Levels of Professionals who regularly take A-class drugs e.g. Heroin and Cocaine

[Tigerzmum]

I read it on one of the threads in Mumsnet, some months back, that drug taking like Heroin and Cocaine were prevalent amongst professionals; In fact, in conversation with 2 friends recently I was informed that I was not socially aware if this was new to me!

I’m more shocked by the poster saying it was around following play dates. That I’d hope would be very rare. I think there must be groups that get into a bubble and assume everyone is taking something and become quite brazen. Outside of the media, I just don’t think it’s quite as prevalent as some on this thread would suggest. I’ve seen plenty of alcohol abuse

@taraRoo

It's everywhere. A give away is when someone over 25 says they were out drinking until 6am. You can't stay up that long ... good chance it's cocaine. My husband has lots of friends that do it regularly. I think it's hanging on to their youth or some attempt at being edgy. I think it's a bit sad. At 40 you should know better.

Well that's bollocks. I'm over 25 and I can be out past 6am even when being the designated driver! We have clubs here open until 6am, no one I know is on drugs there in our group, we all get regular drugs tests at work.

Firstly whilst both class A. I think that there are a million miles between cocaine and heroine.

I think there are many more professionals doing cocaine the heroin.

Things might've changed but I used to know middle class professionals who took heroin. They didn't tend to admit it to many people, it was more hush hush. Cocaine use was much less hidden. It was rife amongst friends in the media, medicine, finance, and law. Many trainee doctors took coke not for fun but to cope with the very long shifts. Heroin tended to be smoked rather than injected. It was people with money to maintain a habit. You'd have been surprised at who took it. They definitely didn't fit the stereotype of a user.

In the past, prior to the 1971 Miuse of Drugs Act, most heroin users lived pretty normal lives including working full-time jobs. They registered with their GP as a heroin addict, were given safe maintenance doses on prescription - and got on with life as productive full-time working taxpaying members of society. Many were older patients who'd become addicted after operations. Recreational use was relatively uncommon. The illegality (after the law changed) created new opportunities for drug gangs.

It was a probably more sensible and humane approach.

It's not just professionals. Lower working class are rife with Coke takers too.

Yeah, my working class nephew openly used coke a few years ago, dunno if he still does.
And I'm 60 and was up all night last night, completely drug free. I've spent the day caring for my autistic daughter, walked 10 miles and feel absolutely fine. I'll probably go to bed about 12 tonight.

Clowns and children’s entertainers in general. It’s really the only explanation...

I've been a doctor for 11 years and in that time know of one guy personally who got caught in FY1 (first year post-graduation) in possession of cocaine. There have been stories in other hospitals where I've worked about doctors, particularly anaesthetists, my own specialty, who became addicted to fentanyl/morphine, but I've never known anyone personally to use any Class As, nor have I ever been offered any.

And I'm perfectly capable of staying up past 6am for work purposes with no stimulants stronger than caffeine! Haven't been out that late for social reasons for over a decade, though, so maybe I just don't hang out with that sort of crowd

Engineering roles have drugs tests. The only person I know who does still use drugs post-graduation (over a decade ago now) has 2-3 fortnight holidays a year to take them at the first weekend and be clean before going back to work.

Not heroin, but cocaine/ ecstasy. I know of several head teachers/ senior leaders who do this and there seems to be a rampant culture amongst staff in some schools- they all happen to be secondary schools.

When I moved to London & worked as PA in investment banking, I was quite shocked cocaine was seen as fine. I've also had a non professional acquaintance try to tell me that its bog standard & I'm prissy. I just find it sleazy .

@taraRoo

It's everywhere. A give away is when someone over 25 says they were out drinking until 6am. You can't stay up that long ... good chance it's cocaine. My husband has lots of friends that do it regularly. I think it's hanging on to their youth or some attempt at being edgy. I think it's a bit sad. At 40 you should know better.

I do ot several times a week without drugs or alcohol...

I’m obviously very naive, but I don't know of anyone who’s taken drugs like cocaine and I’ve never even seen it. I’m a teacher so maybe it’s more prevalent amongst city types.

Must be a regional thing. I know many doctors and HCPs, dentists, lawyers, teachers, armed forces officers, clergy, architects and engineers aged between about 28 and 65. I don’t know any that have taken unprescribed controlled drugs. Few have even taken dope.

@CherryPavlova
Well at least one member of the clergy takes or took class A drugs. Was it crystal meth that the Co-op boss got filmed using? Can't remember. Might've been crack cocaine instead.

Wasn't it the the Houses of Parliament where every toilet had traces of cocaine?

I knew a pilot who regularly took ketamine and cocaine and also several other professionals who also did - not necessarily "city" types but still with professional jobs

www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2019/06/26/traces-of-cocaine-found-throughout-houses-of-parliament-10075256/amp/

[quote SheepandCow]@CherryPavlova
Well at least one member of the clergy takes or took class A drugs. Was it crystal meth that the Co-op boss got filmed using? Can't remember. Might've been crack cocaine instead.[/quote]
I’m sure there are some who misuse drugs but that hardly means everyone does.

Teachers are terrible for it!! When myself and my year group were old enough to start going out it was a shock how many teachers were out on coke, that and sleeping with the ex students was rife!

@DelilahfromDevon

I am a “professional” and have never met anyone that has taken or admitted to taking heroin. Cocaine, that’s a different story. It’s quite prevalent among the stay at home mum brigade in the local prep. The Friday afternoon play date that turns into more than a play date.

This.

All my friends apart from one do it. Not regularly but they do it. I don't touch it and I'm in the minority.

Coke isn't unusual these days. Heroin is.
Don't know anyone who does that.

I read somewhere that cocaine is for people who get paid too much. I know where I used to work it was de rigueur for the sales reps to take cocaine. It was always made out to be quite glamourous.

I've only ever seen this being touted as extremely common on MN.

DH and I are a lawyer and fund manager (late 30s) and neither of us have ever been offered coke or seen anyone taking it, or been at a party/club where it's openly being used.

I remember my first job in media 14 years ago. I didn't understand how everyone could stay up so late (or want to). After a full days work and a few wines at the pub I was tipsy and sleepy but they seemed to be raring to go.
I soon realised that about 90% of the people were taking coke. The boss, the bosses boss, you name it, all on coke.
I soon succumbed and lived a debaucherous life for 7 years before giving it all up thank god!

The comment someone mentioned about people staying up till 6 being a giveaway, I'm inclined to agree. If it's a one-off or a big event/special birthday etc it's not so unusual to stay up late but the difference is that coke takers tend to regularly stay up till 6, often just chatting in people's houses or searching for the only late bar that's open even if it's awful etc. If the super late night is a regular occurrence, it is a sign of drug use IMO.

Most bankers I know take coke regularly. I know someone in my industry who takes coke daily and functions normally - you would never have guessed.