^^
gee, thanks for that
makes me feel all warm inside.
'Druggie' is not quite how I'd choose to describe myself, you make it sound like I had a 'problem'...
I think in many circumstances, those who's experience of drugs is gained vicariously from tabloid newspapers like the daily mail (and I am not pointing any fingers, just talking generally) often tend to think that anyone who uses drugs is the sort of person who will mugg you for the cash for their next fix. This is hardly surprising as newspapers don't report how 'cheech' went to work and paid his taxes just like everyone else in the country, then relaxed, at home at the end of a hard day, with a spliff or two.
There's a lot of things many people do before they get old enough to become bored of a certain lifestyle or scene. For me all of those kinds of excesses were a time to be enjoyed as a student, coupled with the advice from my grandmother - "All things in moderation."
Over the years I've steered well clear of all of the hard drugs like heroine and crack etc. I know a few people who have fallen foul of such things; it's quite sad really because in the end they just couldn't help themselves.
I know from close personal experience that the most pitiable situation is not from when a person has died through drug use and the inevitable effect this has on their family and friends, but the individual who looses their mind. It is a terrible thing to see a person walking about normally but whose personality is gone, totally destroyed, not through excessive use, nor a 'one off' that is reported so often in the press... 'But of course,
my son/daughter was only doing it for the first time" - in my experience this is
never the case. But what other consolation can a grieving parent have at such a time? To state otherwise would be to admitt to themselves that there was a whole side to their child that they had no knowledge of whatsoever.
But that is the risk you took as an informed 20 year old. In such an event, I'm convinced that any psychosis or other mental aberration based upon such a limited period when the chemicals are changing brain chemistry is entirely due to the hallucinogens compounding an underlying condition. Obviously this differs with long term heavy exposure and we can therefore draw the conclusion that taking drugs long germ can permanently alter brain chemistry, in the same way we know that long term heavy exposure to alcohol alters brain chemistry and damages your liver.
The simple fact of the matter is this: people will always find a way to do or have the things they want, across all levels of society, from rich to poor.
Now, one may be forgiven for making the connection that I think all drugs should be legalised. Not so. Were it up to me, tobacco would not be on sale over the counter here in the UK due to its highly addictive nature (not the fact that it causes cancer in some smokers). The only reason it is not banned today is because of business interests and revenue generating. How calculating is that?! 'Public interest' my backside, none of it has and basis in decision-making with the same fair criteria and study it ought to be attributed.
I believe we need to take a more grown up approach to the issues that surround these charged topics and not let ourselves be frightened of speaking our minds and having a proper public discourse on the matter here in the UK. But I don't really see it happening yet. Those who do publicly stand out from the crowd in this respect can enjoy the ridicule of the tabloid press and the ostracism from their peers that one might expect were you to announce that you were a leper, whilst enjoying the shallow end of the public swimming baths.
Anyway, I'm done with the common sense talk for today. Until someone stepps up and makes some progress, I and many others just have to put up with knee jerk legislation and the occasional risk of being branded dangerous criminal deviants by the daily mail :rotfl: ...I think I can probably sleep quite soundly at night without undue anxiety about that!