“Drugs are just a normal part of the London lifestyle”

[Pollstrox]

DD is single, in her early 30s and has been living in various professional house shares in London for the last 10 years or so. She’s got a fantastic job and social life; in fact (outside of Lockdown!) she’s barely ever at home. She’s often out for drinks after work during the week and the weekend will almost always consist of trips to bars and restaurants with friends accompanied by nights of heavy drinking. DD and I are very close and she chooses to share a lot of information with me about her life, which I love.

Lately she mentioned her drug use which I now find out has been a regular occurrence throughout her time living in London. She tells me that her and her friends will spend a weekend at least monthly, staying up all night using cocaine and occasionally they will have a night in using MDMA. Having met DD’s friends and housemates, I’m absolutely shocked. They are all lovely, have very successful careers (mostly in creative industries) and have clearly been raised well. I would never ever think they’d spend most weekends using drugs without a thought for the consequences. In fact, ironically DD and a number of her friends very health conscious and most are vegan!

DD is completely blasé about her habits and tells me it’s a completely normal part of the London lifestyle for single professional people. In fact, according to DD, she doesn’t know anyone else who DOESN'T partake! AIBU in thinking that this cant be true?!

Yes you could mention the misery of the supply chain to her

Sounds totally normal in middle class London social circles. Been there myself for many years.m

The next time she snorts crap tell her that for every time she does that police recover cocaine from drug dealers arseholes and under their testicles.

Where the flip do these people think the drugs come from? Her demand is fueling county lines and the child criminal exploitation, responsible for kids killing other kids. And yet police get bashed. She is part of the problem.

You should be ashamed of her and she should be ashamed of herself.

Also, thought for the day.. I read an analysis the other day about why meth use is so common in America. Turns out it's because coke is not readily available. So I guess it could be worse...

I'm 48. I moved to London in my early 20s and everyone I lived with was doing coke, OP. Everyone. People literally caned it, non-stop, all weekend long. It really is part of London living. I didn't touch the stuff because I grew up with a drug addict for a brother. Also, being the sober friend, I saw what recreational (I use that term loosely) drug use did to people's behaviour, long-term. All of them were high flyers, very successful, but totally stunted, emotionally though.
It's great that your DD talks so openly with you. I hope her recreational use doesn't rule her or take over her life too much, is all I'm saying. It's the undoing of so many people. The only thing I'd worry about is neurological side effects and cardiovascular side effects. But that's me, over-thinking things, having been around lots of cokeheads and junkies in the fashion industry for nearly 15 years and observing the unravelling of my brother, so forgive my rather harsh view of things.

Gosh it’s scary, I had no idea it was so rife

Also, thought for the day.. I read an analysis the other day about why meth use is so common in America. Turns out it's because coke is not readily available. So I guess it could be worse...

Go figure. Aren't we lucky to have traces of cokaine in our tap water instead of meth? Winning.

Its vile. Takers are equally as bad as those suppliers in South America or wherever it comes from.

People are concerned about where their food comes from but dont give a fucking hoot what the stick up their noses.

OP - I was more surprised that you commented her friends had 'clearly been raised well'.

Yes very normal in my London life up until I was about 33. I worked in advertising and a lot of my friends in that industry did it, as well as friends in other industries. Usually just coke at the weekend - sometimes pills/mdma if we were going out-out

Cokaine? I meant coCaine, of course.

So OP are you going to ask your daughter if she is aware of the misery her pathetic recreational habit is having on the lives others.

The rapes, the beheadings, the torture of children (in front of their parents) - as your daughter, and all those others snorting up their noses are complicit.

Or is that misery worth it?

It’s never been in my London lifestyle loved her my whole life but it’s the friendship you keep I find. My friends don’t do that. Some do.

@Covidiot not sure why you are directing your anger at me, I share your views...

Very common, I'm 28 living in London in a similar situation as your daughter - I can honestly say that out my circle of close and extended friends there are perhaps 5 out of 40ish people who don't partake...

The attitude of many middle class "professionals" who partake in drug use is awful - attitude of it "doesn't harm anyone" are a pile of shit - look at the people exploited as part of the production and distribution of illegal drugs.

All professional, well paid and for some of my friends very high flying careers.

Sorry OP. That’s unfair of me. I’m glad you understand. It’s just something I feel really passionately about. I’ve done so much reading in the subject and findnit so utterly depressing.

Also 'clearly been raised well' ha bloody ha. When I lived in london the less well off did weed alcohol and speed.
The rich idiots did a drug called 'cake'..
Well that was how they pronounced it anyway.
they had clearly been raised well...

Sadly, it probably is normal but that doesn't make it right.

It's eye opening against the recent press of BLMs that some of the responses to the OP talk about the fact drugs are harmless. I grew up in London in a very diverse area & not one of my childhood friend have ever touched drugs.

I went to uni, lived in Bristol and London throughout my 20s, all very 'naice' and middle class as lots of posters would put it.
Had a very active social life, lots of different groups of friends. I've only ever experienced someone taking drugs once at a party. I used to love a drink and a club but hated any kind of drugs scene so naturally never mixed with anyone who did any kind of drugs, inc cannabis.
So while I hear it's rife, it's pretty easy to avoid.
Totally agree about what people are saying re the horrific issues the drugs trade causes. Is your daughter aware of this?

People are concerned about where their food comes from but dont give a fucking hoot what the stick up their noses.

This! I've looked at old friends I've known for years, stuffing their kids with organic rarified air and all I can think of is, "It's all organic avocado, La Coqueta shoes, and bilingual school now innit. But your nervous system's fucked."

Cocaine is everywhere, loads of people do it. Even mid week.

I grew up in London in a very diverse area & not one of my childhood friend have ever touched drugs.

In my view, it was- in my time- very much an industry thing or a spoiled rich 'kid' of the tender age of 30 type of thing. I am sure that hasn't changed. It really causes adults to regress. Adults with too much time and too much money.