Cocaine posession

[Stressedout65]

I know it is going to be different in each individual ideal case, but do you not always go to prison these days if you are caught in possession (not dealing) of coke? I heard about someone I know being caught in possession a few years ago & apparently they just got community service, surcharge & court costs. This seems very lenient to me for a class A drug. I'm also shocked that it happened & I can't see this person in the same light again!

Possession without the intent to distribute I would think would be a pretty lenient sentence, especially if it's the first time.

Possession but not enough for intent to supply im shocked they even got CS , it's normally just a fine and a warning

First time possession? No one is going to prison for that. What earthly good would that do for society to lock people away for drug possession?

I personally believe we should decriminalize all drugs and work hard on the causes and treatment of addiction. Because the drug of choice isn't really the issue, the addiction is.

Depends on where you are, I suppose. Where I live all drugs have been decriminalized and the focus is on treatment rather than punishment.

Hah no of course people don't go to prison for possession, where would we put them all?!

I have a friend who uses cocaine. I have been offered it but I declined. I have no interest in cocaine. I would like to know. How much does it cost? What you get for your money? How long does it last? How addictive as it? Does it change your personality. My friend seems to be developing a selfish personality. Letting people down. Constantly being late or not even turning up. I'm starting to distance myself as I am not sure I know them anymore.

Is this improving things @BritWifeInUSA ?
Reducing dealing or crime around drugs ie stabbing between gangs?

Also ignoring important bills and running out of money.

@MrsTerryPratchett I'm not saying they should have gone to prison, just shocked they hadn't. I forgot to mention they'd had a suspended prison sentence handed to them a few months previously. This was for a different offence which I can just about overlook, so that added to my shock. The world of drugs is alien to me so I can't help but judge or be shocked, especially with the culture they come from.

Yes @Bogeyes I just feel like I don't know them now. I know I'll end up withdrawing from the casual friendship, it's not making me feel very comfortable

Thanks for replying. They also drink.a lot and have MH issues. They are on medication.

I have a friend who uses cocaine. I have been offered it but I declined. I have no interest in cocaine. I would like to know. How much does it cost? What you get for your money? How long does it last? How addictive as it? Does it change your personality. My friend seems to be developing a selfish personality. Letting people down. Constantly being late or not even turning up. I'm starting to distance myself as I am not sure I know them anymore.

I don't know how much it costs. What you get for your money is a dopamine reuptake inhibition. Dopamine makes you motivated, happy, confident and pleasure-seeking. It's your reward drug. Doesn't last long. An hour or two. It isn't physically addictive at all. It is obviously (pleasure-seeking, remember) very psychologically addictive. Yes, cocaine users are all selfish twats IME. Very very focused on self.

I've never done drugs but I've seen enough comments on here to know that cocaine use is very popular in many (apparently respectable) circles so do you really think that it's useful or practical to imprison people who are caught with small amounts and aren't dealing?

The prisons are overcrowded and underfunded and for many, imprisonment merely allows people to learn how to be a more prolific criminal and/or puts up barriers (eg job loss) that prevents them from 'staying straight' when they are released so it's often the start of a spiral into further crime and imprisonment. For non-violent offenders society doesn't really benefit from them being locked up.

They probably also had a good lawyer who was able to argue that, despite the previous suspended sentence which, in a lot of cases, would be 'unsuspended' if there was a further offence, that a custodial sentence wasn't in the public interest and their client was very remorseful etc etc.

It’s a recent change - less than a year ago. So I think we still don’t see the full effects yet. Marijuana was legalized several years ago (we were in the first group of states to legalize it) and that has led to more responsible use, if you see what I mean. Better quality, controlled production, fair wages, and it’s definitely lost the excitement that it has in places like the UK where it’s illegal and people partake because it’s illegal, not because they enjoy it. They enjoy the thrill and danger of doing something illegal. Makes them feel cool, i suppose. Here marijuana is like alcohol. No big deal for most people. A bit here, a bit there in moderation. Nothing to get exited about.

I do think the focus on treatment rather than punishment for hard drugs is too little too late. Should have been done years ago.

This article says that decriminalisation of possession and consumption of all illicit drugs in Portugal has been a positive move.

www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/05/portugals-radical-drugs-policy-is-working-why-hasnt-the-world-copied-it

I have a friend who uses cocaine. I have been offered it but I declined. I have no interest in cocaine. I would like to know. How much does it cost? What you get for your money? How long does it last? How addictive as it? Does it change your personality. My friend seems to be developing a selfish personality. Letting people down. Constantly being late or not even turning up. I'm starting to distance myself as I am not sure I know them anymore.

Depends where you are but it’s around £80 for a gram. If you’re asking how long it physically lasts then it’s just however long you make it, BIL is pretty bad for it and a gram would last maybe an hour but another friend can make it last all night. If you mean how long do the effects last again it really depends on the person. Same with how addictive it is, I know people who used to do it most weekends yet could stop and start whenever they felt like it and I know people who done it a few times and are now addicted. Ofc it eventually changes your personality, every drug will, just how long it takes to do so depends on each individual. BIL is a nightmare, he has no consideration for anyone anymore and getting coke or money for it is all he cares about, he’s lost most his friends and has alienated himself from most the family, he claims he wants help to stop but doesn’t bother even when it’s been set up for him, but he didn’t get like that until after he had been using it for almost 2 years.

Its crazy how much cocaine has seem to become popular, even just a year ago I don’t think I knew many people who did it now it seems everyone has at least tried it 😖

I’m never sure why people who have never tried a drug come on to a thread to say what it’s like to use it and then make sweeping statements about the type of people who use that drug. A lot of misinformation on this thread. Reminds me of doing a presentation on alcohol and drugs in PCSE aged 15.

I’m never sure why people who have never tried a drug come on to a thread to say what it’s like to use it and then make sweeping statements about the type of people who use that drug

I don’t see anyone doing that on this thread unless I’m missing something. A couple of people talking about their friends and the rest askin why someone would go to prison for it :/

My husband is a cocaine addict. We are getting divorced. He is a nasty lying cheating scumbag who put his addiction before everything else in his life. His personality on coke is basically no personality - coke heads think they are brilliant in actual fact they are super boring as they have no interest other than the coke.

He also has adhd. I think drug like coke are worse / more addictive for him.

Ps we have had the police round before now as he was a prolific user - they just wanted to know who his dealer was. I wish they had prosecuted him then and I think custodial sentences would be a good deterrent. Drug users are scum. They create a market for a seedy lifestyle. Gang violence, sexual exploitation - it's all drug related.

Use of cocaine made my husband depressed. He then constantly sought out the high and that led to sex workers and other risky behaviour. His health will be forever affected - I think he has been affected cognitively. He's lost his marriage. The spiral was relatively quick too.

They create a market for a seedy lifestyle. Gang violence, sexual exploitation - it's all drug related

No. Governments do that by making drugs illegal

and it’s definitely lost the excitement that it has in places like the UK where it’s illegal and people partake because it’s illegal, not because they enjoy it.

I've never taken drugs because they're illegal, I've taken drugs because I wanted to take drugs.

Also, I've never not taken drugs because they're illegal.

Drugs being illegal is stupid as fuck and causes more problems than it solves

How much does it cost? What you get for your money? How long does it last? How addictive as it? Does it change your personality

The going rate in my area is £40/£50 per gram. (I’m from a very deprived area in the north. I understand in the big cities and London is way more expensive. & the cheaper stuff is less pure. More riddled with shit).
The high can last anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. (I’m my experience).
Quite addictive. I dabbled with it was I was at uni. It got to a point where I couldn’t drink alcohol without it. I needed that extra kick.
Didn’t change my personality when I used it. Would just make me more alert and less tired on a night out.

Very pleased to say I don’t use anymore. & would never encourage it. Some people aren’t as lucky as me and really do let it ruin their lives.

@araiwa in your opinion. I have a different opinion. Also, all the coke heads I know are pretty one dimensional. It is a seedy world. Alcohol is a seedy world too.