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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are you Generation X? Come here a minute...

125 replies

HennyPennyHorror · 19/09/2019 10:29

Do you find that a lot of our generation are still taking drugs at our age?

Or not?

I was part of the rave scene...got out of it aged 23. Left all that behind...but a LOT of people I know of my age or thereabouts (late 40s) are still taking drugs on a regular basis.

I emigrated 4 years ago but have friends in the UK still and see and hear what they get up to on the phone and social media. Here in Oz, my Aussie DH's mates are all still at it too.

We have numerous acquaintances (not mates) who even take things like meth...these are professional people!

AIBU to think it's all going to come to a head at some point? Like...tonnes of them will die young...people back home still taking coke and Es and all that.

It's not right is it?

OP posts:
Girlwhowearsglasses · 19/09/2019 10:35

Yanbu.

Heart attacks (George michael and a whole load of others who die this way)
Even though it’s so common it isn’t built into our healthcare system like drinking and smoking is. People our age don’t think of the risks in that context.

I’ve never been asked in a healthcare context - but have many times about drinking and smoking.

DP takes a medication that can affect your heart. He has regular blood pressure check ups.

Trebla · 19/09/2019 10:37

Yes mates still do. Ibiza regularly. I haven't for over 10 years. I look a lot younger than my mates.

Beesandcheese · 19/09/2019 10:38

I have one friend who says it's "self medicating" for their adhd. Whatever it is, they are not in a great place really. Seems to be rapidly aging now. Faster than me and I'm fat, so Hugh risk for every health complaint and my opinion meaning nothing, particularly on MN Wink

hairypaws · 19/09/2019 10:41

I don't know anyone at all who takes drugs (to my knowledge). I tell a lie, I actually know 2 people who use weed but other than that I have no idea.

tvdinnertracks · 19/09/2019 10:48

A lot of my friends still take drugs.

I think it's terrible if you have kids.

And two of my best friends have died from taking ecstasy in the last ten years. I wouldn't touch drugs again with a barge pole.

BadLad · 19/09/2019 10:53

I know quite a few who have the odd joint (which is taking a big risk here in Japan). I don't know more than a handful who take anything stronger. If I'm out with them and they take any drugs at all I make my excuses and leave. It's not worth hanging around for the trouble you get in if the police bust you.

BonnesVacances · 19/09/2019 10:54

Yep. I have 2 family members who go raving many weekends and take drugs. They are in their 40s and have children who they leave at home.

I think they must be reclaiming some lost youth or something. It's pathetic.

Ohflippineck · 19/09/2019 10:55

Not sure, I’m 55?
Never came across drugs as an adolescent, other than my stupid brother who actively sought them out.

QforCucumber · 19/09/2019 10:57

None of my group who used to (regular weekend nights out, holidays in Ibiza etc) still take them, everyone's actually doing really well with ourselves: engineers, accountants, head chef, Social worker. I have heard that the kids who are getting into similar scenes now are being really affected by it and don't understand that - like I never missed a day of work/uni due to it, it was all purely recreational.

Dutch1e · 19/09/2019 11:02

Yes, I know people who still use drugs, and on a very very rare occasion I will too. I love them, they're great fun.

I also like the Dutch pragmatic approach to drugs - they're sold in various strengths and the milligram count is quite specific. There are also free labs where you can have your drugs tested before you use them.

I don't know anyone who gets wasted any more though, more like the equivalent of going out with friends and getting tipsy.

BlooperReel · 19/09/2019 11:04

Millenial here but a lot of Generation X friends, most still regularly use cocaine on nights out, or mdma. I have never used drugs and seeing the state of them all sometimes, have never seen the appeal.

Inebriati · 19/09/2019 11:09

About half of the people I used to know who took a lot of drugs are burned out, in rehab, in prison, or in long term psychiatric care.
Most of the other half have inherited from rich parents and moved on.

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/09/2019 11:09

I’m gen x. I’ve been told a number of people where I live regularly take drugs and yes, a lot of these are parents. It’s a very naice village. Cocaine is the middle class drug of choice if you have a few bob apparently....

getoutofthatgarden202 · 19/09/2019 11:12

Loads of people are still at it on occasion - tbh i'd rather hang out with a group who've done a bit of mdma then a group of drunks - really wasted drunk people are way messier tbh!

dollydaydream114 · 19/09/2019 11:14

I'm a Gen Xer and while I don't think a lot of my own friends are still taking drugs, I do think there's quite a bit of recreational drug use in our generation. It's not my thing, personally, but I do think it's pretty rife. How people in their 40s are still finding the time and energy to do E at a festival is beyond me.

BarbedBloom · 19/09/2019 11:15

Gen X here. I know a fair few people who smoke pot regularly and a few of my London friends do coke, but they say it is pretty common in their circle - both lawyers

Morgan12 · 19/09/2019 11:18

I'm not gen x but know a good few. Most people I know still take cocaine recreationally or have done in the past.

AnnaMariaDreams · 19/09/2019 11:19

I’m Generation X.
No drugs except wineGrin
We were never into drugs anyway in my group of friends. A couple smoked weed but most of us didn’t.

recklessruby · 19/09/2019 11:23

Gen X here too. I left that culture back in my early 20s and never was really into it.
However i have friends who still smoke weed and use cocaine on weekends.
Tbh i would rather spend my money on a few drinks on a nice night in the pub garden or a decent book.
Those wannabe young clubber types look way older than I do now.
They remind me of the drugs screw you up posters in the 80s

tvdinnertracks · 19/09/2019 11:23

@QforCucumber

All of my friends that still take drugs are doing extremely well for themselves. They all have very well paying jobs, a couple most people on here would have heard of.

BarbariansMum · 19/09/2019 11:23

In my experience none (exception is husband of one friend who occasionally smokes pot). But none of us were big drug takers to begin with (alcohol was more the thing).

tvdinnertracks · 19/09/2019 11:24

Pretty much EVERYONE where I live smokes weed or has edibles. It's legal.

I don't. I do drink too much though so not in a position to judge anyone.

GabsAlot · 19/09/2019 11:25

Weed but not clas a and not everyne just a few

RosaWaiting · 19/09/2019 11:28

Yes, I don’t but I have underlying health issues so I can’t.

Those I know who do are mostly childfree and at this age, quite scared of long life, which we are seeing in our parents. I used to think George Michael went at a good age but actually before 50 might be better for some of us. There’s now a problem worth that in case parents outlive....

I think it depends a lot what your life is like. If you’re staring down the barrel of still working just make ends meet at 70.....

Original poster
HennyPennyHorror · 19/09/2019 11:28

I think they must be reclaiming some lost youth or something. It's pathetic.

Some of the people I know never left their youth behind! So they're not reclaiming it as much as not letting it go.

OP posts:
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