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Original poster

Cocaine use

204 replies

user1490969170 · 12/02/2022 18:34

I am 36 and don't use cocaine. Never have. Although none of my closest friends do, it has become common place in my wider group of friends and acquaintances. It's mainly used by the blokes recreationally. All family men. Often there wives don't know at all, or aren't aware of the extent.

Is this pretty normal? Am I just naive?

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/02/2022 18:37

I don't know. I've never used it and neither has my husband. I don't know much about the risks to the user's health. I do know it's a heinous trade as currently structured and causes devastation in the countries where it's produced. Those who purchase the stuff are putting money straight into organised crime. I couldn't live with that if it was someone close to me.

DramaAlpaca · 12/02/2022 18:41

Apparently it's rife, but I've never come across it in my own social circle. I'm old though. I'd be really shocked if I found out any of my friends used it. Maybe I'm just naive, I don't know.

TheSnowyOwl · 12/02/2022 18:43

It will completely depend upon your social circle and, likely, the demographic they fall into.

Bringsexyback · 12/02/2022 18:43

The last three men that I have dated that I have finished with it has been because of their cocaine use actually not because of the drug use but for the fact that they complete twats when they’re not on it the next day.

I believe my brother is taking it and he holds a very responsible position and obviously is a father and a husband

Bringsexyback · 12/02/2022 18:44

I’m in my mid-40s by the way

LampLighter414 · 12/02/2022 18:47

Rife in 20s and early 30s circles both male and female where I am

Disfordragon · 12/02/2022 18:48

I think it’s rife too. Lots of middle class reasonably well off people, mostly in people’s homes. It’s not something that goes on in my circle of friends. It can cause huge health problems- heart attacks and cardiomyopathy. I know someone in their mid 30s who recently had the latter. He may end up needing a heart transplant.

PinkPinkPinkGreen · 12/02/2022 18:51

I don’t do it but I know plenty of professional people with families who do recreationally.

Apart from the issue of the supply chain (and that’s a very big issue), it’s not really that different to them getting pissed.

Original poster
user1490969170 · 12/02/2022 18:52

My friends don't acknowledge/care about the health consequences. My friends brother had a brain aneurysm last year and nearly died. It was directly related to his regular cocaine use.

Yes. The mood swings the next day have a massive impact on their family life. When their wives mention it to me i feel like I should tell them it's because their husband's have been on an 8 hour coke bender...but I don't!

OP posts:
Caramelcap · 12/02/2022 18:54

Personally did it quite a lot recreationally in my early to mid-twenties but in my thirties it's far too much of a luxury I can't afford. I also don't want to feel rubbish for the whole week after and waste precious time with my children and it to affect work/gym classes. I'm not a drinker either though, same reasons.

I work for a telecoms company and half the staff were on it at the Christmas party however, all 30-50 year olds. I'd say it's common. Personal choice, no different to drinking.

spotcheck · 12/02/2022 19:00

I work for a telecoms company and half the staff were on it at the Christmas party however, all 30-50 year olds. I'd say it's common. Personal choice, no different to drinking

One of the most irresponsible things I've ever seen written on MN.

You do know that cocaine laced with fentanyl is reaching epidemic proportions?
A close family member died instantly from cocaine laced with fentanyl.

GEMLC · 12/02/2022 19:00

Well, it is quite different to drinking because it's illegal.

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/02/2022 19:05

@spotcheck

I work for a telecoms company and half the staff were on it at the Christmas party however, all 30-50 year olds. I'd say it's common. Personal choice, no different to drinking

One of the most irresponsible things I've ever seen written on MN.

You do know that cocaine laced with fentanyl is reaching epidemic proportions?
A close family member died instantly from cocaine laced with fentanyl.

This is a great argument for decriminalisation. Sort the supply chain out, get rid of additives, really work on things like the opioid crisis. Have cheap testing sites or kits so people can see if there is an opioid in their stimulant.

Cocaine in many regards is actually less of a problem than alcohol. Not physically addictive, no issue detoxing (alcohol withdrawal can kill you) and it's not a factor in vast, massive huge swathes of violence. It is also worse in some ways.

I wish we could have a sensible debate about drugs focused on harm reduction.

I don't use cocaine just in case anyone thinks that's the reason I believe in decrim.

Original poster
user1490969170 · 12/02/2022 19:06

Of course it's a personal choice. But it do think that it is quite different from drinking alcohol. In terms of legality, cost, health, impact on your brain, links to organised crime etc.

This is why I am shocked by so many of my friends doing it. I can only assume that the immediate affect of cocaine is so amazing that nothing else matters.

OP posts:
shepabear · 12/02/2022 19:08

One of my male friends does it, he's late 30's, married and a father. All of our group of friends know he does it on nights out but none of us condone it. I live in a Latin American country where you can't walk past a newspaper stand or glance at the news online without seeing another mass murder/shoot out/insane corruption all
because of the drug cartels. It is literally every day. So seeing it everyday it's drummed into me about how the demand for drugs like cocaine impact on people living thousands of miles away. And it's nothing like drinking - people who produce alcohol (or at least the legal stuff) work in factories and aren't subject to working for drug lords and violent thugs unlike the people who produce drugs.

Just10moreminutesplease · 12/02/2022 19:08

I’m pretty pro decriminalisation for recreational drugs… but I’ve never met someone who regularly does coke who isn’t a bit of a knob head.

Scarby9 · 12/02/2022 19:09

Where do you all live? Are you in cities?

I genuinely know nobody who uses cocaine.

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/02/2022 19:10

Of course it's a personal choice. But it do think that it is quite different from drinking alcohol. In terms of legality, cost, health, impact on your brain, links to organised crime etc.

In order: True, true (but it's someone's own money), debatable, very debatable, true but only because of the fist true.

What about addiction? Alcohol is extremely physically and psychologically addictive and withdrawal is life threatening. Cocaine is psychologically addictive and withdrawal isn't life-threatening. Alcohol abuse kills 3 million people annually. More than malaria, more than covid. A LOT more than cocaine.

shepabear · 12/02/2022 19:11

I'm also all for decriminalizing drugs - what people choose to put in their bodies is up to them, but at the moment if you take cocaine/heroin/mdma etc at this moment in time then you are directly participating in a chain that leads to organised crime, trafficking, murder, corruption, exploitation, county lines etc....

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/02/2022 19:11

@Just10moreminutesplease

I’m pretty pro decriminalisation for recreational drugs… but I’ve never met someone who regularly does coke who isn’t a bit of a knob head.
I also wholeheartedly agree with this.

Although alcohol is a close second.

1dayatatime · 12/02/2022 19:12

Cocaine is nature's way of telling you that you've got too much money.

The illegality and health impact aside I wonder what the views of the wives of those 30 to 50 year old men would be about spaffing large amounts of money away that could have been better spent on their DC, their home and household expenses. All because they think they're cool when in reality they are simply just selfish dicks.

OfstedOffred · 12/02/2022 19:13

Where do you all live? Are you in cities? I genuinely know nobody who uses cocaine

This. I've never seen anyone snort a line in my life, none of my friends use it or have admitted to it and I have no reason to suspect.

I'm 36.

earsup · 12/02/2022 19:14

I work a few hours a week for a yuppy vegan couple...they do it most weekends....all trendy and lefty and woke etc....that sort....they overlook the fact its got bleach, daz, petrol, piss and other crap in it....!!!

Lilylovetulips · 12/02/2022 19:18

I'm in my late 30s and have never used any deug, including cocaine.

However, I know of plenty of people my age who do on a regular basis. Most are middle class with kids and respectable jobs. I never understand it really. I also know of a couple of people who have died suddenly from regular cocaine use, usually when mixed with alcohol.

Also my ex husband was a coke addict and I never knew, genuinely had no clue. He hid it very well. I only found out after we split up that he had spent our wedding reception snorting coke in the toilets with his mates. I was obviously horrified.

Oysterbabe · 12/02/2022 19:19

Personal choice, no different to drinking.

Are you taking the piss? Are you really that clueless about the murder, people trafficking and general pure fucking evil that surrounds the drugs trade? It utterly destroys lives. People just don't give a shit, a bit of fun for them so who cares.