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 work in child protection and it never ceases to amaze me that the parents who are regularly snorting coke see themselves as superior and not like "druggy" heroin users. Seriously deluded!!

Middle class drug use is more normalised than working class drug use, which is villified. Same drug, same effects on the body, but served with a dash of Victorian attitude.
I guess the difference is that middle class drug users can afford private rehab whereas working class users can't.

Cocaine users are selfish bastards, they don't care about the chain of misery that cocaine production & distribution create, as long as they get their hit from the marching powder. Cocaine users are hypocritical two faced scum who want putting down.

I hate the criminality behind production & supply & like gamerwidow said I too would like to see it legalised to take the supply lines and money away from the criminals. As unfortunately people will always take drugs so better to legalise it.

Didn't you know OP that the financial crash of 2008 was mostly caused by the use of cocaine?

It makes people feel they are invincible.

You only need to look at Colombia and Mexico to see the results....

The most disgusting thing about the cocaine trade is not only the full-scale destruction of families and countries but the environmental destruction to the environment by dumping chemicals into land and rivers...
(happens in the south of Holland too with ecstacy chemicals).

I read or heard somewhere that the use of cocaine destroys your sense of empathy.
I totally believe it.

I myself smoke weed to relax. But only organic local grown.

I'm lucky to be very healthy as a "Senior"

I know lots of professionals-social workers, teachers, headteachers, business owners that are regular cocaine users and take meow meow. It's odd to me!

I know lots of professionals-social workers, teachers, headteachers

Now that bit has shocked me

Yes, I think it’s pretty normal in those circles. But it’s also fine if it’s not your thing.

@RepealTheGRA it shocked me aswell to be honest. There are a lot of 'wellness' bloggers (think yoga, clean eating bollox) that are coke users. So much for ethics!!! The production of cocaine is disgusting

Yes, it's very common in professional jobs IME.
I work in hospitality and it's usually the middle class work do's and weddings where we end up dealing with the fall out from it. The arsehole behaviour, wiping their leftover powder from any flat surface they can find, being threatened to keep my fucking mouth shut should I happen to walk in on a group doing in openly in the toilets. Putting people in the recovery position and calling ambulances when they over do it.
But they're considered 'better' than the likes of me who needs tax credits to top up my wages in order to live, so no one gives a shit and on it goes.

There are a lot of 'wellness' bloggers (think yoga, clean eating bollox) that are coke users

I can well believe that, but teachers and social workers ffs! They must deal with the consequences of drug use every day (parents and pupils).

Drug use among seemingly normal working people who you would never fit the image of a drug user is sky high.

Everyone has most likely met someone who takes drugs recreationally, you just don't know you have!

I'm talking nursery workers, teachers, social workers, health care professionals, shop workers, bankers, other parents at your children's schools honestly it could be anyone these days.

If you don't think you have met someone who takes drugs then the likelihood is they just haven't told you because they know you don't approve.

I work in family law.

Those taking these substances better hope, if they split up, their ex-partner doesn’t spill the beans and use drug use as a reason for refusing contact. They’ll be hair strand drug tested, it’ll be positive and they won’t be getting any contact until they prove they’re clear.

Similarly in care proceedings, positive tests may mean your kids won’t be staying in your care or coming back to your care.

Despite this apparently being common place - I’m a lawyer and don’t know anyone openly taking it - the courts understandably take a dim view of this.

Mugs who are lining the pockets of awful people, involved in all sorts of abuse of people down the chain of providing it.

What on earth is the attraction, other than looking a dick for trying to be clever?

What kisskiss said

Coke makes people horrifically tedious and pleased with themselves.

And of course there are all the victims of the drug trade. How you can know about the children who are orphaned and innocent people who are killed and happily still buy coke I do not know.

I should add I don't personally myself but through work and various friendship groups Iv met loads! Mostly friends of friends on nights out etc. Most of them thought I was the weird one for not!

I live in a northern town. DH has been in hospital this week and one of the nurses was telling him cocaine use is rife. She said Sunday’s are a nightmare as it’s full of people thinking they are having a heart attack.

What are people like when they have done a line of coke? How would you tell? Are their any characteristics of a regular cocaine user? I am naive about drugs, I suspect a lot of people are. I assumed that the user would be manic and talking really fast.

I am not fussed about drugs but plenty of my friends took them pre kids. These were teachers, university lecturers, civil servants, builders. The lot.

I've known a couple of people whom I suspected of drug use and frankly they were a PITA. Unreliable, often late, needing you to cover up for them and resenting it, mood swings, not so good on personal hygiene as they ought to be . . .

Totally gobsmacked by this thread - so is it addictive? Do they keep taking it because of the way they feel on it or because their body craves it?

From the pov of not knowing someone personally, so not knowing if their personality has altered, the general signs are usually sniffing a lot, in and out of the toilets, talking fast and loud, being very confident, eyes brighter and sometimes watery with, being unable to keep still. Just general observations some of which apply to alcohol too, but maybe not as much as with coke.

Are their any characteristics of a regular cocaine user?

Well sniffing / runny nose can often be a dead giveaway. Although as I write this I'm aware that I've been sniffing constantly lately (sinusitis) and I'm hoping people don't think I'm on coke!

A friend of mine had a serious coke habit and it was easy to tell as he just never stopped talking and all very very fast.

Another friend had a breakdown, partly due to drugs and I could spot straight away when he was on something by looking at his pupils and seeing if they were dilated. I confronted him about it one day and he denied it all. But I know from mutual friends he was taking a lot of coke along with a lot of steroids (so was also getting roid rage).

I’ve been in the city 10 years and never caught a whiff (as if were) of coke. I’m not sure whether to be relieved or offended.

I worked in finance in the city for nine years and never came across any drug taking.

Op, I'm similar age group to you and also in the baking industry... I too was very surprised when I found this out! It was even more surprising that majority of the cocaine users were of quite senior level! I've managed to go through to 10 years in the industry with not touching any drugs so as long as you remain strong minded you will be fine. This revelation actually made me more confident as it made me realise how strong willed I am - it's a bit sad that such intelligent people need drugs to perform or function on a daily basis.