What happens if you keep drinking and taking recreational drugs into your 50s?

[FortunesFave]

I'm really curious about it....I'm in my late 40s and gave up all that when I was about 19 or 20. Part of the rave culture I certainly did experiment but got it together and went to Uni late...I've never been very into drinking so only have an occasional glass of champagne or a cider with a pub lunch now.

However it's become clear that a lot of our friends who we've had for years are still doing it and for the past 15 years since kids, DH and I have slowly stopped going to their 'dos' when they get off their faces....we used to go and just drink but they'd all be taking MDMA and coke...all perfectly functional during the week by the way...holding down good careers etc. and we found it uncomfortable.

Lately it's got a bit fake and we don't really fit in any more because we barely drink and they still get off their heads at parties. We have other ways of meeting up with them but then they're talking about this weekend or that weekend where they took whatever...and we don't have that to share...not that we want it but the friendships are running their course.

If, like me, you were born in the 70s you'll know that our parents didn't do this sort of thing into their adulthood....so what's going to happen to Generation X as we age? Will the ones who've never stopped just suddenly die of heart attacks young? It's worrying me a bit as some of my friends I really love...but they're still getting faceless and that can't be good when you're 50 plus!

@Thecatsawinner

I know a couple in their 50’s that do a lot of recreational partying with mdma and Coke etc, they both look really well and you don't look their ages. They do however exercise and eat well.

@BillieSpain

Yes, me too.

Very healthy lifestyles otherwise. Not over weight, exercise and eat extremely well. Coke is apparently not as harmful as smoking, alcohol or being obese.

I think it is a 'holistic' view of drugs/lifestyle Take drugs but eat healthily, be obese but smoke. I'd rather take drugs.

I was born in the 70's and most of my friends are wealthy now. They take coke occasionally, drink nice wine, eat fabulous food and go the the gym and are looking great. It all depends...

Seriously though, some people I know in a certain industry are absolutely super healthy, they just do recreational coke. Why not?

They really won't be dropping down dead any time soon.

People have different tastes and ideas on how to unwind. No one is better than the other. (As long as you are functional, healthy, happy and DC's aren't involved, obviously)

@therocinante

I know a group of people - some are lawyers, judges, surgeons, all very well-to-do - who still take drugs at big blowout weekends a few times a year. They're all 60 now and healthy as you like...

@Chopinbaby

My parents are in their 50s and still party like this. My dad in particular takes a lot of MDMA at parties and stays up all night. He is rough for a few days afterwards and I’ve noticed his memory is shite but he is still pretty healthy and does a manual job. They had me as teens and have been like this all that time (I’m in my 30s now)

Just when I thought I had seen it all on here!!! These posts are just disturbing.

You have to be some kind of idiot to take recreational drugs in the first place. Even at Uni. Funnily enough, my DD and her various friendship groups (at home AND at uni,) managed to get through their teens, and uni years, without taking any drugs. (And so did me and DH, and our friendship groups...) You can still have a good time without sniffing coke and smoking weed for fuck's sake!

Some people act like it's 'cool' and some weird rite of passage to smoke weed or sniff coke. It's not. It just makes you a sad little sheep, who does drugs to look cool in front of their mates. (You don't by the way, you look ridiculous.)

Any anyone who is still doing in in their 30s, 40s, and 50s (or older,) is pathetic. And everyone who knows them will think that.

And as some posters have said, taking recreational drugs your whole life ages you and makes you look a hot mess. It will also result in a premature death.

Stop labelling it as something normal and cool, because it's neither. It's fucking stupid, and makes the people who take them, look like sad fools.

And it's funny how all these people the above posters know, who take drugs are all fit and slim, and 'super healthy!; Yeah right, SURE they are super healthy! Coz that what smoking weed and sniffing coke all of your adult life does to you; makes you super healthy. NOT!

@osbertthesyrianhamster

And to some people, nothing much happens. I've got other friends who are smokers and can kick my arse on hikes and they're older than I am as well.

It's not a given you go wretched, die, etc.

Obviously these things are just statistical likelihoods rather than guarantees, but I'd be fairly sure that drug use (including legal ones) must increase your chances of ill health, it's just a question of how much.

I like to be a well-informed user, but there's not a lot of well-documented evidence for the long-term effects of many drugs. I guess that it's in the nature of drug use that it's underground, so it's difficult to do reliable research, and there are several drugs which are fairly new, so not much is know about them. There's an element of Russian roulette to it all. Professor David Nutt's work is really useful for anyone with an interest.

You continue to support gang violence, cuckooing, county lines and knife crime. Frankly you are scum if you buy illegal drugs , it is a pity they aren't more lethal.

You end up like my ex - dead at 54

@Taikoo

I think one looks a bit out of place and past it, doing drugs in their 50s. Just a bit sad and stupid really.

Agreed, seems really try hard to me to. Like you're desperate to prove how young and cool you are. They even sound like 15 year olds as well justifying it by saying that all they're friends do it and they're fine and they know loads of old people that do it and are fine - and doing x,y or z is much worse.

We have noticed this in our friendship group. We are in our fifties with a very active social life. Most of our friends still get really drunk and they are the same age. Does start to look kind of desperate and obviously not great for health.

@murbblurb

You continue to support gang violence, cuckooing, county lines and knife crime. Frankly you are scum if you buy illegal drugs , it is a pity they aren't more lethal.

This. ^

@murbblurb

You continue to support gang violence, cuckooing, county lines and knife crime. Frankly you are scum if you buy illegal drugs , it is a pity they aren't more lethal.

That's why I believe they should all be legalised, regulated and taxed the way alcohol and tobacco are. They aren't going to go away because of shaming, finger wagging, guilt tripping or anything else. People have been using drugs for thousands of years.

@murbblurb

You continue to support gang violence, cuckooing, county lines and knife crime. Frankly you are scum if you buy illegal drugs , it is a pity they aren't more lethal.

Totally agree. The people I know who still take drugs have blood on their hands IMO. They know how these drugs are distributed but keep the system going. As another poster stated, campaign to legalise drugs and refrain until it happens.

@Tal45

Agreed, seems really try hard to me to. Like you're desperate to prove how young and cool you are. They even sound like 15 year olds as well justifying it by saying that all they're friends do it and they're fine and they know loads of old people that do it and are fine - and doing x,y or z is much worse.

This is exactly what I thought (and pretty much said.) It's disturbing and sickening to read these posts actually.

Also, as I said earlier, it's funny how all these middle aged recreational drug takers, are all SOOOOO SUPER-HEALTHY!

Are some posters perhaps confusing drug addicts and alcoholics and Baz from The Happy Mondays, with occasional blow out weekends the OP is talking about and we are commenting on (on mumsnet FFS )

I would not take drugs now as DD is 13, but in the future, if someone offered me a line of coke then why the hell not? I'll be 60.

littlepattilou

Me think thou doth protest too much 😂 I hope you don’t drink alcohol! Alcohol is a really nasty, strong drug with a high degree of social and personal health harm.

There is a huge difference in physical and mental health implications between a 50 year old who still takes part drugs occasionally, and a 50 year old who is a habitual user.

Shoving Coke up your nose 4 nights a week for 30 years? Yah probably not great. Smoking weed every night? Certainly not good.

MDMA 4 times a year? Virtually zero health impacts I would expect.

And it's funny how all these people the above posters know, who take drugs are all fit and slim, and 'super healthy!; Yeah right, SURE they are super healthy! Coz that what smoking weed and sniffing coke all of your adult life does to you; makes you super healthy. NOT!

It’s quite likely that people only know fit healthy and rich people... and that a section of their friendship group are those things plus drug users. My friendship group doesn’t have fat unhealthy poor people in it... our lives wouldn’t intersect 🤷‍♀️ All the occasional drug users I know are very much into exercise.

@BillieSpain

Are some posters perhaps confusing drug addicts and alcoholics and Baz from The Happy Mondays, with occasional blow out weekends the OP is talking about and we are commenting on (on mumsnet FFS )

I would not take drugs now as DD is 13, but in the future, if someone offered me a line of coke then why the hell not? I'll be 60.

Oh dear God. You are actually serious aren't you?

It is prohibition that drives the criminality around drugs.

I don't take drugs to 'be cool' but because it's fun.

OK, I'm backing away now.

Most people know,that long term use of alcohol and drugs, can cause health problems over time, and age you somewhat. Both of these things, can give you a different mindset about life in general, as this is why people use them, otherwise, there is no point using them..

I guess that there are lots of people who drink a lot,and still take drugs when older, if they need a boost to make themselves feel happier whatever.

I just don’t get any of this shit at all.
I’ve seen plenty of people off their faces on drugs and alcohol and it’s really sad.

It's no big deal to me. I've taken all the drugs but stopped late twenties. I'd say snorting a line of coke every few months is healthier than being obese or smoking.

It's always okay on MN to call people who take drugs idiots etc but if you say anything about people being obese you're a terrible bastard.

Nothing much. I think if you get to that age and are still just doing it here and there recreationally while holding down a job, then youre probably alright and good at knowing your limits

You die younger & wish you’d lived a better lifestyle.

Was it 2016 loads of celebs died after being around in the 60s and taking drugs for 40 years?. No ones a special case who’s going to avoid the effects of drugs.

Hi OP

Thanks for your interesting thread! I am 43 and in a similar position to your and has been consuming my thoughts for the last year.

I have found that as the kids are getting older, my group of friends have decided it’s time to go back to their partying days. Most of my friends are heavy drinkers (in denial of course) and recreational drug users, partying very hard at weekends.

I am regularly offered drugs by friends (of course turning them down) and my husband and I are starting to feel the same way as you, in that we are sick of socialising with these people and starting to pull back.

I work in healthcare, a lot of my clients are very open about their past/current drug use, with many people I have seen developing alcohol related dementia, early onset alzheimers and schizophrenia etc so I think (from what I have seen) if you are using drugs on a regular basis it puts you more at risk for developing various health related issues.

For me personally I would 100% say that my own anxiety and depression is related to being a recreational drug user in my 20’s.

I am currently enjoying sobriety ie have stopped drinking alcohol and boy has it really opened up my eyes to how much people abuse alcohol (and other things!) 😳

[quote littlepattilou]@Thecatsawinner

I know a couple in their 50’s that do a lot of recreational partying with mdma and Coke etc, they both look really well and you don't look their ages. They do however exercise and eat well.

@BillieSpain

Yes, me too.

Very healthy lifestyles otherwise. Not over weight, exercise and eat extremely well. Coke is apparently not as harmful as smoking, alcohol or being obese.

I think it is a 'holistic' view of drugs/lifestyle Take drugs but eat healthily, be obese but smoke. I'd rather take drugs.

I was born in the 70's and most of my friends are wealthy now. They take coke occasionally, drink nice wine, eat fabulous food and go the the gym and are looking great. It all depends...

Seriously though, some people I know in a certain industry are absolutely super healthy, they just do recreational coke. Why not?

They really won't be dropping down dead any time soon.

People have different tastes and ideas on how to unwind. No one is better than the other. (As long as you are functional, healthy, happy and DC's aren't involved, obviously)

@therocinante

I know a group of people - some are lawyers, judges, surgeons, all very well-to-do - who still take drugs at big blowout weekends a few times a year. They're all 60 now and healthy as you like...

@Chopinbaby

My parents are in their 50s and still party like this. My dad in particular takes a lot of MDMA at parties and stays up all night. He is rough for a few days afterwards and I’ve noticed his memory is shite but he is still pretty healthy and does a manual job. They had me as teens and have been like this all that time (I’m in my 30s now)

Just when I thought I had seen it all on here!!! These posts are just disturbing.

You have to be some kind of idiot to take recreational drugs in the first place. Even at Uni. Funnily enough, my DD and her various friendship groups (at home AND at uni,) managed to get through their teens, and uni years, without taking any drugs. (And so did me and DH, and our friendship groups...) You can still have a good time without sniffing coke and smoking weed for fuck's sake!

Some people act like it's 'cool' and some weird rite of passage to smoke weed or sniff coke. It's not. It just makes you a sad little sheep, who does drugs to look cool in front of their mates. (You don't by the way, you look ridiculous.)

Any anyone who is still doing in in their 30s, 40s, and 50s (or older,) is pathetic. And everyone who knows them will think that.

And as some posters have said, taking recreational drugs your whole life ages you and makes you look a hot mess. It will also result in a premature death.

Stop labelling it as something normal and cool, because it's neither. It's fucking stupid, and makes the people who take them, look like sad fools.

And it's funny how all these people the above posters know, who take drugs are all fit and slim, and 'super healthy!; Yeah right, SURE they are super healthy! Coz that what smoking weed and sniffing coke all of your adult life does to you; makes you super healthy. NOT! [/quote]
...are you okay?

Absolutely fine if you hate drugs, haven't taken them etc, of course. But you seem very over-invested in other people.

You could say that drinking your entire adult life ages you, causes premature death etc. Is it the illegality that bothers you?

As the body ages our likelihood of having other, non-drug related health problems increases. Why make it harder?

If your body is a Ferrari, you might be able to get away with reckless speeding a few times a year (and as with drug taking, that’s not even sparing a thought for others). But if you’re driving an ageing Volvo, you might want to go easy and increase your chances of making it all the way.

As for those saying drug-taking is a matter of personal choices and freedoms: it’s not. And there’s no excuse these days for kidding yourselves that it is. Selfish doesn’t begin to describe. You’re partying over the bodies of people who’ve paid the ultimate price for you to exercise your “freedom”. THIS is what makes drug taking in adulthood especially heinous. At 15yo youth and hedonism can excuse a lot. In your 40s and beyond: your lack of perspective is disgraceful, small-minded, spoilt, shameful.

@Fluffycloudland77

You die younger & wish you’d lived a better lifestyle.

Was it 2016 loads of celebs died after being around in the 60s and taking drugs for 40 years?. No ones a special case who’s going to avoid the effects of drugs.

This. ^

A ton of celebs (who regularly took drugs) have died over the past decade. Even being famous and rich - and seemingly 'super-healthy' is not going to stop the constant use of recreational drugs killing you. Many people have been taken around 30 to 40 years too early (some even as much as 50 to 60 years too early,) because of regularly taking recreational drugs.