To think far too many people in UK & elsewhere are making stupid decisions about drugs and ignoring the consequences re county lines, criminal gangs etc?

[Jane379]

I found out recently about the huge amount of cocaine in London sewage system. I knew there was a problem but was suprised how bad it was.
I read up on the situation a bit more and was shocked to find that Sweden & Belgium are apparently both concerned that the government starting to lose control to drug smugglers, problems are also rising in the Netherlands with journalists and lawyers mmurdered. Use also is rising in Norway especially among youth in Oslo etc.
AIBU to wonder what on earth people buying illegal cocaine & others are thinking?

A lot of the time it's not people in hugely depressing and difficult situations (not that this is an excuse, but I could understand the motive more) but people who are comfortably off, at least materially and surely could find other forms of stimulation?
It's well known that these drugs are addictive, and even if people aren't addicted and only use occasionally, why are so many happy to enable county lines, suffering in Mexico and others, violent criminal gangs etc for a temporary high? I've seen some users on here justify by saying the harm comes because it's illegal but that's dodging the question as for the foreseeable future they are illegal and buying from the gangs sustains the trade.

Completely agree OP. And it (drugs) are absolutely everywhere. My 14 yo’s friend (aged 13) gave her ecstasy at a sleepover. Their other friend got it from her dad’s stash. The same father was the unwitting provider of cbd buds for vaping that got three kids suspended.

With that kind of great parent what are you supposed to do? It makes me so cross.

Ive read that 4 times and I don’t understand what you mean.

I knew this would be you OP. Don’t you wear yourself out with all this endless thinking that you do?

People buy drugs because humans are inherently selfish and drugs make you feel amazing. Cocaine gives you confidence. MDMA makes you feel like you're in love with everyone. LSD pretty much blasts you off the planet. Until it all goes wrong. But people are willing to take that risk. People aren't thinking about the wider consequences. Avocados are pretty bad too.

I know a few people who smoke weed. They insist it is harmless etc, but they are on about just them... and not the bigger picture like the county lines etc.
I used to know a guy who had his weed delivered by a kid that was about 8 years old. Someone was sending him to his house.

In the Victorian era it was all meths and opium. I don't think society changes that much.

Can’t think of a possible reason why escapism might be tempting in today’s society 🤔

I agree, it's so unethical but I don't think people really know that. It's exploiting teenage boys through county lines. So bad. It annoys me my middle class friends will harp on about sustainability and fair trade but do drugs on a night out that have been delivered by a teenager

The sooner they legalise marijuana the better.

Many countries already have.

100% agree, OP. I know so many selfish arseholes like this who are either too stupid/unimaginative or devoid of empathy to think about the victims of what they’re doing.

How will it be better?

Articles on the issues in various countries.

https://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/debatt/i/5pGolm/rus-sex-og-lite-politi-festkulturen-blant-ungdom-paa-oslo-vest

(This suprised me as I'd thought of Norway as a country with a good standard of living. But obviously there are motives to take drugs apart from unhappiness though. Here the problem seems higher among adult professionals than teens though that could be wrong)

https://www.politico.eu/article/antwerp-judge-belgium-evolving-narco-state/

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/ng-interactive/2024/jun/12/were-seeing-firearms-arson-attacks-on-homes-the-families-in-the-eye-of-irelands-cocaine-storm

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/jun/13/argentina-rosario-drug-trade-cocaine

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/ng-interactive/2024/jun/12/the-cocaine-superhighway-how-death-and-destruction-mark-drugs-path-from-south-america-to-europe

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/ng-interactive/2024/jun/11/north-african-children-beaten-tortured-europe-cocaine-gangs

I'm really confused about the London sewage system part of your post @Jane379

Can you explain?

legalizing marijuana has not made much in the way of positive or negative effects in canada.
a close friend with teens says, "clean living" is definitely a trend; no smoking no drinking and no sex. she does say that many "dap" which is a new term for me i gather it's topical marijuana oil.
what has had massive negative effects was removing the stigma of other drug use, this led to prolific drug use in public spaces (especially among those lacking permanent housing) drug users have proven to be a very heavy public burden many areas are now looking at involuntary institutional treatment. people are tired of the antisocial behavior of the addicted.

What about the impact of weed on psychosis? We see a lot of it in work, young men, daily weed use, becoming psychotic… I’ve gone from thinking it’s harmless to really detesting it

Yep.. I have been inpatient with young men that were there due to weed. A total waste if you ask me.

I've read about efforts to legalise marijuana and I think theoretically it could work but I don't think methods so far have.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/magazine/marijuana-legalization-new-york.html

It shouldn't be overlooked that marijuana is addictive and can have serious effects.

Amsterdam's more lax drug laws may have worked for some time but authorities are having to crack down as drug gangs are more effective now due to encrypted online groups etc

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/03/mob-style-killings-shock-netherlands-into-fighting-descent-into-narco-state

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/05/amsterdam-netherlands-drugs-policy-trade

The mayor here argues this is due to other countries criminalising, and that may be partly true.

The obvious thing is legalisation. Coke, mdma, mushrooms, these things are less addictive that alcohol, make you feel good and are nowhere near as addictive. All the things you mention disappear with legalisation with the obvious benefit of taxation and jobs. Look up Transform. Focus your energy on the right problem.

Coke is not less addictive than alcohol.

Yes there is a lot of hypocrisy from people who would make ethical choices in other areas.

I'm 25 and was honestly so so shocked people in my 6th form did drugs so casually. Like I was honestly thinking what happened to the parenting.

I don't even drink that much anymore. And understand why mum never wanted me to start.

I do child protection work. About 80 percent of my cases involve selfish people who think it's OK to use drugs around children...the usual BS is I need it for my mental health/to sleep/to relax..

Shein temu avocados. Are all harmful to the planet

Drugs have such wide reaching consequences, not just on the user but on society, families, crime etc yes. But I don’t think use is as simple as stupidity.
There are many reasons why people use and many different types of users. As a society we have failed an entire generation- current under 25s have been royally fucked up and drugs are just sitting there, waiting to fill in the gaps.
It’s a complex issue but I’m glad you’ve solved it OP. People need to just stop being stupid 👍

You are so naive if you think 1) those drugs are less addictive than alcohol and 2) if you believe legalising drugs makes the gangs etc disappear. All it will do is make the gangs change how they work, they’ll make their drugs cheaper and bulk them out. After all why pay £5 for 100g of drugs from a reputable place when you can get 500g for the same price from the bloke on the street corner?