Recreational drugs after 40

[Inthebathagain]

In the two years, I've become aware of several friends, family and acquaintances who take lines/pills/tabs regularly. Some once a month, some twice a year. And everything in-between.

All walks of life...WFH, SAH, office worker, mechanic, police, care worker, teacher, headteacher. My favourite is the high rolling city worker who gets his gear delivered to his office on an electric scooter under his deliveroo takeout sandwiches.

All these people are aged 40-55.

I had no idea so many people around me of my age were using until one person told me they were, and then it snowballed. I now feel like I'm the rarity not using!

Is this reflective of the people around you too?

Yes, this.

Bit of MDMA once or twice a year at a music festivals - don't see the big deal tbh

Wouldn't touch cocaine and don't know anyone who does.

I feel like lots of posters are lumping all drugs in the same category. I'm not against the use of drugs due to the drug use itself, I am against the human impact that many have though in terms of funding organised crime and human trafficking, cocaine being an obvious one there. However, drugs such as mushrooms can easily be acquired without causing such damage and I actually think can be an incredibly beneficial and positive experience if done in the right way. There are societies around the world who deem such experiences as incredibly important to self-development and understanding but here many of us seem to fear that because it's outside of the norm.

No but personally I wouldn’t respect or want to be friends with anyone who does this as I’d think they were very ignorant of all the criminal behaviour and abuse that they are supporting.

And also to add to think point, I actually think that being older when taking psychedelics such as mushrooms, a person is better placed to experience and understand them in a meaningful way, rather than just seeing it as a colourful 'trip'.

I think that age bracket in particular are likely to be people who grew up with drugs when they were younger. Not everyone did, obviously. But back in the late 90s/early 00s some people were taking a lot of drugs! So occasional use now probably wouldn't be seen as a big deal. I wouldn't be surprised if people I know still occasionally take something. I don't, and can't imagine a scenario where I would.
That said, a friend of mine died a few years ago and drugs were involved. So I'd like to think some of those who might have done in the past have had a bit of a rethink.

Cocaine actually helped me in a strange way, me and my friends bought quite a lot years ago. They were all gurning their faces off talking shite.,I actually felt more awake and refreshed with a clear mind. I was later diagnosed with narcolepsy and the main treatment is stimulants hahaha.

I'm talking about teen, usually middle class users, they definitely have a home to go. They are an absolutely liability all over the country at the moment.

I have worked with homeless people and certainly in London, they had gathering spots for using, though the council seem determined to stop them.

Nobody gave a monkeys fuck about my exploitation when I loaded brewery's lorries. No tax or insurance. Although the point is taken.

If you’re against porn because it harms people, it would be very hypocritical to support taking drugs which harm even more people.

I haven't had a shroom in decades! Bloody brilliant fun they are too!

(And I went to a field at dawn to get them with a hippie friend so definitely no people were harmed in the sourcing or eating of the shrooms.)

Well that's the point of the thread. You did them decades ago.

Apart from the tragic impact on society caused by the unnecessary and ineffective laws that prohibit drugs, I don’t see why suddenly at 40 you should stop enjoying taking/exploring chemicals that alter your brain chemistry if you want to, have the money for it, and enjoyed this previously in your youth? Especially if you’re doing it at festivals etc and it’s a special occasion.

I personally find coke boring but wouldn’t judge someone for an occasional blow out and know lots of people who still have fabulous parties into 40s and 50s and drugs are a part of those.

But naturally people become less social as they get older and have kids etc so I think it’s normal for people who who used to party when young to slowly drop away from this lifestyle eventually.

I do hope I’m fun enough in my 40s and 50s to take MDMA at a festie once a year though!

I often wonder, if these middle-aged, middle-class people are using, what on earth they say to their life insurers? Not a problem for youngsters, but once you've got dependents and mortgages I imagine it could be an issue...

Half the government ARE middle class cocaine fiends. As the police, lawyers, teachers, doctors etc etc.

One of the people in my list is a mortgage broker who also sells life insurance. Unsurprisingly, he lied to buy his own life insurance.

If you took drugs up to the 2000s, you would be very disappointed by the drugs of today. The ecstasy we had is nothing like what's the UK got flooded with 2006+.

I know nothing about drugs but find this interesting, in what way are they different?

Why did it change?

I think it's quite sad tbh. I'm not really in touch with anyone like this anymore but my exH and all his mates were and are still on the party "scene". People like this in their 30's and 40's are all the same kinda ppl imo. Don't have much else in life outside of this.

The people who were taking ecstasy in the ‘90s moved on to crystal MDMA. It’s purer, gives a better high, and less of a comedown. Ecstasy pills are now more or less the bargain basement floor-sweepings of the drug world, sold to inexperienced kids in nightclubs and at festivals who don’t really know or care what they’re taking. They often contain very little MDMA at all, and there isn’t much impetus for them to, since their users don’t have much of a clue and will buy anyway.

Back then the police had tents set up outside of nightclubs to check your drugs were pure, it was a different time entirely.

Wow, that's mad! I just can't picture this.

How did you test the purity of the drugs?

Is nobody stressed about picking a poisonous one by mistake and actually dying

The people who were taking ecstasy in the ‘90s moved on to crystal MDMA. It’s purer, gives a better high, and less of a comedown. Ecstasy pills are now more or less the bargain basement floor-sweepings of the drug world, sold to inexperienced kids in nightclubs and at festivals who don’t really know or care what they’re taking. They often contain very little MDMA at all, and there isn’t much impetus for them to, since their users don’t have much of a clue and will buy anyway.

Interesting, thanks @ComtesseDeSpair

It's terrifying reading about party drugs being cut with fentanyl in the United States, I dunno how anyone could risk it.

You're really saying the filthy vile disgusting obscene drug trade is just the same as alcohol use..do you actually understand where your pathetic pick me ups come from and the suffering behind it? People like you make me vomit.

I couldnt stand being around people like that.

I look down on drug users and I don't hide my disdain.