Professional people and drug use

[Beebee6]

I work in banking and moved to London a year ago for a career opportunity. I’m in my early 30s and have never thought of myself as particularly naive but I’m genuinely shocked by how many of my colleagues regularly use drugs. By drugs, I'm mostly referring to cocaine. They all talk about this very openly as if it’s a perfectly normal and acceptable thing to do at the weekend, after work or when they have spare time without the kids. On the rare occasions when I have been along to social events after work, it’s always offered around and I appear to be the only one not partaking. None of these people are particularly ‘young’ either (most 30s-40s) and are all very successful professional people, who in my (perhaps judgemental) opinion, aren’t the typical drug using types. Some are single but many have families. I mentioned this to a friend of mine who seemed to think that this is now commonplace amongst many working professionals, particularly in the city. I’m curious as to whether this sort of thing really has become more normal and accepted now?

I dont know why they dont publish more about what cocaine does to a person's heart. Its not even an interesting drug, people are in it for the arsehole image. And yes it is expensive, 30-40£ a gram and twice as much for flake, both of which can easily be hoovered up in an hour.

I've worked in the city for 9 years, in finance and I have never seen or been offered any!

Also im sure they would feel very differently if one of them bashed out the crack pipe at one of their poncey dos. Same drug but its users looked down on as junkie types.

It's not that I am naive it's that I cant accept people injest anything that may have been previously up another human or animal's bum.

It’s very common in my profession (law). I don’t though!

Guyliner -I Read something this week that said hash sold in Madrid is carrying dangerus level of shit in it due to being carried up arses, causing all sorts of poisoning. How much hash can you even fit up there? not much im sure.

II dont know why they dont publish more about what cocaine does to a person's heart*

It is well published and well known. Possibly not to the lay person, but any HCP who’s spent a time in a&e or keeps up with their reading should know.

Generally, anyone under 30 presenting with signs of a heart attack, your first thought should be cocaine. It isn’t a build up or a regular use thing either, it can happen right from first use.

This thread is shocking and sad. I detest Dreyfus.

I detest drugs (!)

I worked in the City / Canary Wharf for 20+ years and never saw anyone work-related taking coke and was never offered any. I was quite a party girl for much of my time in banking so I'm almost offended at being left out. However, I have always been pretty upfront that I don't do drugs (other than alcohol) so maybe that's a contributing factor.

One of the banks I worked for (large U.S. investment bank) had permission to random alcohol or drug test included in everyone's employment contracts. And a positive test would be instant dismissal. It certainly put a stop to the old days of lunchtime drinking.

The people I know in London who do take coke are/were either in media (TV) or personal trainers.

Yeah I mean in public campaigns and that sort of thing.

I saw a 19 year ld have a stroke from speed. Horrible, but still didnt stop him

Poor old Dreyfus

I left the City in 2006 and it was just starting to be 'seen' on nights out then. Up till then it was just copious amounts of booze.

DD tells me regularly about some of her social circle that are regular users. They are all HCPs at a massive well known city hospital.

Hardly surprising when dealers used to put business cards offering their wares through their student letter boxes, and delivered on BMX bikes.

I have sat in her window and watched them blatantly delivering and dealing.

Years ago on race day we were on the next table to a very well known actor. You all know him. I assume he had been to the races as I don’t think he lives in this area and he was with two other well known actors. Famous man was off his face on coke. It was obvious to everyone in the restaurant. And embarrassing.

This was about 15 years ago.

Cocaine is common place in the demographic you are talking about. I know lots very similar, high salaries, 30s and 40s, successful recreation drug users. After work, at dinner parties, weddings Christmas parties full of coke, it's harder to find those who don't to those who do in high pressure city work in my experience.

It's not a good sign. I believe a lot of younger colleagues use it. You can tell by the nondescript answers to how was your weekend...

t is seriously not normal. Cocaine alters your brain structure. Go the Addiction Support thread. You will see many Cocaine Addiction posts. A recent documentary explained 25% of cocaine from SA comes to the UK!!! It is a wealthy market. It destroys the lives of young people who are preyed on through County Lines to traffic drugs around the country. Dealers are moving out of cities to posh market towns, where it is a problem 'behind closed doors'. This has rocketed in the last ten years. Where there is cocaine there is sexual exploitation.

I do not know why this is cool and it is not normal. I have never understood why we are not doing more to educate and prevent drugs.

I'm not convinced that the posters on this thread are representative of the general population.

When I hear that someone's a drug-user particularly an adult who thinks it's just a bit of fun on par with a drink at a party I lose all respect for them (and their intelligence).

It's a spectacularly stupid and selfish indulgence.

I wouldn't even say it was professionals.

Talk at school pick up time is how much coke they can Hoover up their noses before their dc come home from nannys.

Bewildered why anyone wants to pay £40 to act like a shit and feel like crap the next day.

Weirdly it's very common amongst supermarket management. Talking store managers and above.

@Putthatlampshadeonyourhead Also Restaurant Managers

I used to do it now and again as well as other drugs but not since becoming a parent. I can see why it becomes addictive but it turns people into talkative arseholes IMHO.

It’s common and it’s a massive problem.. I don’t understand how white collar middle class consumers don’t realise that the coke trade is fuelling the gang wars/stabbings epidemic in London

Both myself and my husband work professional jobs in law and finance in Ireland, it’s really prevalent here especially amongst young legal types and bankers. My dh was at a work dinner recently and he said half the younger staff -late 20s and early 30s spent the whole night in and out of the toilets.

I think a lot of people are under the illusion druggies are chavvy down and outs with a huge criminal history, in some instances yes, but I have looked after more people than I can dare to say who come in to A&E who are out of it on drugs. Then their loved ones come and try tell us their drink has been spiked etc etc, their professional people who would not touch drugs blah blah blah.

You have no idea how many high flying people take drugs.