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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think far too many people in UK & elsewhere are making stupid decisions about drugs and ignoring the consequences re county lines, criminal gangs etc?

104 replies

Jane379 · 16/07/2026 22:45

I found out recently about the huge amount of cocaine in London sewage system. I knew there was a problem but was suprised how bad it was.
I read up on the situation a bit more and was shocked to find that Sweden & Belgium are apparently both concerned that the government starting to lose control to drug smugglers, problems are also rising in the Netherlands with journalists and lawyers mmurdered. Use also is rising in Norway especially among youth in Oslo etc.
AIBU to wonder what on earth people buying illegal cocaine & others are thinking?

A lot of the time it's not people in hugely depressing and difficult situations (not that this is an excuse, but I could understand the motive more) but people who are comfortably off, at least materially and surely could find other forms of stimulation?
It's well known that these drugs are addictive, and even if people aren't addicted and only use occasionally, why are so many happy to enable county lines, suffering in Mexico and others, violent criminal gangs etc for a temporary high? I've seen some users on here justify by saying the harm comes because it's illegal but that's dodging the question as for the foreseeable future they are illegal and buying from the gangs sustains the trade.

OP posts:
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notnorman · 17/07/2026 15:37

RoseOliviaAu · 17/07/2026 15:25

Most people don’t become addicted to cocaine or MDMA etc. It’s a party drug and people are young and dumb and they cause euphoria. I am not surprised people want an escape.

Obviously the industry is evil. But should they not then legalise, regulate and tax?

Edited

I would suggest that most people who take it are addicted to the feeling cocaine gives them. MDMA isn’t particularly addictive but cocaine is hugely.

TheUser420 · 17/07/2026 15:30

Grow your own. Dump the dealer.

RoseOliviaAu · 17/07/2026 15:25

Most people don’t become addicted to cocaine or MDMA etc. It’s a party drug and people are young and dumb and they cause euphoria. I am not surprised people want an escape.

Obviously the industry is evil. But should they not then legalise, regulate and tax?

LlynTegid · 17/07/2026 15:24

I would have anyone who takes or supplies illegal drugs never allowed to have a driving licence. Say for at least ten years. Assume in law they are addicted and there is a danger in them being behind the wheel.

Jane379 · 17/07/2026 15:20

StillgotmyiPod · 17/07/2026 08:02

People are willing to overlook any amount of human suffering and other consequences as long as they get what they want.

Drugs, cheap goods from Shein / Temu, cheap meat...

People need clothes and food though many can avoid Shein etc. Drugs are not necessary in the same way.

OP posts:
Jane379 · 17/07/2026 15:19

JohnofWessex · 17/07/2026 08:02

I would suggest that rather than a campaign based on Drugs are Bad For You why not one that highlights the impact that drug production has?

Make it unacceptable in the way Drink Driving once was

I would also suggest some sort of legal provision of supplies for existing addicts as used to happen in the past.

I was thinking this. Adverts on the Tube etc could show partying coke users next to county lines exploiting teenagers, cartels threatening Mexican villagers, environmental damage.
Agree also re supplies to existing addicts.

OP posts:
Jane379 · 17/07/2026 15:02

ByKindOpalPoet · 17/07/2026 07:25

You are so naive if you think 1) those drugs are less addictive than alcohol and 2) if you believe legalising drugs makes the gangs etc disappear. All it will do is make the gangs change how they work, they’ll make their drugs cheaper and bulk them out. After all why pay £5 for 100g of drugs from a reputable place when you can get 500g for the same price from the bloke on the street corner?

Yes, I do have some sympathy with Portugal style policies but they haven't decriminalised drugs willy-nilly. The problem is that stuff like cocaine & heroin & others like marijuana do have dangers, they have to be controlled. Right now a lot of people buying aren't addicts, they're buying for other reasons. If cocaine etc were legalised in a controlled way (eg as in Portugal) these people still wouldn't be able to legally buy them party drug style.

OP posts:
sunnydayyzz · 17/07/2026 08:39

As soon as you start legalising drugs the cartels see the country as a soft touch that they can use as a base.

The Netherlands and Amsterdam have been widely described as a narco state because of the escalation in organised crime and drug trade,

The idea of legalising drugs is a really, really bad one for a whole host of reasons.

JohnofWessex · 17/07/2026 08:21

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 17/07/2026 08:04

Drink and drug driving are both on the increase, not as socially unacceptable as they used to be. Round my way, it's driving supercharged cars whilst inhaling balloons filled with nitrous oxide.

Why dont we treat them like sex and gun offenders given the risk they pose?

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 17/07/2026 08:17

Level1469 · 17/07/2026 08:14

Dd's ex-school did 'ket bladder' and drugs awareness, after two Y11s overdosed in the toilets.

We have reached the point where kids snort horse tranquillizer in the school toilets? It beggars belief.

Level1469 · 17/07/2026 08:14

SilverGlitterBaubles · 17/07/2026 07:47

This is something that needs to be publicised a lot more. The consequences are not widely known and lots of young people think that what they are taking is harmless. I think the consequences and people sharing real like stories to young people would be a strong deterrent.

Dd's ex-school did 'ket bladder' and drugs awareness, after two Y11s overdosed in the toilets.

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 17/07/2026 08:04

JohnofWessex · 17/07/2026 08:02

I would suggest that rather than a campaign based on Drugs are Bad For You why not one that highlights the impact that drug production has?

Make it unacceptable in the way Drink Driving once was

I would also suggest some sort of legal provision of supplies for existing addicts as used to happen in the past.

Drink and drug driving are both on the increase, not as socially unacceptable as they used to be. Round my way, it's driving supercharged cars whilst inhaling balloons filled with nitrous oxide.

StillgotmyiPod · 17/07/2026 08:02

People are willing to overlook any amount of human suffering and other consequences as long as they get what they want.

Drugs, cheap goods from Shein / Temu, cheap meat...

JohnofWessex · 17/07/2026 08:02

I would suggest that rather than a campaign based on Drugs are Bad For You why not one that highlights the impact that drug production has?

Make it unacceptable in the way Drink Driving once was

I would also suggest some sort of legal provision of supplies for existing addicts as used to happen in the past.

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 17/07/2026 08:01

likelysuspect · 17/07/2026 07:59

It can happen very quickly, I also see this at work, as I work with children/families.

Young people think they are invincible, and it won't happen to them.

likelysuspect · 17/07/2026 07:59

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 17/07/2026 07:38

How much are they taking to get that? The first time someone told me that they snorted horse tranquillizer, I was stunned. You snort horse tranquillizer - what?

It can happen very quickly, I also see this at work, as I work with children/families.

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 17/07/2026 07:51

If the Greens get power, your local vape shop will be able to expand its range of products to include hash, ketamine, MDMA etc

SilverGlitterBaubles · 17/07/2026 07:47

Iheartpasta · 17/07/2026 07:34

I’m concerned about the amount of young people taking ketamine to the extent they permanently destroy their bladders. I’ve seen it through my work. Few people seem to know about this. Literally life changing damage being done

This is something that needs to be publicised a lot more. The consequences are not widely known and lots of young people think that what they are taking is harmless. I think the consequences and people sharing real like stories to young people would be a strong deterrent.

Mama2many73 · 17/07/2026 07:41

greatvisuals · 16/07/2026 23:52

I'm really confused about the London sewage system part of your post @Jane379

Can you explain?

Testing wastewater within the sewage syatem can identify the type, and amount, of drugs being used within the area.
Ive not seen the results for uk but was reading about Austalia which has seen massive rises in meth.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/29/methamphetamine-crystal-meth-ice-australia-second-largest-consumer

Australia’s use of methamphetamine has doubled in a decade, wastewater monitoring reveals

Consumption is at a record high along with that of cocaine, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission figures show

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/29/methamphetamine-crystal-meth-ice-australia-second-largest-consumer

SomeoneIsWrongOnTheInternet · 17/07/2026 07:40

I worked briefly in a young persons MH unit. Most of the girls were there during to sexual abuse and the lads were psychotic due to weed. Yep I agree about the harm and the waste. I knew one lad who’d started dealing to try to support his family, specifically his mum and baby sister when their violent dad had walked out on them. Good lad at root, and terrified of the hallucinations he was having. I couldn’t stay, I couldn’t work in that kind of environment forever. They have to live in it.

The sexed and sexist society that drugs create ain’t great either. Goes hand in hand with abuse and prostitution for girls and women.

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 17/07/2026 07:38

Iheartpasta · 17/07/2026 07:34

I’m concerned about the amount of young people taking ketamine to the extent they permanently destroy their bladders. I’ve seen it through my work. Few people seem to know about this. Literally life changing damage being done

How much are they taking to get that? The first time someone told me that they snorted horse tranquillizer, I was stunned. You snort horse tranquillizer - what?

PiggieWig · 17/07/2026 07:36

Agree with you @Iheartpasta . That’s what I mean about the under 25s. It’s heartbreaking. I see it a lot too - and I do see it as a failure of society for this group.

Lentilcakes · 17/07/2026 07:35

Thiscantgoonlikethis · 17/07/2026 00:38

What about the impact of weed on psychosis? We see a lot of it in work, young men, daily weed use, becoming psychotic… I’ve gone from thinking it’s harmless to really detesting it

Me too re the harm.
I used to be quite blasé about it in terms of recreational use and I smoked a fair few joints back in the day (the 90s), but the stuff is much stronger now and seems to lead to more side effects. Adult DD smoked a lot around age 18/19 at uni and now it just makes her paranoid so she doesn’t (thankfully). DS tried it much younger; he has MH issues and had some mild psychosis so he thankfully, has given it up too (as far as I know - he’s at home now post-uni).

Iheartpasta · 17/07/2026 07:34

I’m concerned about the amount of young people taking ketamine to the extent they permanently destroy their bladders. I’ve seen it through my work. Few people seem to know about this. Literally life changing damage being done

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