To miss E?

[CroutonCrab]

Might be all the stress in the world at the moment but it’s made me think about what I’d give for a couple of doves and the clammy hands that come with them. Don’t think my heart could take it now

Another great thing about being young in the 90s, life was (just) affordable. I had a crappy low paid job but could still afford to buy my own flat in London. I didn't even have a deposit. We had the freedom of the whole continent of Europe to travel/live/work. You could just rock up at the start of the season and get a summer job in a club somewhere. We were so, so lucky. I feel sorry for young people today and ashamed of the life chances we've left for them.

Almost everyone drinks, and almost nobody took E.

Not true in 1990s London.

@KenDodd

Almost everyone drinks, and almost nobody took E.

Not true in 1990s London.

All the over 40s were taking E were they? Pubs all shut? Your granny gave up her sherry and your parents had E with Christmas dinner? "Everyone" means "everyone" not just "people you knew".

That's the opposite of E which actually played a big part in the NI peace process

I wonder if it could be used in conflict resolution?
Serious suggestion (sort of ).
I does create very strong feelings of empathy, this could cut through all the bullshit and show us how alike we really are. If it really did play a part in bringing about peace in NI, maybe it could do the same elsewhere?
Of course it would never happen, maybe for the best, peacemakers need clear heads. Although on our own, as a world, we're not great at making peace.

Is gang violence really on the increase? If so, I wonder if this is connected to the reduction in the rave scene? Despite the fall in ecstacy use violence hasn't returned to football? I think drinking is banned in stadiums now though?

almost nobody took E

Not true. Loads of clubs didn't even bother getting alcohol licences in the 90s. The rave scene was massive.

‘Almost nobody took E’

What, in the 90’s?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Nearly every young person I knew did, not just in my circle, just lots and lots..in Manchester at least

If it really did play a part in bringing about peace in NI, maybe it could do the same elsewhere?
Like Twitter?🤣

Nearly every young person I knew did Me too. I started clubbing in 98.
I'm wary of the drugs today, spice, legal highs, balloons canisters the teens prefer these days. I know my niece was caught with empty canisters.
The empty silver bullets are everywhere.

Is gang violence really on the increase? If so, I wonder if this is connected to the reduction in the rave scene?

No, it's the opposite unfortunately. Most gang violence is related to the supply of drugs. That's the dark side of the rave scene - remember Manchester being dubbed 'Gunchester' in the late 90s?

I totally get this. I think the boredom of adulting is made a thousand times magnified at the moment with being so restricted and anti-social. I’ve found myself dreaming of past times clubbing and craving that feeling. Re the PP asking where does that person go, I know she’s definitely still in there somewhere with me but very buried to be able to get by. I’d love to do something to get that same feeling again. Feel a bit dead inside sometimes without it.

No, it's the opposite unfortunately. Most gang violence is related to the supply of drugs. That's the dark side of the rave scene - remember Manchester being dubbed 'Gunchester' in the late 90s?

Yes, I do remember now. There is a definite dark and criminal side to the rave scene. Shame.

@KenDodd

almost nobody took E

Not true. Loads of clubs didn't even bother getting alcohol licences in the 90s. The rave scene was massive.

You are talking about people in a very small age range and of a certain demographic (I was a student in the 90s but postgrad and didn't know anyone that took it of my age* - and most of the undergrads seemed to be too busy being anorexic the transgender of the time ). If I'm to assume that all the undergrad students, and young working people, that I knew who went clubbing, took it, that's still a TINY percentage of the population overall, and not even that large a group among undergrads. You say: everyone who went clubbing took it. I say: but the number of people who went clubbing was miniscule compared to the population in general, most of whom drink.

*and don't tell me they were taking it without telling me, if they were, they were either taking it in the student bars as well as drinking, where consumption of alcohol was huge, or else they were lying about not going clubbing.

I remember in small clubs we were well aware of who the supply chain was

Of course gangs and violence were part of the rave seen in many areas it was totally gang controlled

E’s may not make people aggressive and violent but the business of supplying illegal drugs always has been

Another unfortunate thing that came from E was heroin throughout the early 2000's for some reason people started to smoke heroin to come down off E it created a lot of longterm addicts.
I never did it. I saw it happening in chill out rooms at party's.
1 of my friends never came off that road she has 4 DC in care.

Microdosing is where it's at ;)

Yay for microdosing! Psilocybin for me but met someone recently who microdoses mdma, would never have thought of that.

So, so much of the harm associated with recreational drug use could be avoided, reduced or managed with legalisation, regulation and education. It's such a shame people prefer a morality based, rigid "drugs are bad so we are banning them and we will punish you if you use them" approach even when it ends in far more death and suffering.

Years ago I was talking to a colleague who said you can't legalise drugs as it will encourage use. I asked her, would she pop down to Boots and buy a bag of heroin now if she could? She said no, of course not. So why did she assume that everyone else would? I could buy heroin within the hour if I wanted to right now- I don't want to, and I wouldn't want to if it was available at a local chemist either. But if I did want to, it would be safer for everyone if I could get it from a regulated, licensed, properly policed supplier, know what I was getting, get dosing and use advice at point of sale, know I could seek help if needed rather than fearing arrest so avoiding services, not be handing over cash to criminal gangs, etc.

Prohibition is ineffective, dangerous and expensive.

Not E for me but weed, I’d love to get stoned one day like proper stoned and then just munching some good food and getting stuck into a show. Pretty boring compared to taking an E or coke etc and having a blast lol

Prohibition is ineffective, dangerous and expensive.

Practically everyone who works in the Drugs field agrees with this.
Some teenagers I spoke to thought drugs were cool because of the illegality ..they seemed glamorous and the epitome of cool.

Ironically children who grew up around recreational drug use by their parents seem to not bother.
One young man said: ''I just grew up with it..Weed and E 's is something your parents do.. It was far more rebellious for me to have a pint of Real Ale''.

@Quietlyloud

Not E for me but weed, I’d love to get stoned one day like proper stoned and then just munching some good food and getting stuck into a show. Pretty boring compared to taking an E or coke etc and having a blast lol

What...Like this?

Legalising alcohol, post prohibition didn’t stop the problem of alcoholism thou, did i is t?

I think the legalisation argument is weak. To provide it legally, providers will have to produce fairly weak products and the gangs will just keep producing garden and harder stuff to keep their profits. It is too lucrative for them.

@TokyoSushi

It's been 19 years, yes it's dangerous, but oh it was just amazing at the time, the happiness, the feeling of coming up and up and up, the dancing when the bass kicked in, the feeling of I really, reeeeeeealy love you...

Those were the days, I would never do such a thing now! - clutches pearls-

I don’t think we can say it’s dangerous really, unless we also say it’s dangerous to cross a road, drive a car etc.

@Illstartexercisingtomorrow

Glorifying drugs is abysmal.

Many people die from it, many of them very young. And an awful lot more get sucked into a cycle of dependency and abuse by others.

But sure, go ahead and act ‘cool’.

Many people die from “it”? Did you mean MDMA, because that’s just not true. Drugs in general yes, but people are discussing taking dance drugs, not heroin or crystal meth!

I tried speed once and that was it. It was overrated and lack of sleep was awful. I just stuck to drinking but never heavily my mate at the time was into all that E’s and stuff and she showed me how to do it, she isn’t a friend now but still see her and we are both 42 and I pass for Late twenties and early 30’s No one believes my age and I still occasionally smoke as well but she looks terrible now as do many I saw out and about partying back in the back so very old looking and I wonder if all those sleepless nights Were worth it now It now 🤭 because I was so sensible yet had a blast in my youth but managed it well. I’m anti drug and never got into all that. Thank God

Fuck me. I’d rather look old than attach any sort of judgment to how old I think other people do or don’t look!