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.

TwoNoisyBoys I'm told I have a high threshold for painkillers, meaning I need quite an amount before it has any effect, so perhaps this is why I've never bothered with any illegal drugs. My mum has a low threshold, and needs smaller doses of some drugs than normal.

I feel very indifferent to drugs, simply can't see the attraction. I have many ways of relaxing and filling my time, usefully, and feel that taking a drug would actually waste my time. In fact my attitude to drugs, drink, cigarettes, etc is simply can't be bothered. I will however, try to help my kids avoid drugs, certainly during their teens. Once they are adult, it will be up them to decide the risks.

No, nothing. Well, I had a dope blowback at a party once but not sure that even counts .

No desire, and am against legalisation. It's tacit condoning of drugs & I just don't agree with it.

Never. Even the thought terrifies me.

I personally think all drugs should be decriminalised.

You only have to look at Mexico et al....

If you want to take hard drugs go to your doctor and get onto a programme to be monitored.

Marijuana should be sold legally, think of the tax benefits.

AD and sleeping pills are much more harmful.

The whole shebang just helps keep the whole military/industrial complex going....

Shagman Following up on your point I read an article a while ago about some scientists that wanted to study Ecstacy (MDMA) as a treatment for depression, as some studies have shown it has a beneficial effect but because it is an illegal drug it's very hard to get permission to look at how it can benefit certain conditions. As drugs are banned for being BAD for us when in fact they might be actually be GOOD - go figure!

Also if drugs were regulated or decriminalised and controlled then 12 year old's wouldn't be able to get hold of it - perhaps they could have a 21 year age limit - the skunk that is being sold would be less harmful so less MH problems for our young people.

Take poor Leah Betts - it wasn't ecstacy that killed her - she drank too much water and flooded her brain, again if regulated and educated about taking drugs safely perhaps she would still be with us today?

Never taken anything - not even smoked a cigarette. View them all as dangerous, expensive and unnecessary to have a good time.

Never smoked nor taken any drugs that were not prescribed and cannot see that I ever would for fun - like others have never seen the point or need. Perhaps for pain relief if it was bad.

Nope never tried anything, not even a normal cigarette. DH is the same.

My friend ate coke once though - she was in with a Very Rough Crowd in her early teens, and she saw it on the table, thought it was a line of sherbet (!) and picked some up and licked it.

One puff on one joint

Keeping drugs illegal is stupid, the biggest supporters of prohibition are the criminal gangs who stand to lose millions and all the power that comes with that.

Most people take drugs at some point, those who will do are going to do it anyway so why not legislate and tax these substances like we do with alcohol?

It would put armed criminal gangs out of business, open a market for the creation of new, legal and regulated businesses, create jobs and raise tax revenue.

I personally don't think smoking cannabis has anything to do with psychosis.

Known people smoke it for 30 plus years and still keep a job/profession going.

More like, if you are prone to it, cannabis COULD act as a catalyst.

Just like psychosis can come about WITHOUT smoking cannabis.

Without proper tests on the cannabis, it can be mixed with anything...

No. No interest in that sort of thing. Life is good as it is and if it wasn't, drugs aren't the answer.

'Also if drugs were regulated or decriminalised and controlled then 12 year old's wouldn't be able to get hold of it' - Absolutely, because you never hear of anyone under 18 drinking alcohol... Sorry, I think that's rubbish.

I can see all the arguments for decriminalisation but I am completely against it now that I am old. I do drink a little, but I never smoked, never took anything illegal but a lot of my friends did. I think only 2 acquaintances had lives completely ruined, one by weed use and one by psychedelics, but obviously that might have happened anyway from other causes. I don't think I know any alcoholics but perhaps that will show up more as we all age.

What I do know is that my son has a genetic vulnerability to major mental health problems. I hope he will take in that, given the current evidence base at least, there are good reasons for him not to experiment, but I am bloody afraid he will be more influenced by his peer group and, dare I say it, friends' parents who think they are too cool for school.

The arguments pro legalising drugs are rather compelling.
And no, they shouldn't be legalised because lots of people do drugs, but because they fuel BIG CRIME. Criminal organizations. Mafia. And the awful exploitment of people who live in countries where drugs are produced.

Whether legal or illegal, drugs will still be sold and used. I think every single child alive will at some point be faced with the personal choice to either use or not use, drink or not drink, smoke or not, just as I was even back when it was all fields round here.

I don't see how having multinational pharmaceutical companies involved in the sale of newly legalised drugs could be less of an attractive proposition than the thugs who are answerable to no-one who currently run the trade. There might even be some useful research on various substances that could be very helpful. I also think there is probably no way small amounts of different substances could be slipped into other products without clear labeling.

I could never see the point of drugs. Same with roller coasters.

I don't really get the "I've never tried drugs and neither has anyone I know/any of my friends" statements here. How on earth would you know? I would be very surprised if any of my former colleagues or acquaintances knew that I enjoyed the occasional spliff. It's certainly not something I'd say in casual conversation, and if I had any idea that someone I knew took a hard line anti-drugs view I certainly wouldn't feel inclined to give them ammunition to argue with me. Neither would I ever ask anyone if they did. It's not my business, and as it is illegal I don't think it is a very reasonable question to ask.

Whitney Houston's death has just been confirmed, which once again goes to show that you don't have to be buying from dodgy back street dealers for drugs to take their toll.

I'm stunned how many people reel off a list of the stuff they've done as though it was a new flavour of crisps that was 'in' at the time but not really around any more.

I thought it was difficult to get hold of drugs? I've never, ever had anyone try to sell me any, never seen any suspicious behaviour (well once, in a nightclub that was notorious for drug use which I never went to again) and I don't think I've met anyone who was off their head. None of my friends or acquaintances have mentioned drug use.

In fact the only person I've met who admitted to heavily using drugs is my boyfriend, who hasn't touched anything in a couple of years after being disqualified for being under the influence while driving and has to have regular urine or blood tests. If he came home looking wasted or brought something home I wouldn't stand for it. It'd be like finding him in the middle of murdering someone, it's THAT shocking to me.

omg just saw that about Whitney. Pretty clear she was headed that way though. She looked a right state on X Factor a couple of years ago.

it has not been confirmed yet how whitney houston died, yes she had a drug problem but that may not be the cause of her death you should know boom of all people that some manage to turn their life around

ah sorry I haven't read a single thing about it yet, I just went from what birds said up there and figured it was drug related.

No because drugs won't be a factor in the death of a 48 year old woman, it no doubt is purely co-incidental.

Most of the people that i known whose deaths have been contributed to (if not totally caused) by drug use don't have it recorded on the death certificate. So the figures published are misleading.

I bet people blame Bobby Brown as if she didn't have control over what went up her nose...

Poor daughter