethal mix. I do know that energy drinks shouldn't be mixed with alcohol and certain prescription meds shouldn't.

OP sorry that you can glide through taking coke and no consequences

Cocaine + alcohol is turned into cocaethylene in the liver, this stays in the body far longer than the effect of cocaine is felt, cocaethylene is toxic to vital organs and can be fatal! ( No I'm not fun at parties before anyone asks!! ) Sorry to jump on this comment, but I saw on another comment that you cannot overdose on cocaine, cocaine speeds up the heart, anything that speeds up the heart can cause a heart attack, so yeah, while not a overdose exactly, still a pretty quick fatal reaction! Serotonin syndrome too, but I'll leave anyone interested in that to have a Google - also can be rapidly fatal!

That's an absolutely pointless comparison.

Alcohol does not have a widespread black market in this day and age.

What people do when drunk or high isn't relevant to my point about the misery the entire illicit substances industry creates before anyone has bought themselves a little baggie or wrap.

In terms of the misery created after the drug or alcohol has been used, that's practically an existential question....

There will be overlap between the two groups. There are a lot of dedicated and loving parents who will ’treat’ themselves to the occasional line on a rare night out.

Good parents and bad parents use it. Non parents use it. Teenage parents, working class parents, single parents, married parents, middle class parents, upper class parents…all the ‘types’ use it.

I daren't try it as I have an addictive personality, also not interested in any of the effects (or the awful come-down it supposedly has) but I can see why people do it I suppose. Life is incredibly dull and I don't blame anyone who needs something every week to get them through it.

For those of you who thinks its harmless ought to read up on the side effects. There's also the fact that you can't overdose on cocaine. Not because you can't take too much but because you react differently every time you use it.

Of course not everyone who has children is a good parent but typically most parents focus on their families. And if you had any doubts about the amount of people doing cocaine this thread should open your eyes

Mine? Or the Ops?