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Original poster

Many, many people took recreational drugs in the 90s. Where are they now?

999 replies

perhapsiwill · 02/02/2017 07:47

I'm not a drug addict and none of my friends were at the time, we just took Es at the weekend, sometimes other drugs. We all went to work or college, seemed like everyone else did this too. We had a great time, weekends were for dancing and hugging, I didn't get on with drunk people and one night stands and it suited me much better.
I moved away from where I grew up, nice area to another nice area.
When I mention partying in my youth to other mums where I live now, they look at me as if I'm an addict who needs help Confused.
Are they all pretending? There were thousands of us doing this so where are they now? And why do people who never took drugs appear to feel so morally superior? One of the women where I live openly talks about cheating the system financially yet looks at me like I'm scum because I went out and had fun 20 years ago. (And probably once a year now!) I feel that because I mentioned this one evening in a pub I have alienated myself from the local mums.

OP posts:
Ohbuddyhell · 02/02/2017 23:52

Oh bugger... Meant to come back to thread hours ago and reply. Since it's still going..

Round my way there are tons of "naice" mummies but it makes my blood boil that there's an attitude of it being fine for them to go our or stay in and dabble the odd line of Coke or get paralytic on a night out here and there and yet there's also a handful of mums I know who have serious drug/alcohol addictions who the "naice" mums doing this judge away at.

I don't think the odd line, spliff or drinking session will lead to any of the "naice" mums getting addicted. What makes my blood boil is the hypocrisy that it's ok for them to take these risks every now and then with often illegal or generally mind altering substances or to have a giggle about the "good old days" - whilst shunning and judging on mums who are battling serious issues.

CoteDAzur · 02/02/2017 23:52

"Did you feel you needed it to feel fantastic? dId you need it to dance all night?"

Oh bless. This is like explaining colors to a blind person. "Did you feel you needed those colors to tell objects apart? If not, why did you need colors?" Grin

OverTheGardenGate · 03/02/2017 00:01

I'm not a drug addict and none of my friends were at the time, we just took Es at the weekend
And they could have been dirty, and you could have died.

I must have lived a very sheltered existence. I enjoyed myself when I was younger, had a few drinks and got pissed in nightclubs. Though never developed an alcohol habit that might kill me over a number of years.

But most certainly never took a pill that might kill me on the spot.
Never smoked cannabis, although I had every opportunity to do so.
Mostly because when I was 13 a classmate threw himself off the roof of the pub he was smoking in because he thought he could fly. That put me off somewhat.
Taking recreational drugs just seems very silly and irresponsible to me,
especially if you are a parent.

I acknowledge that two large glasses of wine could be classed as a recreational drug, but I doubt it's as dangerous, taken a couple of times a month, as a random pill that somebody sells you.

OverTheGardenGate · 03/02/2017 00:08

What a depressing read thread this is. No thought about the human misery that goes on before it landed in your hand and you got to get high at the weekend. I'm alright Jack indeed

I posted before I RTWT. But yes, this casual attitude to drug taking makes my stomach sink. I've seen too much of it, I think.

OverTheGardenGate · 03/02/2017 00:24

I think there may be millions of people worldwide who regret taking their first taste of an illegal drug.

I doubt there's anybody who regrets making the choice to remain illegal drug free.

And if any of my friends hinted to me that they had dabbled with 'E's in their youth, I'd have a little think about much I could trust their common sense.

BorrowedHeart · 03/02/2017 01:27

weed is a gateway drug I'm laughing so hard at this crap 😂 😂

cloudchasing · 03/02/2017 01:30

And if any of my friends hinted to me that they had dabbled with 'E's in their youth, I'd have a little think about much I could trust their common sense.

Really? Hmm So you would judge someone for something they may have done 20 or 30 years ago? Wow.

Doremisofarsogood · 03/02/2017 01:34

I'm partial to a cheeky class A now and again.... Wouldn't mention to most of my mum friends though, they all seem to be the saintly, innocent kind. Still go to festivals (with DD) but just alcohol nowadays. I do manage a weekend off parenting around once a year though and I make the most of it!

Original poster
perhapsiwill · 03/02/2017 06:22

'And if any of my friends hinted to me that they had dabbled with 'E's in their youth, I'd have a little think about much I could trust their common sense.'

Maybe you were one of them at the pub!
I wouldn't judge anyone on what they did 20 years ago. Some people might have been bullies or stealing stuff, I did loads of silly things but have no regrets.

I would rather my kids took drugs than finding out that they hit their partners or became nasty fascists.

OP posts:
Fallonjamie · 03/02/2017 06:37

Prof Nutt was correct (but got sacked) when he said horse riding was more dangerous than taking E.

CoteDAzur · 03/02/2017 06:42

"I think there may be millions of people worldwide who regret taking their first taste of an illegal drug... And if any of my friends hinted to me that they had dabbled with 'E's in their youth"

What exactly do you base this calculation on? Since you clearly don't even know a single person who has tried drugs, that is. (Or that's what you think Grin)

What makes you pass this sort of judgement (based on prejudice and hearsay) on a subject you know absolutely nothing? It's quite surprising to see.

Fallonjamie · 03/02/2017 07:01

Cannabis, ketamine, heroin and amphetamine are all legal in the UK when prescribed and widely used in the medical profession.

Obviously there are risks of dependence and buying stuff which has crap added to it if using recreationally and not under medical supervision but I find the horror about using the substances themselves recreationally a bit odd.

helensburgh · 03/02/2017 07:08

I genuinely don't care what people got up to in their youth but what I can remember comprehend is this weird " we are special cause we took drugs and now have professional careers"
V v strange. No one cares

picklemepopcorn · 03/02/2017 07:17

Cloud: the feeling of euphoria and love & kinship for your fellow man is like nothing else

But it's not real?

DaphneDeLaFontaine · 03/02/2017 07:19

I'm here. Vey respectable job, along with all my raving compadres.

Late 80s/early 90s and very skinny in my hotpants. Best time my life, wouldn't change it for the world.

Perception, Telepathy, Slough Centre (!) Etc etc.

shins · 03/02/2017 07:20

I don't think people are saying they're special, I think they're saying they're quite ordinary. I seriously doubt the middle-aged parents here spend their time yakking on about their youthful drug use, but this thread is specifically about that topic. Some very weird, sour posts here.

WaitrosePigeon · 03/02/2017 07:20

Nobody here cares that others don't care Confused you care enough to comment though

This thread is just about reminiscing..

Headofthehive55 · 03/02/2017 07:24

A lot of the recreational drugs, not all, have legally prescribed equivalents. Some of which I have had. And no, I didn't like them. cote Similar attitude to oh you don't know what you are missing by not drinking! Strange looks, argument on why it's nice, not dangerous!
I don't mind people drinking, taking drugs etc as I agree with professor Nutt but it doesn't mean I'm missing out by not doing so.

AllTheLight · 03/02/2017 07:35

All my friends took E's when I was 17 or 18, sometimes stronger stuff, including my boyfriend of the time. I never did, didn't judge them but never felt I was missing out, never felt pressurised to join in. I had the odd spliff but that was it.

Now I'm a mum I'm really curious about how to instil this same attitude in my DC!

cloudchasing · 03/02/2017 07:50

shins has it. Don't really understand why people are trying to piss on everyone's chips Confused

It's only the same as people reminiscing about drinking Mad Dog 2020 or whatever. Fucking weird taking the time to come on here and tut at people you don't even know,

Headofthehive55 · 03/02/2017 07:57

cloud that's not what the op asked. Op asked why do people who didn't take drugs appear to be morally superior? And are they pretending?

I answered with no I'm not pretending, and no I don't feel morally superior just was never interested.

FruitCider · 03/02/2017 07:58

Drug use is incredibly common, 1/3 adult have experimented with drugs at some point in their lives, and 8% of adults have taken drugs in the past 12 months.

www.drugwise.org.uk/how-many-people-use-drugs/

BornStroppy · 03/02/2017 08:01

As a student, I spent loads of time at the arches and the barrowlands in glasgow. Es felt like a spiritual orgasm. I went through a coke phase later when I had money to burn. Used to take MDMA at festivals sometimes.

Now I dont even drink much, go to bed early and am well balanced! Havent decided yet how to approach the drugs isue when my kids are teenagers.

I dont think heavy use is any good for your long term mental or physical health, but every other weekend, yeah, OK. None of my friends were "casualties"....that said I really wouldnt want my kids near the stuff.

Gwenhwyfar · 03/02/2017 08:08

"Drug use is incredibly common, 1/3 adult have experimented with drugs at some point in their lives, and 8% of adults have taken drugs in the past 12 months."

I wouldn't call that incredibly common. Someone suggested 90% upthread. And 'experimented at some point in their lives' could mean cannabis only and none of the party drugs being discussed here.

Headofthehive55 · 03/02/2017 08:15

Even at its most generous estimate, most people haven't experimented with illegal drugs then.

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