Why do people take drugs?

02-08-2017 01:04AM

donegaLroad wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg

Great video and ... forgive my cynicism! But that's so neatly and so intuitively appealing that I'd seriously wonder about the contemporary scholarly evidence behind it.

It would be great if anyone with a scientific background or an active interest in this area had some reading suggestions.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 02-08-2017 01:06AM

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Based on nothing but a hunch, I believe anyone taking drugs regularly over the age of 30 is to handle poor mental health.

Same as anyone who is regularly drunk.

29? Grand, pop all the pills you want. 31? You need to see a psychiatrist...

The Backwards Man wrote: »

There's a reason you never see bogmen chewing yokes

Drugs are everywhere. Your idea of it being a city problem is incorrect.

con___manx1 · 02-08-2017 01:06AM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Curious fools with little or no self control for the most part. lazy feckless wasters fueling murderous criminal empires

what? :mad:

You forgot about the people that have had it really hard and don't give a **** if they live or die.
They do it for a momentary escape. Its the same for some alcoholics and even some gambling addicts.

Arghus · 02-08-2017 01:08AM

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I think that's a good point, the only thing I'd be wary of is correlating drug-taking with escapism.

I don't want to escape from my life. I'm a happy, well adjusted 30-year-old who loves his mum and smiles at babies on the bus. It has nothing to do with unhappiness, it's just that psychedelic and euphoric drugs are a ladder to a new experience of the world that is otherwise unattainable.

For sure, plenty of people who use recreational drugs are suffering in some way. This probably applies to opiates in particular.

But many people just really bloody enjoy them, without needing to fill gaps in our lives.

Yeah, I agree with this. I know perfectly well adjusted and happy people who take drugs regularly and semi-regularly because they like the experience - not because they are trying to get away from some deep dark pain.

For years I stayed away from pills because I was always afraid of what effect they might have on me, but then, eventually, the time came when I couldn't say no any longer and, yeah, I can totally understand why people take E and MDMA. I use those kind of drugs very, very infrequently, but in the right circumstances, with the right people, I think they can be pretty damn good.

02-08-2017 01:18AM

Arghus wrote: »

Yeah, I agree with this. I know perfectly well adjusted and happy people who take drugs regularly and semi-regularly because they like the experience - not because they are trying to get away from some deep dark pain.

For years I stayed away from pills because I was always afraid of what effect they might have on me, but then, eventually, the time came when I couldn't say no any longer and, yeah, I can totally understand why people take E and MDMA. I use those kind of drugs very, very infrequently, but in the right circumstances, with the right people, I think they can be pretty damn good.

Same here

I grew up believing that a pill was likely to kill me, or inexplicably put me in debt to some nefarious drug pusher. Like yourself, I'd only occasionally use them, only in the right circumstances, and also usually sourcing them from the same person.

I'm not even sure about whether I'd want them legalised, I think a lot of recreational users of drugs are in ourselves divided. I have no interest in marijuana, for example, and I'd be a lot more wary of it than of 'party pills'.

I guess my bottom line is that recreational drug-users don't fit into near categories, but come from all walks of life, many of whom have no mental health problems, and have diverse policy opinions too.

Junkyard Tom · 02-08-2017 01:20AM

Annalee Vast Graveyard wrote: »

Drugs are everywhere. Your idea of it being a city problem is incorrect.

I'd say those mountain men would have little problem getting you a bottle of Poitin - a very potent illegal drug.

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

But that's so neatly and so intuitively appealing that I'd seriously wonder about the contemporary scholarly evidence behind it.

You might have saw this one before which is very neatly appealing too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmnzIhbX2bg

02-08-2017 01:26AM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

You might have saw this one before which is very neatly appealing too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmnzIhbX2bg

It must be the latent alcoholic inside me, I couldnt help but feel sorry for that monkey who spilled both his drinks. Probably just as the bar was closing too.

Poor little fella :-(

The Backwards Man · 02-08-2017 01:31AM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

I'd say those mountain men would have little problem getting you a bottle of Poitin - a very potent illegal drug.

[/YOUTUBE]

Pneumonia medicine for calves

Any druggies we have around here were corrupted by city folk and their fancy ways.

I remember years ago we had a famous snooker player (who may or may not have ever won a World Snooker Championship) play an exhibition match. One of the bouncers came in to the elderly owner in the bar

'That yahoo is after asking me for coke' says he
'Sure we sell plenty of it' says she
'No no, he wants to put it up his nose' says he
'Well give him a straw' says she:pac:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 02-08-2017 01:40AM

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Based on nothing but a hunch, I believe anyone taking drugs regularly over the age of 30 is to handle poor mental health.

Same as anyone who is regularly drunk.

And you said my post was pompous...?!

magentis · 02-08-2017 01:40AM

For the crack.

cbyrd · 02-08-2017 01:49AM

Cos something hurts...

greenflash · 02-08-2017 01:50AM

Because dance music is sh1te without them.

donegaLroad · 02-08-2017 01:51AM

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Great video and ... forgive my cynicism! But that's so neatly and so intuitively appealing that I'd seriously wonder about the contemporary scholarly evidence behind it.

It would be great if anyone with a scientific background or an active interest in this area had some reading suggestions.

hi, if you go to the youtube link, and go to 'show more' there is a lot of information there for further reading

KKkitty · 02-08-2017 02:24AM

Whatever you think about people that take drugs, it's not a class thing. All walks of life have taken them for different reasons. I took them because I didn't care about myself at the time. A rich person could take them because they're able to get them when they want. Drugs give you something you've never experienced before. With hash it's just being mellow, a bit chatty and then you're sleepy. Cocaine or speed you're happy and want to stay up and interact with everyone and anyone. Ecstasy you want to stay awake pretty much all night long and dance like no one is watching. They loosen your inhibitions. You're not you when you take them. That's the desired effect. You're escaping from reality when you do drugs.

Skatedude · 02-08-2017 03:03AM

So, this thread in a summery? I dont do drugs ,but they must be bad.

Or, It's in the news that this new drug is very bad ( begins with a f) it's a pain medication that has been used for decades to help countless people, but is suddenly bad because we say so?

Er, it a pharmaceutical drug used by doctors and hospitals, THEY ARE ALL BAD IF YOU ABUSE THEM.

FFS, use your brain to think.

D3V!L · 02-08-2017 08:32AM

The cool kids told me to take them

myshirt · 02-08-2017 08:35AM

Cos, like, the media man.

Wibbs · 02-08-2017 09:34AM

Damn near every society on earth throughout history has taken drugs to some degree or other. It seems to be a part of us. Some have even suggested that the seemingly overnight burst of creativity in our species(circa 40,000 years back) that directly led to who we are today had drugs playing a large part.

We seem as a species to be very much attracted to seeking out altered mental states and drugs are one of the easiest gateways to that. Others would be approaches like meditation, even physical exertion to the point(and sometimes beyond) of exhaustion. EG exercise highs all the way to hanging by hooks in your boobs in a sweat lodge.

Of the people reading this very few don't or haven't taken drugs or sought out such experiences. "well I don't take drugs!". Enjoying your cup of espresso?

Doctor Nick · 02-08-2017 09:45AM

I took heroin when I was at an extremely low point in my life. Severely depressed, recession, fear of the future as a result of job security, debts, family making life hell, partner doing same. Eventually got let go. Felt I couldn't go any lower. So wanted an escape from what I believed was a vile life and existence. And heroin delivered. First time I even thought to myself there's no going back after this. But it gave me what I wanted, complete oblivion and more. But sooner rather than later it started to take more from me. Slowly wearing me down till everything was gone.

Ended the usual way, hooked, homeless, alone even more than before. Became somebody I truly hated. So I used more. Used to think how have I become this. Educated to degree level. High five figure salary at one point.

Eventually I got sense. Kept away from people. Did a detox. Clean 2 years now. Best years of my life. Genuinely happy. No more misery. Friends want me in their lives, same with family. I run if I see anyone I knew from that life. So it can be done.

topper75 · 02-08-2017 10:00AM

Doctor Nick wrote: »

I took heroin when I was at an extremely low point in my life. Severely depressed, recession, fear of the future as a result of job security, debts, family making life hell, partner doing same. Eventually got let go. Felt I couldn't go any lower. So wanted an escape from what I believed was a vile life and existence. And heroin delivered. First time I even thought to myself there's no going back after this. But it gave me what I wanted, complete oblivion and more. But sooner rather than later it started to take more from me. Slowly wearing me down till everything was gone.

Ended the usual way, hooked, homeless, alone even more than before. Became somebody I truly hated. So I used more. Used to think how have I become this. Educated to degree level. High five figure salary at one point.

Eventually I got sense. Kept away from people. Did a detox. Clean 2 years now. Best years of my life. Genuinely happy. No more misery. Friends want me in their lives, same with family. I run if I see anyone I knew from that life. So it can be done.

Very frank. Certainly not the average account. Every thought about a book - or some way or recording and sharing to help others?

The Backwards Man · 02-08-2017 10:15AM

Doctor Nick wrote: »

I took heroin when I was at an extremely low point in my life. Severely depressed, recession, fear of the future as a result of job security, debts, family making life hell, partner doing same. Eventually got let go. Felt I couldn't go any lower. So wanted an escape from what I believed was a vile life and existence. And heroin delivered. First time I even thought to myself there's no going back after this. But it gave me what I wanted, complete oblivion and more. But sooner rather than later it started to take more from me. Slowly wearing me down till everything was gone.

Ended the usual way, hooked, homeless, alone even more than before. Became somebody I truly hated. So I used more. Used to think how have I become this. Educated to degree level. High five figure salary at one point.

Eventually I got sense. Kept away from people. Did a detox. Clean 2 years now. Best years of my life. Genuinely happy. No more misery. Friends want me in their lives, same with family. I run if I see anyone I knew from that life. So it can be done.

High Doctor Nick

02-08-2017 10:19AM

The latest take on this.

The person as an individual has been taken out of the issue, People take drugs because they are unhappy, want to escape life so the theory goes just figure out why the person is unhappy and wants to escape life fix that and voilà problem solved.

....... · 02-08-2017 10:24AM

This post has been deleted.

Will I Am Not · 02-08-2017 10:40AM

mariaalice wrote: »

The latest take on this.

The person as an individual has been taken out of the issue, People take drugs because they are unhappy, want to escape life so the theory goes just figure out why the person is unhappy and wants to escape life fix that and voilà problem solved.

It was a natural progression from alcohol for me. I enjoyed the feeling of getting drunk and was curious about what other feelings I could get from other substances.

Tried just about everything bar heroin, crack and meth. It was always just for enjoyment and stuck to my plan of knocking everything on the head at a certain age, including alcohol.

Some of the lads I used to spend those days with are strung out on heroin now, in and out of prison. They were the ones that got consumed by it all and never bothered with employment.
It's like everything else, know your limits and always be aware of the consequences.

chrissb8 · 02-08-2017 10:46AM

Because they make you feel great and put your mind in other states that you would never be able to attain ever. Really though. Take shrooms or acid and it opens up all new ways of thinking. If you think I'm talking s***e than go ask the Beatles or a plethora of other creatives who would agree. Not saying it makes me right as there is no right or wrong in the debate on drugs just stating that it has its uses and those uses are pretty amazing and surreal.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 02-08-2017 10:51AM

Doctor Nick wrote: »

I took heroin when I was at an extremely low point in my life. Severely depressed, recession, fear of the future as a result of job security, debts, family making life hell, partner doing same. Eventually got let go. Felt I couldn't go any lower. So wanted an escape from what I believed was a vile life and existence. And heroin delivered. First time I even thought to myself there's no going back after this. But it gave me what I wanted, complete oblivion and more. But sooner rather than later it started to take more from me. Slowly wearing me down till everything was gone.

Ended the usual way, hooked, homeless, alone even more than before. Became somebody I truly hated. So I used more. Used to think how have I become this. Educated to degree level. High five figure salary at one point.

Eventually I got sense. Kept away from people. Did a detox. Clean 2 years now. Best years of my life. Genuinely happy. No more misery. Friends want me in their lives, same with family. I run if I see anyone I knew from that life. So it can be done.

Good to hear you recovered.

Rule number one of drug taking (regardless of what drug we're talkign about) - be of sound mental state before you take it; and that includes not being depressed.

Doctor Nick · 02-08-2017 11:09AM

topper75 wrote: »

Very frank. Certainly not the average account. Every thought about a book - or some way or recording and sharing to help others?

One of my mates (the only one who stuck with me through the bad times and supported me) suggested I should do something like that. Doubt anyone would be interested in it.

radia · 02-08-2017 11:09AM

This is an interesting representation, and probably true of many users.
Curiosity -> enjoyment -> dependence.

Wanderer78 · 02-08-2017 11:14AM

I've been very lucky to have never involved myself in illegal drugs as I suspect I'd be a mess if I did or possibly not here anymore, as I've struggled with mental health issues most of my life. I have had bad experiences with alcohol in the past though, self medicating, leading me to completely stop drinking a couple of years ago. Mental health issues are complex, very difficult to explain to others that have never experienced them, very painful and draining, both physically and emotionally. Sadly our social institutions, I.e. educational, health, welfare, legal systems etc are really badly prepared to deal with these issues and in many cases exasperate them. For those that suffer in silence, as I did, please get help, prolonging just prolongs the pain and generally leads to more complex issues such as addiction problems etc. Best of luck

YourSuperior · 02-08-2017 11:22AM

mariaalice wrote: »

The latest take on this.

The person as an individual has been taken out of the issue, People take drugs because they are unhappy, want to escape life so the theory goes just figure out why the person is unhappy and wants to escape life fix that and voilà problem solved.

Yeah, the problem could be fixed although often with great difficulty. Otherwise we wouldn't have such serious problems in the first place. Look at all the problem drinkers, others on prescription drugs as well. If sanctioned suicide was a thing and nomalised, I'd say suicide numbers would shoot up. But no, it's head in the sand and "sure I'm grand meself like, sure why would yez be taking the drugs like".

Why do people take drugs?

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