Do you take Cocaine

Dave!

July wrote: »

Same as that.

I think drug taking is a sign of weakness tbh. Although I do drink and if it comes down to it, that's probably a weakness too

Jesus h christ..... give me strength..........

Rb

DaveMcG wrote: »

Jesus h christ..... give me strength..........

lol

Shan75

Never took it and I am too old now to be starting to take any drug.When I was a teenager/early twenties it really wasn't widely available.Hash was the thing at the time.I guess if I was growing up now I would probably chance it like everybody else seems to be doing.

Terry

DaveMcG wrote: »

Jesus h christ..... give me strength..........

Stop taking drugs.

l3LoWnA

July wrote: »

whereas I think one makes more of a conscious decision to take drugs. I could be taking through my a**e though!

I was drunk the first time I took drugs!

But I had always wanted to try them I suppose....I have now experienced enough and I am quite content that I was not and am still not a weak person for wanting to do that nor did I need drugs, I merely wanted to experience all they had to offer, which I did, and which was great

Drug-taking is a sign of weakness only to those who think drugs are something that need to be resisted.

Dave!

l3LoWnA wrote: »

Drugs are a sign of weakness only to those who think drugs are something that need to be resisted.

Interesting point.

July

DaveMcG wrote: »

Jesus h christ..... give me strength..........

There's a good lad, praying is a much better idea than doing drugs...:)

MagicMarker

I don't think doing drugs is a sign of weakness, more so a sign of stupidity, depending on the drug. Some people argue that the need to do drugs is a need to fill a gap in ones life, i would say this would be true in many cases, of course many people would argue against this also.

Rb

connundrum wrote: »

Have never done it.

Will not talk to anyone who is obviously under the influence.

Have often thrown people out of clubs/pubs for engaging in the practice of using the toilet lid/sink top/urinal to snort.

If you want to do it in the privacy of your own home, do it. When you do it while in my company then you're going to annoy me.

Well, it really depends. I wouldn't object to someone taking a few E at a dance set or something, where 90% of the people there would be out of it on E/Coke/etc. but if it's just a few lads doing it in a regular pub/club where 90% are on alcohol, 9% on soft drinks and 1% getting out of it, then it's absolutely intolerable and they're fcking arseholes for doing it.

There's a time and place for everything.

That said, the "cool" bars in Dublin city center would certainly not fall under regular pub/club, these are the bars where people go to be seen. They're littered with people off their heads on coke on the weekends, not knackers, well paid professionals etc. So whether it's appropriate in such a place, I'm undecided.

But these people are very easily avoided.

Rb

DaveMcG wrote: »

Interesting point.

Agreed. Good point indeed.

l3LoWnA

MagicMarker wrote: »

I don't think doing drugs is a sign of weakness, more so a sign of stupidity

You're right, then again, so is getting drunk, talking on the mobile while driving, getting into credit-card debt, thinking your willy is bigger than it actually is etc etc etc......there aren't many people out there who haven't got a level of stupidity inside them.

I'm not condoning all drug-taking. I'm just saying you can't tar everyone who has ever used cocaine as being a stupid person, surely!

marcsignal

MagicMarker wrote: »

I don't think doing drugs is a sign of weakness, more so a sign of stupidity, depending on the drug.

Yep, I draw the line at Heroin, how much more evidence do some people need that Heroin=Coffin.

MagicMarker wrote: »

Some people argue that the need to do drugs is a need to fill a gap in ones life, i would say this would be true in many cases, of course many people would argue against this also.

Yep, i'd agree, I've done my fair share of dabbling, but i'm 40 now, so that little avenue of pleasure has been closed off, and my better half dosen't want it opened up again. Did most of my dabbling years ago, when I was either bored and/or unemployed. Can't deal with Coke heads tho, given the choice would prefere mdma any day.

Dave!

MagicMarker wrote: »

I don't think doing drugs is a sign of weakness, more so a sign of stupidity, depending on the drug. Some people argue that the need to do drugs is a need to fill a gap in ones life, i would say this would be true in many cases, of course many people would argue against this also.

Just to clarify, are you saying it's;

i. stupid to use drugs (and not be addicted)
ii. weak to use drugs (and not be addicted)
iii. stupid to depend on drugs (ie. be addicted)
iv. weak to depend on drugs (ie. be addicted)

?

I could entertain the idea that it's a weakness to be ADDICTED to a drug, mainly because it IS possible to break an addiction, but it requires alot of mental strength on the part of the addict. It requires even more individual strength if you have no support from family/friends/whatever.

But maybe you could also consider that it's such a difficult task to break an addiction to heroin for example, that to manage to do that would be above and beyond the strength of the average person. It is perhaps ill judgement (and not weakness) that might lead someone to use something as addictive as heroin in the first place. They then require a huge amount of strength to overcome this.

I don't buy the idea that recreational, non dependent, drug use is a CRUTCH or a weakness or filling a void, or anything like that. Call me crazy, but I think it's quite possible to live a happy and fulfilled life but still go and have a few scoops with mates on the weekend. Nothing sad or weak about it. I don't see any reason to treat other drugs differently as long as they don't lead to dependence.

Recreational drugs produce a whole range of neurological effects, and depending on what you're into (hallucination, dancing, mellowing, socialising...) you can use whatever drug you like. Nothing sad about it, it just enhances your experiences if used correctly.

MagicMarker

l3LoWnA wrote: »

You're right, then again, so is getting drunk, talking on the mobile while driving, getting into credit-card debt, thinking your willy is bigger than it actually is etc etc etc......there aren't many people out there who haven't got a level of stupidity inside them.

I'm not condoning all drug-taking. I'm just saying you can't tar everyone who has ever used cocaine as being a stupid person, surely!

No of course not, i mentioned it's a sign of stupidity, depending on the drug.

Regarding cocaine itself, i can't personally comprehend why anyone would want to do it in the first place. I can understand why someone would want to do it once, to experience it and then move on having satisfied their curiosity.

But for people to use it regularly? I have absolutely no respect for these people whatsoever, not for taking the drug itself, but for knowingly and selfishly contributing to organised crime and the like. I also feel a certain pity for them for ''needing'' to take it in the first place, obviously something is missing in their lives to feel the need to spend outrageous amounts of money on something that will do them more harm than good. And before anyone says, i feel the same about alcohol too, apart from the organised crime part:)

Rb

DaveMcG wrote: »

I don't buy the idea that recreational, non dependent, drug use is a CRUTCH or a weakness or filling a void, or anything like that. Call me crazy, but I think it's quite possible to live a happy and fulfilled life but still go and have a few scoops with mates on the weekend. Nothing sad or weak about it. I don't see any reason to treat other drugs differently as long as they don't lead to dependence.

Recreational drugs produce a whole range of neurological effects, and depending on what you're into (hallucination, dancing, mellowing, socialising...) you can use whatever drug you like. Nothing sad about it, it just enhances your experiences if used correctly.

Fully agree Dave, particularly with the last line.

Good post.

l3LoWnA

MagicMarker wrote: »

I also feel a certain pity for them for ''needing'' to take it in the first place, obviously something is missing in their lives to feel the need to spend outrageous amounts of money on something that will do them more harm than good. And before anyone says, i feel the same about alcohol too, apart from the organised crime part:)

I feel sympathy towards all the thousands of people who NEED to go out and get langered twice or three times a week. Surely, they must have some sort of massive empty void in their lives or something they are running away from that they feel they need to get so disgustingly drunk when they socialise!!! :rolleyes:

Drink-driving has killed far more people in this country than organised crime has and far more innocent people too. By no means, do I think what's happening in the country with drug-lords getting richer and more nasty because of the booming cocaine trade is something that can be ignored, but just because one person enjoys the odd line of cocaine, with little or NO visible affect on them to an onlooker, you cannot tell them they're a murderer! No more than you can tell someone who gets drunk that they're promoting and contributing to the rise in binge-drinking culture and deaths in relation to alcohol.

Oh and I don't do drugs but did and I never needed them. I chose them and I wanted them, purely for enjoyment, nothing else. People who are so anti-drugs and ignorant about drugs and their effects really can't understand this though. It's like, a non-drinker looking down his nose at someone (believing someone is weak) who they think NEEDS a drink to relax/unwind/have fun at the weekend. The non-drinker somehow thinks he is superior as he does not need this vice to get him through a social occasion or a weekend. Surely the non-drinker can't understand what it's all about? Surely a non-drinker who thinks you NEED the alcohol can't possibly understand that you merely enjoy a drink?

MagicMarker

DaveMcG wrote: »

Just to clarify, are you saying it's;

i. stupid to use drugs (and not be addicted)
ii. weak to use drugs (and not be addicted)
iii. stupid to depend on drugs (ie. be addicted)
iv. weak to depend on drugs (ie. be addicted)

?

I could entertain the idea that it's a weakness to be ADDICTED to a drug, mainly because it IS possible to break an addiction, but it requires alot of mental strength on the part of the addict. It requires even more individual strength if you have no support from family/friends/whatever.

But maybe you could also consider that it's such a difficult task to break an addiction to heroin for example, that to manage to do that would be above and beyond the strength of the average person. It is perhaps ill judgement (and not weakness) that might lead someone to use something as addictive as heroin in the first place. They then require a huge amount of strength to overcome this.

I don't buy the idea that recreational, non dependent, drug use is a CRUTCH or a weakness or filling a void, or anything like that. Call me crazy, but I think it's quite possible to live a happy and fulfilled life but still go and have a few scoops with mates on the weekend. Nothing sad or weak about it. I don't see any reason to treat other drugs differently as long as they don't lead to dependence.

Recreational drugs produce a whole range of neurological effects, and depending on what you're into (hallucination, dancing, mellowing, socialising...) you can use whatever drug you like. Nothing sad about it, it just enhances your experiences if used correctly.

It's not stupid or weak to use certain drugs if you're mature about it and know your limits and also know what you're taking. For instance, if you buy E from a complete randomer or 'friend of a friend' then you're a bit of a gob****e for putting yourself in a dangerous position. Same could apply for cocaine i guess. The mishap in Waterford being a prime example. ie, people not having a clue.

There's always going to be an argument where drug use is concerned, because no matter what, there are always going to be people who use drugs recreationally and there will always be people who don't touch the stuff. Both of which have valid reasons to do so, some people need(i use this word lightly) drugs to chill out or whatever. Personally, if i want to chill out i'll listen to some music and that chills me out sufficiently enough to not seek out a joint somewhere. Hence, i don't 'get' the people who smoke.

But, where cocaine is concerned, no one can argue that it is a dangerous and addictive drug. So, for someone to use it regularly could be seen as being quite stupid and reckless, and i'd be hard pressed to disagree.

lucyburn

I have been tempted but was always to afraid to, i guess i just want to find out what all the fuss is about.
But if push came to shove i think i would leave it, I've never taken cocaine in my life so I'm probably better of without it.

MagicMarker

l3LoWnA wrote: »

By no means, do I think what's happening in the country with drug-lords getting richer and more nasty because of the booming cocaine trade is something that can be ignored, but just because one person enjoys the odd line of cocaine, with little or NO visible affect on them to an onlooker, you cannot tell them they're a murderer! No more than you can tell someone who gets drunk that they're promoting and contributing to the rise in binge-drinking culture and deaths in relation to alcohol.

There is a booming cocaine trade because of that one person who enjoys the odd line of cocain. It all adds up. Someone who gets drunk isn't directly financing organised crime, nor are they contributing to alcohol related deaths, unless of course, they actually die or kill someone while intoxicated:p

l3LoWnA wrote: »

Oh and I don't do drugs but did and I never needed them. I chose them and I wanted them, purely for enjoyment, nothing else. People who are so anti-drugs and ignorant about drugs and their effects really can't understand this though. It's like, a non-drinker looking down his nose at someone (believing someone is weak) who they think NEEDS a drink to relax/unwind/have fun at the weekend. The non-drinker somehow thinks he is superior as he does not need this vice to get him through a social occasion or a weekend. Surely the non-drinker can't understand what it's all about? Surely a non-drinker who thinks you NEED the alcohol can't possibly understand that you merely enjoy a drink?

I could say the same about drinkers. Have you ever told someone you don't drink when in a social setting? They look at you as if you have leprosy or something. If anything it comes across as socially unacceptable to not drink on a night out in Ireland. Which says a lot about peoples attitudes towards alcohol in general.

WhiteWashMan

MagicMarker wrote: »

if you buy E from a complete randomer or 'friend of a friend' then you're a bit of a gob****e for putting yourself in a dangerous position..

but if you buy from a regular dealer, well, he only has your best interests at heart, and isnt selling you drugs for the money?

drugs are bad, mmmkay?

Manic Moran

Drugs are a sign of weakness only to those who think drugs are something that need to be resisted.

DaveMcG wrote: »

Interesting point.

Are you saying that they shouldn't be, or that they are a good thing?

NTM

kowloon

I won't drink something if i don't know whats in it, by extension that rules out drugs from dodgy sources (and that includes a lot of legal muck).

I wish i was as well off as those who can afford a cocaine addiction though

Good for toothaches

cardshark202

I don't take it because I'm not mentally retarded in any way which is pretty handy tbh

RoyalMarine

well going on the poll results, then 48 out of 325 of you have directly helped gang warfare, murderer's and drug smugulling!!

well done to you brave people.

i hope it was worth it.

togster

RoyalMarineComm wrote: »

i hope it was worth it.

Not really but sure sh!t happens

starn

Never tried it. Weak ticker. But as far as I can see it turns people in to dicks,
Once saw someone snort glucose thinking it was coke. Turned into a maniac, wonder how much of it is just in people head

Timothy Bryce

Had some lovely Bronson this morning - great pick-me-up!

maryjane1

i cant see the point myself. it is rampant though and that scares me having kids nearing their teens.

Femelade

i never have and i never will take coke. i know a few people who do though.

kmick

DE drink is way worse. Cocaine is highly addictive but in general i would say it is too expensive to make as much of a dent as the booze does.

* Alcohol intake is a factor in 40% of all fatal road accidents in Ireland and in 30% of all road accidents.
* 35% of sexually active teenagers say alcohol is a factor in their engaging in sex.
* Sexually transmitted infections have increased by 165% in the last decade, with 8,900 cases reported in 2000 alone.
* 48% of all criminal offences are alcohol-related. This includes 88% of public order offences, 48% of offences against the person and 54% of all criminal damage offences. These refer only to offences committed by adults.
o Over the 5-year period 1996 - 2001, public order offences alone had increased from 16,384 to 42,754.
* 370% increase in intoxication in public places by underage drinkers since 1996.
* One in four (25%) of those attending hospital A & E (Casualty) departments have an alcohol-related injury/illness. One in eight (13%) present in a state of clinical intoxication.
* 26% of male and 11% of female first admissions to psychiatric services are for alcohol-related conditions (1999 figures).
* 30% of all male patients and 8% of female patients in an Irish general hospital were found to have an underlying and unidentified alcohol abuse or dependency problem.
* 34% of those seeking legal advice due to marital breakdown cite alcohol as the main cause of their marital problems.
* The economic cost of alcohol-related problems in Ireland was roughly 2.37 billion euro in 1999 (1.7% of GDP). This figure encompassed healthcare costs, accidents, crime, absenteeism, transfer payments and lost taxes. It represents 60% of the total revenue from alcohol to the Exchequer for that year.

http://www.healthpromotion.ie/topics/alcohol/alcofacts/statistics/

Considering Fianna Fail are the known as the 'Publican Party' (remember when McDowell tried to bring in the cafe society) it is unlikely the sellers of alcohol will ever feel the same wrath from the public as 'evil' drugs gangs. On the other hand I drink like a fish whenever I can so what do I know.

One of the only out of my group that don't, never had an interest.

Terry

maryjane1 wrote: »

i cant see the point myself. it is rampant though and that scares me having kids nearing their teens.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mary+jane

kmick wrote: »

DE drink is way worse. Cocaine is highly addictive but in general i would say it is too expensive to make as much of a dent as the booze does.

Alcohol is widespread and legally available. Comparisons with illegal drugs are pointless because you can never get a proper baseline reading.

* 35% of sexually active teenagers say alcohol is a factor in their engaging in sex.

Sex isn't a bad thing.
It's surveys like this which have many people believing there is still something dirty about having sex.

Timothy Bryce

Aw man the chop is great. Make you feel amazing and dance really well!

Wooo!

Terry

Shut up.

cornbb

Terry wrote: »

Alcohol is widespread and legally available. Comparisons with illegal drugs are pointless because you can never get a proper baseline reading.

Legality is beside the point. No matter how you interpret the figures, its very difficult to argue that excessive alcohol consumption is not responsible for far more damage to Irish society, health, family breakups, crime figures etc, than any other drug, regardless of legality.

I'm not using this as an argument in favour of legalising coke/dope, but a lot of Irish people need to look a bit closer to home when giving out about "drugs" (i.e. illegal drugs). Not that the majority of people that drink are a problem, its people who do stupid, aggressive or violent things when they are excessively drunk. A far bigger problem than stoners/cokeheads etc, IMO.

Edit: But you are correct about it being impossible to get a baseline reading. Because of differing legal statuses a lot of crimes/incidents caused by illegal drug use slip through the cracks, e.g. there are no reliable figures showing how many people drive under the influence of coke.

Timothy Bryce

Terry wrote: »

Shut up.

No thanks.

kmick

Terry wrote: »

Alcohol is widespread and legally available. Comparisons with illegal drugs are pointless because you can never get a proper baseline reading.

Im not comparing them Im saying alcohol is way worse then cocaine in the amount of damage it does to Irish society.

Terry wrote: »

Sex isn't a bad thing.
It's surveys like this which have many people believing there is still something dirty about having sex.

I believe the point is they engage in sexual encounters they might not have while sober. Also the sex tends to be riskier - without protection etc.

kelle

kmick wrote: »

DE drink is way worse. Cocaine is highly addictive but in general i would say it is too expensive to make as much of a dent as the booze does.

* Alcohol intake is a factor in 40% of all fatal road accidents in Ireland and in 30% of all road accidents.
* 35% of sexually active teenagers say alcohol is a factor in their engaging in sex.
* Sexually transmitted infections have increased by 165% in the last decade, with 8,900 cases reported in 2000 alone.
* 48% of all criminal offences are alcohol-related. This includes 88% of public order offences, 48% of offences against the person and 54% of all criminal damage offences. These refer only to offences committed by adults.
o Over the 5-year period 1996 - 2001, public order offences alone had increased from 16,384 to 42,754.
* 370% increase in intoxication in public places by underage drinkers since 1996.
* One in four (25%) of those attending hospital A & E (Casualty) departments have an alcohol-related injury/illness. One in eight (13%) present in a state of clinical intoxication.
* 26% of male and 11% of female first admissions to psychiatric services are for alcohol-related conditions (1999 figures).
* 30% of all male patients and 8% of female patients in an Irish general hospital were found to have an underlying and unidentified alcohol abuse or dependency problem.
* 34% of those seeking legal advice due to marital breakdown cite alcohol as the main cause of their marital problems.
* The economic cost of alcohol-related problems in Ireland was roughly 2.37 billion euro in 1999 (1.7% of GDP). This figure encompassed healthcare costs, accidents, crime, absenteeism, transfer payments and lost taxes. It represents 60% of the total revenue from alcohol to the Exchequer for that year.

Working in a job that deals with drunks and those high on drugs, I can come to one conclusion - you know what you're dealing with when it comes to drink, but you don't know what you're dealing with when it comes to drugs.

Terry

kmick wrote: »

I believe the point is they engage in sexual encounters they might not have while sober. Also the sex tends to be riskier - without protection etc.

I don't have figures to back it up, but I would imagine that STI's are less prevalent amongst teenagers. With the possible exception of thrush, which can come about from use of certain medications and then be passed from one person to another. Easily curable though.

Most teenagers would not have multiple partners, despite what they may tell you.

Rob_l

kelle wrote: »

Working in a job that deals with drunks and those high on drugs, I can come to one conclusion - you know what you're dealing with when it comes to drink, but you don't know what you're dealing with when it comes to drugs.

oh come on now thats the old better the divil you know attitude

DarkJager

Probably the most pointless and worthless drug in existence (alongside heroin and crystal meth). Give me a bag of weed any day over a bag of coke. My recreational use stretches as far as LSD, and I'd only even touch that twice a year max. As one poster said, anything outside the Dark 3 (Coke, Heroin and Crystal Meth) is fair game.

_blank_

Never took coke, seen too many people act the arsehole on it. It just changes people for the worst. Everyone who takes it, no exceptions. If you say it doesn't, you are in the egyptian river.

Have done pills and loved them. Not in a few years though.

Took heroin once, but that was just for experimenting purposes. Wouldn't do it again, it fúcks up too many people.

Drink regularly, but stopped getting rat-arsed about a year ago. Was acting too much like an arsehole when I was rat-arsed, so cut it right down.

I don't smoke cannabis, in any form. Have tried hash and grass, but they just don't agree with me. Same way I don't like coffee I suppose, I just don't like the effect THC has on me, so I don't smoke it.

Have done mushies once, would do them again. In moderation.

LSD, never even seen a dose of it tbh.

DarkJager

Its one problem people always encounter with LSD. They've taken mushrooms and liked what they experienced so they believe LSD is going to be similiar. Unfortunately, thats the wrong way to go into it. LSD is a lot more psychological, really gets in to the dark black places in your mind and depending on your mood, can be a life changing experience or 12 hours of terrifying thoughts and visions.

I think its also the way most people move on to other drugs. For example, somebody who has done speed a few times, might equate the look and method of taking coke as being the same kind of buzz - thus they consume the same amount and get hooked on it.

The incident in waterford at the weekend is a prime example of why you should understand the risks and effects of a drug before taking it.

Siogfinsceal

mise_me_fein wrote: »

There were saying that the crowd that took the coke at the 21st on the weekend down the country had a good quality batch and that this is why they got messed up as the normal stuff would not be as pure.

was this said today? Last i read they were calling it 'a white powder' implying they were not sure it what it was and said gardai will be testing it to see if its ketamine (which will f**k you up a lot worse than coke esp if you mix the 2).

Cokes everywhere IMO. Its not that harmful unless its cut with something dodgy. Was in a club a while back and one of the lads told me he went into the toilet after the head bouncer (who was always clearly off his head), and the bouncer was so wasted he had left half a line on the cistern.

I think most people esp those who use drugs would draw a definate line between casually taking coke and taking the likes of heroin and crack - those are a whole different game theres no casual weekend using there.

philstar

Its a revalation that so many have voted no, if you were to believe the media half the country is on it.

mise_me_fein

Siogfinsceal wrote: »

I think most people esp those who use drugs would draw a definate line between casually taking coke and taking the likes of heroin and crack - those are a whole different game theres no casual weekend using there.

Yeah the 90% that don't get addicted that is

admiralofthefleet

no and i have no interest in it either. i would rather have my pint

ScumLord

Siogfinsceal wrote: »

Cokes everywhere IMO. Its not that harmful unless its cut with something dodgy.

Coke uncut is seriously dangerous, it's a powerful drug that must be mixed down. It could be just as likely they got a bit that was intended for a dealer that would have mixed it down five or 6 times into the garbage we all know and love in this country.


I think they've come out and said it was the mix of good coke and alcohol which is a lethal mix.

DarkJager

Just reading the Star today, it was supposedly a huge bag of coke that got wet on the way over. The people at the party were "eating" it (obviously didn't understand that this isn't a good thing to do) and in doing so, consumed an amount that would leave anybody in a coma.

Its a sad story, and just goes to highlight the fact that there are people out there who will take drugs without understanding the dangers.

Sleepy

'Got wet'?

So that's where the bale ended up;)