To think people are naive re cocaine

[Knockonw00d]

I see threads on here all the time where women find out their husband has been doing coke etc and are absolutely floored.
But it always amazes me how oblivious people are to how common it really is. I’m childfree and in my late 20s and i go on nights out almost every week so you get to know all of the other regulars in the bars. I do not know one person that I’ve met through going out that doesn’t do cocaine.

These people have professional jobs Monday - Friday. Some of them I know are teachers, nursery staff, work in the passport office. It is so common.

I also see a lot posters describing a change in behaviour and people suggest it could be drugs. But unless you’re doing things like heroin or spice, cocaine does not make you act in the ways people suggest.

Do people really not know how common casual use of cocaine is in this country?

Exactly! See this bbc article regarding Amanda Mealing...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g0yzwwj57o

Thanks for the whataboutery @Ponoka7 - all the things you raise are valid but not on topic.

And your example of healthcare workers being on drugs is spot on the reason why random testing should happen.

It’s slack standards to turn a blind eye to it - doesn’t matter if you’re a government, a company or an individual.

What does that have to do with employers though?

I don't know if anyone in my social group does it. They might do but they haven't told me or done it around me. I've never touched the stuff, but I'm well aware of its existence as DH died taking it.

DP has never touched it or any other substance either (teetotal) and I've never used, but I'm well aware I'm in a bubble. I work in victim advocacy and I'd say a good 70% of the perpetrators are known to be using cocaine. More are heavy cannabis users tbh (I'd say nearly 90%) but coke is rife and this is among those living in a very deprived area as far away from white-collar as you could get.

Well clearly they should not be letting people using drugs hold positions of trust.

I've had cause to go through A&E a lot over my lifetime, working in care and also as a carer/patient. The asking about recreational drugs is now a standard question, for everyone. If you walked into a hospital waiting room and then was in a cubicle, you couldn't have chosen who would say yes, because usage has evened out, in all ages and circumstances.

I know its common I've heard my neighbour and his wife having a screaming match over his cocaine use and I know another guy who's wife chucked him out after he literally blew through their savings on his secret cocaine habit he was staying up late, doing coke while writing electronic music on his laptop while his wife and kids were asleep upstairs thinking it would all be fine once his banging tunes took off and made him famous, pathetic.

I think if you spend a lot of time with people you would either see them doing it (if you meet at their house) or see them coming out of the toilet afterwards. They must be very occasional users.

The employer is the person most likely to be able to consistently afford cocaine. Why would they introduce drug testing knowing that drug use will be rife among senior staff and owners?

This Guardian article is very interesting...hardly football hooligans..

www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/dec/16/traces-of-suspected-cocaine-found-after-parties-in-liz-truss-grace-and-favour-house-say-staff

@Readyforslippers unfortunately responsible people do take drugs. Tiredness, can affect decisions, more adversely than a bit of amphetamine.

No, if they take drugs they are not responsible.

Nope, don't work for the police. But that wouldn't be surprising 😅🤣

So anyone employed is in a position of trust?

even if they are in an actual position of trust how do illegal drugs impact that?

would you say the same about someone who uses alcohol? Or prescription drugs? Who is less responsible, a weekend cocaine user or an employee prescribed anti psychotics?

Absolutely true, I was once out at a concert with a friend who is a Doctor, we bumped into a guy he knew who was an anaesthesiologist who proceeded to take a couple of ecstasy tablets after offering us some, we refused, but this "Doctor" then also proceeded to tell us he was working the next day.

Unfortunately drug testing should be the norm.

All sorts of things can be said to be irresponsible. Riding a motorbike, for example, but what people do in their spare time has nothing to do with their employer unless it affects their work.

Yes, illegal drug use makes you irresponsible.

And tiredness testing? Or did you miss ready's point?

But what does that mean for an employer?
as above, what do you think they’ll do when the COO tests positive, or the group counsel?

the reality is employers don’t care. They know what employees do in their own time is their business and they don’t place value judgements on “responsibility”
outside the workplace.

I used to work for social services. 7/10 of the Social Workers were on something or other, often cocaine. I know 3 people who work for SS now I am in a different area, all of them take drugs and one of them is the biggest coke head I know. I try and avoid them.

Not my point. I'm just against illegal drug use and don't believe those in any job should be using it. It shows they can't be trusted. I don't believe there is ever any justification for it.

I know… did you mean to quote my post?

But they don’t need to justify it to their employer 😭😂 their employer is no body!

you could argue that they should worry what their partner, or parents, oR the police will think of their drug taking, but their employer? Who gives a fuck? I don’t take coke and even I couldn’t give a shit what my employer thinks about it!

Clearly we disagree. Illegal activity is everyone's business.

You can be against anything you want, but why do you think employers get any say in what people do in their spare time?

I mentioned riding motorbikes. I consider that very risky and potentially irresponsible, but what would that have to do with anybody's employer?