to think that most on here have tried class B or A drugs at some point in their lives?

[apologies]

I'm increasingly struggling with the wisdom of prohibiting drugs and this is increased by a suspicion that far more people have taken or take drugs than are ever willing to admit it. I am thus curious as to MNetters experiences.

I find it hugely depressing that some people are actually surprised that some of us have never felt he need to try drugs.

I'd hope that we are more the norm rather than the nonchalant "of course" brigade.

No, never ever! never felt the need to.

Totally agree Malificence.

Perhaps those of you that think that you were the norm were just hanging out with other drug heads!

Cocaine E acid weed - in that order of preference :)

Never have tried class A or B drugs and never had the desire to, either as a teen or since and am now 46. I'd rather have a Wispa.

Just to add, i dont know anyone in my circle who has ever used drugs and its a pretty large circle.

"Im honestly surpised at the number of people who havent."

I'm not. I agree with Lottie - "People hang around with people who behave similarly, so will have vastly skewed ideas of normal, both ways."

"I have never in all my days heard of someone getting speed flashbacks."

You're right. I got it wrong, it wasn't speed, it was acid.

"Am rather surprised by the not ever crew I presumed it was a twenties rite of passage"
"Am also surprised by the Nos"

See lotties post

"I find it hugely depressing that some people are actually surprised that some of us have never felt the need to try drugs.
I'd hope that we are more the norm rather than the nonchalant "of course" brigade."

I agree. Perhaps it is to do with disposable income, profession and age. I'm 53. When I was in my 20s drugs were expensive and definitely not the done thing, but I wasn't in London and didn't mix with the "professional classes".

Math while I agree that the drugs trade is always looking to maximise its market, imagine what that R&D budget would be like with the power of one of the big drug companies behind it?

Also, what would the market look like if food/brewing manufacturers could legally include what are now illegal substances into their products - vodka with a cut of this, that or the other. It would happen.

I do not want my kids exposed to this as being legal. While drugs are illegal my DCs are having to make two decisions:

1. break the law (we are a law abiding family so this would go against their upbringing)
2. take drugs (we dont even drink spirits but obviously their friends will have different views on this)

Make it legal and it wont just be the current drug takers who will be legalised it will be those people who currently buy alcohol younger than they should.

I agree Malificence, but then i think the same about the number of people who see porn as the norm too

BTW i am a 'professional' and have not seen it in my circles (albeit these haven't been London based)

Actually i think the people who do tend to be more accepting to those who dont do any drugs than the other way around. Ive never "looked down" on someone for taking drugs if thats what they wanted to do. Neither have i looked down on someone who chooses not to or is teetotal.
But people who dont have never taken anything often do judge. Personally i very very rarely have the occasional joint. I do nothing else and i almost never drink anymore. Its hardly hurting anyone.
Drinking is so much more acceptable but drunk people are often worse than people who have the odd joint or get high on a night out.

No, just alcohol here. Did quite like Gas and Air during labour though...

Alcohol and cannabis here. Still use alacohol but not used cannabis since I was about 17.

It is not a need to try drugs it s usually a want. The majority of people stop when life takes over as it were. My brother was addicted to heroin so I have seen all sides but my brother had problems that were always going to lead him there I think. My ds is not interested he has seen the effect it has had on my brother and I hope that will deter him but I think all parents who have dabbled still hope their kids won't out of fear rather than morality.

I don't think bad of anyone for not wanting to try drugs. All the more for the rest of us! :o

No, never even smoked. Worst I have got for you is alcohol, caffeine, and prescribed mild tranquilisers once.

"Shagmund I really don't get it - how can an LSD experience be important to you? Because it's not really an experience at all is it? It's just your synapses firing when they shouldn't be? Isn't it kind of fake as the stuff you saw/heard etc was never there at all? I find it weird that experiencing something that didn't exist is important. I'm curious - please explain"

Just seen this and wanted to respond.

I took LSD while out camping in the Highlands. I experienced a moment of such extreme peace and happiness, a feeling of being in harmony with the universe. It was very very beautiful to feel so at peace with myself and the world. I've never forgotten that feeling, and I truly believe that some people manage to achieve this without drugs - I think what I felt with LSD was like a window into what's possible within myself. I still choke up to think of it now.

You know that LSD has been used experimentally as therapy to help with alcoholism and for terminally ill patients suffering from depression and anxiety? In some traditional cultures it's long played a part in spiritual rituals.

"Richard Yensen, Albert Kurland and other researchers collected evidence that psychedelic therapy could be of use to those suffering from anxiety and other problems associated with terminal illness. In 1965, research consisting of providing a psychedelic experience for the dying was conducted at the Spring Grove State Hospital in Maryland. Of 17 dying patients who received LSD after appropriate therapeutic preparation, one-third improved "dramatically", one-third improved "moderately", and one-third were unchanged by the criteria of reduced tension, depression, pain, and fear of death.[9]"

I think it's a very interesting drug, but much too dangerous to be used casually and recreationally in the way that I did. Which is why I only did it a couple of times and then wised up.

yes most things.

There is no Ketamine around here due to a massive haul by the police, people seems to be buying shit(er) versions of whatever that awful drug is that replaced K. I forget the name.

I enjoyed myself immensly on drugs, and im ok.

whoever said why would anyone want to take horse tranq? its also used on humans too (its not just for the horses, no pun meant).

I also had a quite beautiful experience on Acid, but best was the feeling afterwards. A sense of clarity and determination/motivation to be. Has never left :)

I dont know anyone who hasnt and I know people from all walks of live. I dont drink or smoke and would much rather be around happy hugging high people than pissed up aggressive types. But each to their own.

Never taken those sort of drugs and never will. Only taken painkillers prescribed by doctor.

methedrone. that was it. awful. however, not quite as bad as this:

io9.com/5859291/krokodil-russias-designer-drug-that-will-eat-your-flesh

No. I have never even known anyone who's taken it, AFAIK of course.
[Another of those "boring" types]

I was a heavy Cannabis smoker in my yoof. I last smoked a spliff about 20 years ago and didn't realise it was so long ago tbh! It's already been mentioned that Cannabis now is nothing like i smoked in the 198O's. It's far stronger and more harmful these days. I got into it via a boyfriend and even shared a flat once with ex students inbetween jobs, who dabbled in a bit of dealing.
Also done magic mushrooms (horrendous nightmare on Dartmoor and not one i'd be inclined to repeat frankly )

I've noticed in later life that i really am anti drugs. They scare me. I hate the fact i can smell Cannabis on the streets in this town (10 miles from Manchester) and at 8.30 am at the bus stop, on my way to work, i want to yell at the occasional knobhead puffing away "Ffs! Do it at home like we did. What is wrong with you??"

It definitely lost it's cool appeal to me long ago. I would hope my kids were sensible. I can't stop them experimenting in the future when i'm not there and i think people are in denial if they think their children are never going to come into contact with them, it's more prevalent today than it has ever been. But i really hope they don't dabble, especially with the mental health problems in our family. I just don't think it would be a good idea.

As for Heroin etc i've never come into contact with it. I remember a friend admitted she had tried it to me once, years ago, and i was appalled and frightened and made her promise never to do it again. She eventually went abroad to teach and the boyfriend she left behind got sucked into the whole scene there and within 8 months he was dead. Very sad.

As for declassification and decriminalisation. I um and ah. I listened to an arguement the other day and could see the pros in terms of no more drug wars and crimes, no pimps on the streets, trying to manage and help the addicts left etc but it sounded too simplistic. In reality i don't know if it would really work.

All as a teenager - cannabis fairly frequently, speed on "special occasions", tried an E once, was always too scared of trying any hallucinogenics - never felt much of an effect from any of then to be honest, and wasn't too keen on the idea of increasing amounts to get a bigger buzz! So, didn't really see the point of continuing experimenting tbh. Saying that, on the birth of my DS1 my midwife said she'd never seen ANYONE have so many painkillers and them have NO effect.....You name it, I had it. I even had to have a 2nd spinal block when I got taken down for an emergency CS as the first one didn't work! Maybe I have a kind of drug immunity? Two glasses of rose, on the other hand, and I'm rendered useless - strange huh?

I never have and neither has anyone I know, which is a lot of people. I'm not naive enough to think we don't have a local problem, as I see people in the pharmacies getting stuff.

I have a couple of friends working in MH, and they tell me they estimate that around 80% of new admissions are a direct result of weed use, and it's mostly those who took the stuff during adolescence. Apparently more studies are needed, but the evidence so far suggests that taking weed in adolescence massively increases the risk of developing MH issues, as this is an intense period of development in the brain and weed affects this development.

I am also not sure legalisation will bring the benefits promised by the pro lobby. Take cigarettes. There is a massive market in people obtaining them from the continent and selling cheaply to undercut legal supplies. I'm sure the same will happen if drugs are legalised. I'm also interested in posts suggesting that the big companies will look to take advantage of any legalisation. After all, they're only interested in the profits, same as any dealer.

Or perhaps we could adopt Chairman Mao's solution. He criminalised herion addicts and said that anyone who didn't quit within 3 years of a specific date would be shot. The number of addicts dropped massively in a very short space of time.

Shagmanfreud
I had my best and worst experiences on ACID, a great drug when you got clean acid, I have had some very very funny moments on it. And I will never ever forget my first "E" --