To think some people take drugs because it is fun?

[crunchymint]

There is the assumption that people take drugs because of mental health problems, or other problems. But plenty of people take drugs because it is fun. I am not advocating taking drugs. But sometimes it is as simple as that.

And both those guys I mentioned were taking mdma. As far as they know. Fuck knows what was actually in it as... wait for it, they aren’t regulated, so you have no idea what you’re getting.

Ive done a lot of drugs in my time, and yes it has been fun, but it gets to the stage where the comedowns outweigh the good bits so I dont really do anything anymore. Barely even drink as I get awful hangovers and dont sleep properly if I do.

I miss it all though

Do a bit of cannabis here and there to help me sleep, but not for a buzz.

I wish there wasnt such a taboo over drugs and I wish they werent illegal, because some out there have much less side effects for me than alcohol, and alcohol rarely gives me the effect im after.

It might, if they’re addicted to it, “need” money for their next score AND are under the effects of a drug which is notorious for making one lose one’s inhibitions and making one more irritable and selfish

Then they aren't really doing it for fun then are they! They are addicts and the whole point of the thread is that most people aren't addicts.

Honestly, you lot have no idea how many perfectly normal, professional, family orientated, successful people took drugs regularly and had a wicked time when younger, or still take drugs and enjoy it.

Teachers, police, dentist, doctors, accountants, bankers, admin workers, charity workers, yoga teachers, solicitors, coders, entrepreneurs, fashion... so many people.

Don't think you can spot these people unless you are out with them! There is no way you will know that your divorce lawyer took coke last friday, or your kids teacher takes herself off to Ibiza in the summer and gets off her tits on pills.

My MDMA (and numerous other drug) days were amazing. Loved it. But you know, life moves on, you get more tired. Work ramps up. Other things take priority. Still got a fab group of friends from that time of my life. None have MH issues which is frankly amazing given the prevalence of MH issues in society in general. None have "a serious intellectual deficiency". Many are in extremely privileged positions at work and most have a very high achieving personality and have amazing lives. Fit, healthy, wealthy with good relationships and boundaries.

Drug taking isn't for everyone that is for sure, but for a very many ordinary people its been/it is a positive addition to their life.

@FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast that is super hilarious! I can totally picture you being beckoned through the garden on a massive expedition by your cat!

Honestly, you lot have no idea how many perfectly normal, professional, family orientated, successful people took drugs regularly and had a wicked time when younger, or still take drugs and enjoy it.

Well, since you’re quoting me, I assume this^ was to me. I’d ask you to take a look at all my posts and guess again love. I’m perfectly aware of this^. It still doesn’t make me stupid enough to think they’re just a right larf. I’ve been saying all along, it’s far from guaranteed for anything to go wrong, in terms of addiction, running into scary people or taking something a bit wrong and fucking your brain, but it is a risk. And I personally think it’s a higher risk than moderate drinking, due to lack of regulation.

I probably lean on the side of legalising drugs, for that reason, as I’ve been saying for quite some time.

I could tell you some more tales from my youth, but I won’t waste my ‘breath’.

Sugar is way more addictive then a lot of drugs out there. I often wonder why alcohol is seen as acceptable yet some people would class someone who has the odd joint as a 'druggy' .

Yes, that's why I took them in my younger days. Never did anything really hard, but did use cannabis, ecstasy, acid & coke at various stages. Never that much and usually at parties, where I knew the other people taking drugs. I never took drugs that people were selling in nightclubs or raves because you didn't have a clue what was being sold. At the party, I'd have a vague idea, as I wouldn't be the first one using - IYSWIM.

I'm not an addictive personality but I did have friends who were and got in a mess taking drugs, same as some did through drinking too much.

I think drugs should be legalised and sold in the same way as cigarettes and alcohol.

Well, since you’re quoting me, I assume this^^ was to me.

Not really, that bit was the general 'you' so to speak.

Anyway, this thread is making me miss my 20's!

People disagree on whether other activities are fun, why wouldn't they disagree on whether a particular drug is fun?

Fun and danger aren't mutually exclusive for most people. Some people enjoy driving, which kills a lot of people every year. There are lots of other risky activities that people do for fun.

That’s true @geeky.

@Branleuse I wish there wasnt such a taboo over drugs and I wish they werent illegal, because some out there have much less side effects for me than alcohol, and alcohol rarely gives me the effect im after.

Totally agree with this. I drink too much these days; I don't want to take the risk with drugs because the last few times, what I experienced was definitely not what I'd been sold, iyswim.

As a parent, I can't take that risk.

Whereas I know the effects of genuine MDMA, and could potentially plan that into a weekend away or similar if it was sold in a safe and regulated way.

Cannabis is obviously relatively safe but I've never liked it that much, in some ways it has more powerful effects on me than 'harder' drugs.

@robot I agree with you about ketamine. My one and only experience with it was very unpleasant.

FourFried that's lovely!

As for danger and fun not being mutually exclusive, people die on fairground rides and that to me is a lot less worth the risk - a lot less pleasurable!

There are usually ways to mitigate the risks involved with driving, sports etc. I think it’s really important not to just say “don’t do drugs”, but to educate people on how to mitigate risk. I mentioned the mobile testing facilities at festivals up thread for example. Really clever idea.

Of course the risks would be minimised imo if they were legal.

I had fun doing pills and coke and speed.
Crack and heroin ruined my fucking life, frankly, and fun they were not. The first time was great. But four years later with no home, no money, no family and having been forced to work as a prostitute by a man who got away with it for three of those years? Wasn't the giggle I thought it would be.

I haven't read the whole thread and am rushing out v soon so no time to search for links, but when Portugal decriminalised all drugs, they had very positive results in teens of drug addicts and HIV infections.

Absolutely recreational drugs can be fun!

I think legalising and education beyond 'don't do drugs' would go a long way to mitigate the risks. I grew up in a very hippy family, almost all the adults I knew smoked weed and most did their fair share of other things. None of the kids I grew up with would say we were raised by druggies. We all knew we were loved and yes, sometimes at festivals or parties, one or two of the adults would take a turn babysitting and the others would be high on mdma, speed or hallucinogens. It didn't have a negative effect on us kids because we did always have someone looking after us and none of the adults were addicted, they just used drugs for fun. All of those adults either worked or were stay at home parents then and all of them now hold down good jobs.

Drugs were never kept a secret, so unlike most of the people I went to school with, I was aware of precautions to take if I did try anything (don't take much, do it with someone you trust, have a sitter if you're tripping, don't mix drugs, know when to stop ect). I have been at festivals where either myself or my mum have had to sit with other people my age who have overdone it and are having a terrible time, because having already gone against the 'don't do drugs' message, they haven't got any information to go on and have ended up taking too much too fast.

Now in my 20s, it's only in the last couple of years that I've even wanted to experiment and it has been fun. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself without drugs, but in some situations, they enhance the experience. If I did get into trouble, I know I could talk to almost anyone in my family/friendship circle and trust them to help. Raving with my mum and my grandmother is a pretty special experience.

I would have some concerns if all opiates were legalised because:
In USA opiates such as OxyContin were frequently prescribed by doctors as they had been assured by the pharmaceutical companies that very few patients would become addicted to them.
In the event opiate addiction has become a huge problem and when doctors would no longer prescribe them, the addicted patients turned to heroin.
If one could just buy opiates over the counter, would this not lead to a big increase in addicts?
This is just a suggestion - I'm not saying I'm right.