Another what would you do ?

[snaw]

With a name like snaw, you seem to know your stuff (only joking!)

My white powder highs don't come in little baggies ;-) no pharmaceutical comes close to the high I get from riding the white fluffy stuff!!!

[EternalOptimist]

Sandy,
my advice to you

find a good disguise, something that will completely hide your identity, whilst maybe bringing out the best in your eyes, then sneak round to the public phone box and call your daughter. Explain to her that if she wastes her money on coke she will never get a foot on the property ladder. Tell her that her friend is a sub-prime arguido.

[youwhut]

Why is working in an investment bank or climbing on the property ladder supposed to be a deterrent?

[Bagpuss]

Yep, many more people drinks alcohol than take drugs, but many more people die of alcohol related disease. We're throwing opinions around like fact, then it's helpful to back up that up with some hard facts.

Where's your proof that drug takers die younger then alcohol consumers - what do you base this on? Many drug takers get old, and usually stop, wheras many alcohol consumers get old and consume more. Why is one so inherently worse than the other - if the problem is the illigal part, which has been stated then legalisation would seem like the next step.

Almost all of my biggest regrets in life have happened when I'm pissed, and the times where I've come closet to killing myself also. Thing is I like a beer, and I'd be p'd off if you tried to ban that. I accept the status quo on the legality of drugs, but it's the hypocrisy of this comparison I find a bit annoying. Those of us who've taken them seem to hold a very consistent view, which to me seems to lie in the all things in moderation - no harm done train of thought. Those agaist seem to be rehashing stereotypes which actually don't really apply in the majority of cases.

You brought up this comparison. It's off track from the initial argument, yes alcohol does damage but class A drugs are more dangerous than alcohol, that is a fact. My problem is with the taking drugs is 'like having a cup of tea' brigade. It's not, you are in effect a guinea pig, you are playing russian roulette with your health. Someone like yourself who is apparently so moral on other issues all of a sudden is willing to ignore the death, maiming, exploitation and other crime that you are in some small way contributing to.
If SA et all want to take these risks that is their prerogative.


BUT

The original point was should the parents of a minor be informed that she is developing a drug habit, IMHO the answer is 100% yes. Those who want to pat her on the back as some sort of kool rites of passage need to grow up.

[Denny]

You brought up this comparison. It's off track from the initial argument, yes alcohol does damage but class A drugs are more dangerous than alcohol, that is a fact. My problem is with the taking drugs is 'like having a cup of tea' brigade. It's not, you are in effect a guinea pig, you are playing russian roulette with your health. Someone like yourself who is apparently so moral on other issues all of a sudden is willing to ignore the death, maiming, exploitation and other crime that you are in some small way contributing to.
If SA et all want to take these risks that is their prerogative.


BUT

The original point was should the parents of a minor be informed that she is developing a drug habit, IMHO the answer is 100% yes. Those who want to pat her on the back as some sort of kool rites of passage need to grow up.

The 'kool rites of passage' set on here should try telling Leah Betts' parents that teenagers taking E at a rave is just a harmless bit of fun, and it wasn't even a Class A drug at the time.

[youwhut]

The 'kool rites of passage' set on here should try telling Leah Betts' parents that teenagers taking E at a rave is just a harmless bit of fun, and it wasn't even a Class A drug at the time.

And the 7 litres of water had nothing to do with this?

[snaw]

You brought up this comparison. It's off track from the initial argument, yes alcohol does damage but class A drugs are more dangerous than alcohol, that is a fact. My problem is with the taking drugs is 'like having a cup of tea' brigade. It's not, you are in effect a guinea pig, you are playing russian roulette with your health. Someone like yourself who is apparently so moral on other issues all of a sudden is willing to ignore the death, maiming, exploitation and other crime that you are in some small way contributing to.
If SA et all want to take these risks that is their prerogative.

Never said I was perfect ;-)

Anyway, I've met a cocaine grower in Colombia, his point was that he'd prefer to grow regular crops but the west subsidised thier foods soo much that he couldn't afford to grow normal stuff, and the only way he could subsidise himself was by growing coca.

Maybe you need to start buying more freetrade stuff etc?

The original point was should the parents of a minor be informed that she is developing a drug habit, IMHO the answer is 100% yes. Those who want to pat her on the back as some sort of kool rites of passage need to grow up.

OK that ones tougher. My honest opinion - no, don't get involved. I don't see what is really going to be achived by this. If the girl in question was younger I'd have no issue, but 17 in my book is close enough to adult in my book for people to make thier own choices. (Actually I htink it is adult, just alcohol that's out of reach - but how many 17 year old obey that law?). You're entitled to your opinion, and I can see your reason's for it. I've got mine and I think I've explained them pretty well.

I go with what Rantor said, I've a small kid and another on the way - I'm not going to be a hypocrite about it when they're older and 'just say no'. I'm certainly not going to encourage it either, but I want to feel like a) they're informed and b) they feel like they can come and talk to me about stuff like that. I'd have good advice - about what's sensible, and how to prepare etc. Might be repulsive to some of you but I'm also a realist on this one.

My 2c.

[Rantor]

You brought up this comparison. It's off track from the initial argument, yes alcohol does damage but class A drugs are more dangerous than alcohol, that is a fact.

Bagpuss - I am aware of the risks of drug-taking - it can be very dangerous indeed and is not be trivialised.

However, I think alcohol statistically wipes the floor with all other classes of drugs combined (tobacco excluded!) e.g. drowning in vom, setting fire to oneself, falling over, getting beaten up, crashing a car, being run over, various cancers, liver damage, heart disease etc. Then there is the wider-damage e.g. running people over, violence, suicide etc.

[Bagpuss]

And the 7 litres of water had nothing to do with this?

That is a side effect of taking ecstacy in some cases (the hydration issue) , ok ecstacy is less fatal then most other class A drugs and less addictive, I still wouldn't be happy if my child was popping them every weekend

Bagpuss - I am aware of the risks of drug-taking - it can be very dangerous indeed and is not be trivialised.

However, I think alcohol statistically wipes the floor with all other classes of drugs combined (tobacco excluded!) e.g. drowning in vom, setting fire to oneself, falling over, getting beaten up, crashing a car, being run over, various cancers, liver damage, heart disease etc. Then there is the wider-damage e.g. running people over, violence, suicide etc.

There isn't much point getting into a 'Yes but what about alcohol argument'. Alcohol is freely and cheaply available, it is largely non addictive and is safe. Illicit drugs are not safe, even if you don't die you are harming yourself, be it now or several years down the line. Drug dealers and distributers have no duty of care, the product they provide is not intended to be safe, anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded. I don't care if adults want to do this, it is up them, but children are more vulnerable, and the promotion of it to them is very wrong IMHO.

[youwhut]

That is a side effect of taking ecstacy in some cases (the hydration issue) , ok ecstacy is less fatal then most other class A drugs and less addictive, I still wouldn't be happy if my child was popping them every weekend

How would you feel if your child tried it once?