To think there's an unfair stigma around recreational drug use?

[janef001]

I have a female friend who recreationally uses weed, ecstasy and xanax from time to time. They live in a houseshare with two other women.

Last week one roommate couldn't find an Apple Watch and asked my friend if they've seen it. They said no. My friend went to sleep later during the day and overheard the other two downstairs saying "I think x must have taken it for cash, you know she does drugs all the time."

My friend was upset to say the least and especially when the roommate later found it in the next day at the bottom of her clothes hamper near the washing machine.

I know these attitudes aren't uncommon and I've heard my own family who are quite educated express them. I understand the devastation addiction causes but many people take drugs apart from weed and alcohol and don't end up stealing from friends/family/roommates.

I wonder why there's still such a strong stigma

Because many people who do take drugs are addicted and do steal to feed their addiction. This is surely not hard to comprehend.

If you don’t want people to judge you for taking illegal drugs then don’t take illegal drugs

Also because it's still illegal?

"Unfair stigma"

I mean the easy answer is it's illegal in a lot of cases, and drugs (like alcohol) have a huge and terrible impact on addicts and users so I wouldn't class it as an unfair stigma. If drugs only made people amazing happy beings with zero side effects, no deaths, no drug dealers or county lines etc then it would be an unfair stigma.

Lots of addicts steal to fund, so it's not an idea she's plucked out of her clenched behind. 🤷🏻‍♀️

You only know your friends side - perhaps her roommates have a very different story.

Your friend might not be addicted, but their supplier will not doubt supply people who ARE. And NEVER underestimate the misery that addiction causes, for both the addict and the people who care about them.

There is often an odd attitude towards some drugs considering behaviour and negative consequences can be much worse from alcohol.
It is funny that alcohol is not viewed as a drug for some reason despite the side effects.

I also imagine those who assume you do X and therefore must steal clearly don’t have a realistic understanding of how widespread the use of that drug actually is.

YY who knew that people who break the law to take drugs sometimes break other laws too and that people who are addicts have no loyalty to anyone or anything except getting their next hit/fix/high or that people who take recreational drugs are often not the best housemates It's a mystery.

I agree with the above posters in that it's not an 'unfair stigma' around illegal drug use.

I'd encourage anyone taking illegal drugs to look into the supply routes and impact on other humans, not just those who take drugs but including under-18s being trafficked/ running county lines, and consider whether it's really worth it for their 'high'.

However, it's not fair of the housemates to make that assumption if she has no history of stealing, just on the basis that she takes drugs.

Unfair stigma?? Lol, you need your head checked to now actually make this a thing. It would NOT be unreasonable to assume the druggie is the one who steals.

If they're taking illegal drugs they have to expect people to have a negative attitude towards them. I mean, people have a lot of negative opinions about those who use legal stuff like alcohol, tobacco and even caffeine. A large number of people think eating meat is wrong FFS!

My ex-husband was a recreational weed smoker, and his addiction got evermore 'robust' as time went on. He never stole, but it totally pickled his brain and he became a completely abusive nightmare to live with. NEVER AGAIN will I live with anyone who engages in any sort of substance abuse.

There’s a “strong stigma” because drugs are illegal. Your super-cool friend is supporting an exploitative, criminal culture. She makes that choice and shouldn’t be surprised if people judge her by the company she keeps.

3 times my flat got broken into by my bastard druggy neighbours and their scum friends.
They were brave and waited until I was working away every time they did it.

Forgive me if I disagree with your rose spectacled view of drug takers.

I agree with what a lot of people have already mentioned so won't repeat them but I would also add that your friend's housemates will see her in a different light to how you do. They possibly have heard on occasion your friend maybe making small talk about money being tight or watching her cash, then making a drug purchase. It makes you wonder what someone would do to ensure they have their craving met.

I do not understand why any drug use should be normalized.
We already glorify alcohol, that alone already does enough damage.

It's not an unfair stigma

It's appropriate

🤣 is this a serious post?!

Because using drugs is illegal for a start. Ecstasy is a class A drug.

How do you think these drugs reach the end user? People are exploited, assaulted, even murdered.

I wouldn't want to live with someone who takes those drugs.

I despise the taking of illegal drugs such as cocaine. (Not too bothered about weed). The number of murders, deaths and general misery created by the drug trade makes me sick to my stomach. I would never tolerate as a friend anyone who took cocaine or similar drugs, not from any moral high ground but simply because of the misery caused in their production and supply.

Yabu. The stigma is fair. Drugs are a blight on society.

I'd encourage anyone taking illegal drugs to look into the supply routes and impact on other humans, not just those who take drugs but including under-18s being trafficked/ running county lines, and consider whether it's really worth it for their 'high'.

This. Recreational drug users are all all contributing to mass drug-related crime globally.

I agree with this. There's a double standard about alcohol and currently illegal drugs.

Those on here basing their judgement on the fact that the drugs you mention (bar xanax) are illegal, that's not very meaningful when you consider that alcohol, tobacco and coffee have all been illegal in the past and cocaine available in chemists.

Exactly this.

Legalisation would help some of the issues surrounding drugs, at least cannabis would be a start