Cocaine use

[user1490969170]

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?

The difference is that if this is pointed out to consumers, we can put pressure on suppliers to make changes. Channel 4 did an expose of Dyson's suppliers the other day, for example. How would cocaine users be able to influence their suppliers to change their practices? It's an illegal trade from start to finish and thus is completely unregulated. It's a parasite on society. At least alcohol and tobacco contribute a lot of tax. A huge chunk of the NHS budget comes from those taxes, and rightly so, given the damage they do. No such contribution from the cocaine trade.

I don't and neither does my partner (his family is full of alcoholics and drug addicts), but yes, I know loads of people that do it a lot!

Trust me the school parents are tears on mdma to!

*twats

@lavenderandpillows

For me is a deal breaker for partners or friendships. I find it revolting but yes many people do it.

Yes, I lost a friendship because of it. Turned the friend I thought I knew into an obnoxious, egotistical and unkind person when she decided to form a relationship with a dealer.

I know loads of people who use it and I find them all ridiculous.

Certainly normal where I stay, west of Scotland. I was in a pub a few months ago and got chatting to these two women. Next thing one of them is inviting me into the toilet for a line.

I was at a friends birthday last night and it was cocaine galore just getting passed about.

Should add we are late 20s to mid 30s circle of people - male and females using it in equal quantities.

Little kids in the Congo are exploited so we can have mobile phones and laptops. Is everyone who has expressed outrage at the morals of cocaine users going to give them up too?

I find all drug users abhorrent and disgusting, not just limited to cocaine users, I suppose growing up in a household with an addict who made life hell and was vile might have altered my view. But anyway I digress. Drugs add fuck all of value to society, they make money for a few people (most of whom don't take the stuff themselves- funny that)- people are exploited at every stage and it's not like people enhance society whilst on drugs; it's also the root of a lot of crime. Yes I agree we should all be pushing for fair wages and safe working conditions for products we use in this country that are made around the globe, I don't think it's a gotcha for saying drugs are fine because others are exploited though really.

Someone offered me a line at my mums birthday party. 😂 Some of the men in my social circle take it at the weekends. They are like the degenerates though. Like they are fun to be around but you'd never actually fully respect them.

@Canaloha

Little kids in the Congo are exploited so we can have mobile phones and laptops. Is everyone who has expressed outrage at the morals of cocaine users going to give them up too?

I find all drug users abhorrent and disgusting, not just limited to cocaine users, I suppose growing up in a household with an addict who made life hell and was vile might have altered my view. But anyway I digress. Drugs add fuck all of value to society, they make money for a few people (most of whom don't take the stuff themselves- funny that)- people are exploited at every stage and it's not like people enhance society whilst on drugs; it's also the root of a lot of crime. Yes I agree we should all be pushing for fair wages and safe working conditions for products we use in this country that are made around the globe, I don't think it's a gotcha for saying drugs are fine because others are exploited though really.

Yes, exactly^^

I don't think it's a gotcha for saying drugs are fine because others are exploited though really.
I didn't say they were fine though did I? I mean that everyone here has probably bought an unethical product at some point.

It's not something interesting people need.

@Noisyneighneigh

I don't think it's a gotcha for saying drugs are fine because others are exploited though really. I didn't say they were fine though did I? I mean that everyone here has probably bought an unethical product at some point.

Yes I expect they have, I still don't get the point if it's supposed to justify it as being okay?

@Canaloha. Again I don't think cocaine use is OK. I mean I find it sanctimonious when there's a good chance most people on this thread are buying unethical products. I think it's a bit strong to call them abhorrent purely because they purchase cocaine. It's easy to turn a blind eye if it's not your reality.

I did it a few times in my early 20/s, c 20 years ago, in a fairly prosperous medium sized town. It seems to be more common now than it was then (you get good at seeing the signs) but overall still quite niche.

We are nearly 40, did it alot in our 20s, which we regret!! We moved away from hometown and havent touched it since. All our old friends still do it (late 30s, 40+) I just think they are crazy! They are totally hooked and i cant see any of them stopping anytime soon. What a waste of money £40+ a pop. The hangover and cravings after are also not worth it..hence why we stopped! So much better off for it. It is rife everywhere.

@blameitontheweatherwoman

Should add we are late 20s to mid 30s circle of people - male and females using it in equal quantities.

Yes, this fits my experience (or it would if I ever went out anywhere). I'm in my 40s but work pals I have in their 20s and 30s tell me that it's rife here nowadays - more so than any other Class A. You can pretty much order it to your door as well, dealers send out actual menus on WhatsApp!

[quote Noisyneighneigh]@Canaloha. Again I don't think cocaine use is OK. I mean I find it sanctimonious when there's a good chance most people on this thread are buying unethical products. I think it's a bit strong to call them abhorrent purely because they purchase cocaine. It's easy to turn a blind eye if it's not your reality.[/quote]
Personal opinion, but in this country its hard to function without say a smartphone or laptop. You apply for jobs on them, some forms are fully online, apply for benefits and increasingly homework etc is done online- you are disadvantaged by not having a device and can't access some vital services, so I can see why people have them. Drugs add nothing at all to society so just my opinion is that judgement on someone choosing to buy them knowing people abroad are exploited and about county lines etc is different. And yes I do find them abhorrent, and drugs were my reality, not at my choice for many years and I think they are disgusting. I appreciate for some there are societal factors that make them propositioned to taking them, for other drugs I wouldn't judge as heavily perhaps as there's more society and government should be doing; but by and large cocaine is a recreational and leisure drug.

I have tried it myself once or twice back in the day, pre kids and middle age. I liked it very much indeed; it's lucky that I didn't have the opportunity to do it more.

@Jurassicparkinajug absolutely! Are any political parties in the UK looking at decriminalisation? It’s the completely logical thing to do. Criminalisation of the drug is what causes all of the harms associated, with no benefits as far as I can see - seeing as the only benefit of criminalisation would be to stop people doing it altogether and that clearly isn’t happening.

People should be free to use whatever non deadly mind altering substances they choose to use - be it alcohol, coke, MDMA, mushrooms, LSD etc - particularly on the psychedelic side there are so many amazing treatments coming out of science in this area.

Only when the harm of use is apparent (eg highly addictive substances like heroin) should the government have the right to step in and control it - and even then there is the argument that with regards to heroin, laws need to be in place that support addicts rather than punish.

I'm way too scared to try any drug. Other half has done a cocktail of drugs when he was younger. I know a few that do cocaine they all seem massively unhappy when not using it

@BuritoCat

Really normal.

I'm a recovering cocaine addict, 5 years clean. Wish I never touched it, all it does is ruin life's. I still have friends addicted to it and doesn't look like they'll ever get clean.

You can't say all it does is ruin lives because that's what you have seen.

Alcohol ripped my family to shreds and ruined alot of lives but I can't generalise that to every person who takes a drink.

Cocaine is used recreationally by many without ruining their lives.

@OhWhyNot

I agree it’s more about lifestyle, and also what I’ve noticed is people tend to do it so they are in a click, it becomes their social “support” network and this is even more important to them than the drug! A bit like buying friends... what do you do when you give up? Not only have to work out how to live without it but also have create an entirely new social network and that’s difficult. Having worked in pubs I see the same dynamic with alcohol, but I suppose the illicit nature of cocaine is more bonding.

I think it’s way more common than some people think (I’m thinking of people like my parents who probably assume it’s just something rich/posh/famous people do). It’s very common round here and I live in the middle of nowhere, but there’s a couple of big employers who pay very good wages and there is a big culture of cocaine and heavy gambling among a lot of young people who have more money than they know what to do with.

It always makes me laugh when a celebrity is ‘exposed’. It’s ridiculous. It would be easier to pick a celebrity who isn’t using it, never mind the journalists writing the scoop.

I have taken it occasionally in the past, I see it as pathetic and try-hard now and wouldn’t take it again. It makes me feel ancient now if I’m out anywhere and all the young ones are going to the toilet together, you can spot it pretty easily - the over-animated chatting, gurning and so on.