DRUGS

[Trevor]

so it's topical here in Bumf@k Egypt.

Is that where you live, RC? I thought you were a Van Bueren County boy. 

[joejoeherron]

haven't did drugs in years. even then, it was a little pot or acid.  Had to go to AA a few years back. It does help, although the holding hands at the end does bug some people.

[Jack]

 People tell me now I should do it to "chill out". 

That would probably be a good idea, you get a bit stressed at times.  I think you should stay nicely toasted all through the Christmas season 

[Jack]

I smoked pot from the early '80s to the mid '90s.  Good stuff that marijuana    I prefer it to alcohol.  Now it's just beer on the weekends.  I'm such a law-abiding citizen 

[trekgeezer]

I lost one brother to heroin and another to alcohol.  My father was a drunk for a good part of his life, but then he got religion.

From the time I was 16 until  I was about 30 I drank enough beer to float and aircraft carrier.  Hell, when I was in the Navy in the 70's smoking and drinking were encouraged.

I haven't had a drink in over 20 years.  Never tried any drugs.

[3mnkids]

I was a heavy drug user and alcoholic by 14. I did everything, other than shooting up, at one time. A stint in rehab, a couple of hospital stays and a few seizures later... im clean and sober.. 15 yrs sober, 17 drug free.

[Trevor]

im clean and sober.. 15 yrs sober, 17 drug free.

That deserves a karma and a hug as well. 

[Trevor]

I'm a baby of the 60's and a child of the 70's ~ I've never smoked anything stronger than a Marlboro or the infamous 'Madison' cigarettes, the latter known as the Zimbabwean coffin nail. 

No drugs for me ~ when my dad and I were watching the re-runs of the TV series Family Affair, he pointed to Anissa Jones and said "See that girl, son? Drugs took her life. Drugs killed her: don't do them, now or ever. " That scared the living crap out of me ~ I don't even take prescription drugs, even though I actually have to.

Alcohol: nothing more than a ice cold beer now and then ~ the last time I had a beer was on December 31 2009.  Dad had an alcohol problem and I didn't want that too.

[Newt]

I was trying to compose a response, but Indy said it best for me too: "Never tried them and have no interest in doing so.  Not trying to be self righteous, it's just never had any appeal for me."  I had friends who were of the "Why not?" philosophy; my personal orientation was (and is) more toward asking "Why??" and I could not come up with any reason at all.

[Rev. Powell]

Would only differ with your post, Rev, in this:  some drugs simply cannot be used responsibly -- the most highly addictive stimulants, for example, have very few users who could qualify as "responsible."  (Met any meth users who held down a job and a life for years?)  In that sense, I disagree -- some substances are simply harmful and without ANY redeeming qualities except when used in carefully prescriptive ways.   Some drugs, though, have for most practical purposes no redeeming value.    That's true of some prescription drugs by the way, too.

Sure, there is a spectrum.  Some drugs are so addictive that the vast majority of people will abuse them.  So for "practical" purposes you're right.  But just as obviously, even the most addictive drugs like methamphetamine can be used responsibly: as you say, "in carefully prescriptive ways."  Many people don't even realize that methamphetamine is not a Schedule I drug like marijuana or heroin.  Doctors can prescribe it for narcolepsy, ADD, obesity, or depression.  Of course, when doctors (rarely) prescribe it, it's used orally and in lower, safer dosages than street users would use it trying to get high. 

Saying certain drugs are uncategorically bad is a sort of social shorthand: the danger of abuse for some substances is so high we treat it as if it were an absolute evil.  I can understand why as a society we might want to do that.  But I also think it's more accurate, and possibly more enlightening, to think of the drug abuse problem as a problem of behavior among people and the way they use drugs, rather than supposing that the chemicals themselves are inherently evil.             

[JaseSF]

Well prescription drugs sometimes can mean the difference between life and death so I wouldn't discourage their use, just their abuse.

[Sleepyskull]

Well prescription drugs sometimes can mean the difference between life and death so I wouldn't discourage their use, just their abuse.

Well put, but one thing I would like to add is even if it's not a "life or death" sort of thing, some prescription drugs used as they are intended to be used, can mean the difference between a productive life or a miserable one.

For instance, I take medicine to improve my attention and to keep me from feeling too jumpy. I have ADHD (it might not be called that anymore) as well as other conditions that are improved through drugs.  Without them things can be pretty horrible.

[KYGOTC]

I've only been drunk 3 times, and only one out of those times did i have any fun. The other 2 times i thrEw up all over the place. Its a rare ocasion when i get drunk with my friends. Usually I'll be the only one sober among the pack, and I still mannage to have a great time.

I tried pot 2ice, but it didnt have any effect on me either time, so i said "f**k this". that was a little over a year ago.

Lastly, every once in a LOOONG time, i'll try some perscription drug just out of curiosity. Just 2 days ago, i poped 3 of my pals muscle relaxers, but like pot, it had no effect on me.

Thats really about it. For the most part, I actually very clean.

My ex-girlfriend did alot of pot and did cocaine when she had the dough for it. Probobly part of the reason she's my ex.


My overall view on drugs is this:
There are those who can handle it, and those who cant.

*Those who can, I have no problem with. One of my best friends does all KINDS of drugs at his army base, and he doesnt let it take control of his life or his health.

*Those who CANT, I really loathe. These are the people who break into people homes and steal things so they can make enough money to get their fix. I HATE these people. Also, the people who can't have fun without drugs or alchohol. I pitty these poor shmucks.

*Then there's the type who do it because they're sad. I have a few friends who have done this.
example- I had a few pals who were TOTALLY streight edge. Wouldnt even TOUCH the junk until thier girls gave 'em the slip. then it was all "BOO HOO WOE IS ME" and they IMIDIETLY started drinking and smoking. makes me sick.

[Leah]

not me, but one of my friends did LSD. He is still doing it, even when the 9 of us try to convince him to stop 

Is your friend a bird by any chance? 

The good news with LSD is that it's effects begin to lose their power/novelty, and most people gradually lose interest in it after taking several trips.  There are very few lifelong LSD abusers.         

Good News, he quitted today and will not do it again!

[Derf]

I'm with Indy and Newt. Never saw the point. Plus, I grew up in a small town, with my father being a deputy sheriff and my mother a teacher in my school. I couldn't have gotten away with anything anywhere anyway.

The strongest drug I recall ever taking was a prescription muscle relaxer to help with whiplash pain. I walked, or rather floated, around about 6 inches off the ground (at least it felt that way) for a couple of hours. I never took another one; I just don't like feeling out of control like that. As for alcohol, I simply can't stand the smell of it, nor the taste. I don't care whether it's in beer, wine, or hard liquor, or if there's just a drop in some other beverage, the alcohol is all I can taste, and I don't like it. A couple of friends who were at least borderline alcoholics have told me I'm very lucky in that. I tend to believe them.