Do you harbour prejudices against people who use drugs?

[CrystalViolet]

Most people don't seem to care when I tell them that I occasionally take recreational drugs but it often happens that I'm met with judgement or scorn. How do you guys feel about drug use?

Edit: I forgot to mention what drugs I mean: Cannabis, MDMA, caffeine, nootropics, LSD, chocolate, opium, DMT.
Edit 2: I've gotten a lot of really good responses to this post and it's starting to get long. People can't be expected to read every post (though it would certainly help!) so I figured I would just make a few things clear so as to avoid repetition:

- When I say I do drugs recreationally, I mean I take them very occasionally, like a few times per year, not for escapism or because I need them to have a good time, but because I enjoy doing them.
- I have many other hobbies and I contribute to society in a positive way.
- I don't buy drugs from dealers. Not a penny of mine goes to an industry that begets human misery as I am a conscientious consumer in all facets of life. I'm sorry I'm so reticent with the details, but take it for granted that my money never goes to bad people.

Also, just so as to avoid getting anyone in any legal trouble, I'm speaking as a fictional character. For the purpose of this thread, CrystalViolet is a figment of my imagination. A sexy, intelligent, and dare I say downright modest figment of my imagination. Failing that, we'll just say "drugs" is a slang term for "biscuits", and by "marijuana" I mean "chocolate digestive".

 

[TheIceQueen]

Depends on the drug you're using. "Recreational drug use" is a vague term that can involve anything from marijuana to methamphetamines and more. Each one gets a different reaction from me. Obviously, some people are going to jump straight to the hardcore drugs and judge you that way, but I don't know if that's what they're doing because all I've been given is a vague term.

Also, it's never wise to admit to drug use on this forum, especially if they're illegal.

 

[tippy2k2]

I'm....not really sure.

Back in my younger man days, I had a few pothead friends. Currently, I have a handful of pothead friends on Xbox Live but I think nothing bad of their habit or that they're bad people.

However, I know there have been parties that I've gone to (like a bachelor party a year or so ago) where there were a number of drugs (primarily the cocaine) and I was incredibly uncomfortable with the situation (they were the grooms friends and unknown acquaintances to me).

I don't know anyone in real life (to my knowledge) who does drugs. If it was weed, I don't believe I'd have a problem with it but I seriously can't tell you how that would affect me if I found out my friend was a stoner. However, I do imagine that I would ask them not to smoke it around me.

If the drugs got more hardcore than that, I'm guessing I would have a problem with it. I wouldn't cut them out of my life but I would be very wary about doing things with that person.

So long story short, I suppose I'm not sure. Non-committal ftw!

 

[Michel Henzel]

Smoked plenty of pot when I was younger (I'm Dutch, I'm legally allowed to) so no, I would not. But only up to a certain point. If you are turning into a massive drug addict that is becoming a danger to not only himself but to others as well, then yeah, I would have a mayor problem with it. But doing drugs in moderation? I would not bat a single eye, as long as you are an adult.

 

[Kolby Jack]

As in all things, it depends. It really boils down to what they think of themselves and people who aren't like them. If they're of a mind that drugs enhance life in any way and people who don't do drugs are uncool somehow, I have nothing to say to them.

I'm a boring guy, I admit, but it's not because I don't drink or do any drugs. To me, chemical use is just a crutch for people who aren't satisfied with normal, everyday experiences. That's totally fine with me. Some people need help to be able to have a real good time in certain situations. I'm 100% on board with that. One of my buddies gets hammered pretty much once a weekend. Why? Because otherwise spending an evening with a bunch of other people who don't have much in common with him would be awful. It's a useful coping mechanism. But as always, there is a line.

Now me, I just flat out avoid situations like that where I'd be bored or miserable. I do what makes me happy and I don't really get concerned over what other people think. I've never once felt like I needed to alter my state of mind to have fun or feel good. It just never occurred to me.

Now I feel like I'm being preachy. I suppose it's hard NOT to be preachy when someone who doesn't do drugs talks about people who do. Ugh. Above all else, I value people's ability to make their own decisions. I'd never write somebody off just for making choices that I personally see as bad.

 

[Vault101]

not really

back when I was younger I had a hard time rationalising it in my head, druges were morally wrong meant people who did them were morally wrong. When media glorified drugs and you get to that age where everyone thinks their cool it gets hard

now that I've grown up a bit I can see the good/bad

I'd be wary if somone had a serious habbit like heroin or whatever, mostly because that shit can affect those around them,

I don't dislike people for smoking Ciggarettes, I do however get unreasonable pissed off when I'm forced to be in the vicinity of somone smoking a cig (like walking past them in the city)

Weed I don't have an issue with but I find "stoner" ness irritating and obnoxious

.
Now me, I just flat out avoid situations like that where I'd be bored or miserable. I do what makes me happy and I don't really get concerned over what other people think. I've never once felt like I needed to alter my state of mind to have fun or feel good. It just never occurred to me.
.

I think though theres a compromise to be made, and as youve said alchohol just makes things easyer

but on one side its hard not to come off as defensive, on the other preachy....*shrug*

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

Of course not. People who use them in moderation for recreational purposes are fine by my reckoning, and people who are addicted to them obviously had a reason to be (often it's like alcohol, they took them to take pain/discomfort away) and need help, not scorn, to overcome their problems.

That said, I have little physical experience with this. All I've been in contact with was my uncle who was once a very angry drunk who, with some help, has since calmed down tremendously. But he sure had his reasons for turning so heavily toward the bottle in the first place.

 

[Michael Tabbut]

The only prejudice I might have is towards Heroin addicts. It would be hypocritical for me to say I haven't done drugs at least once (pot brownies).

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

I have no prejudices against anyone, so long as a person doesn't do something to harm me, or my family, or my friends, I have nothing against them. Especially drug users, even addicts, and people who're heavy users, because I honestly can't say for certain that that could never be me if life fucked me hard enough.
Fact is, I'm a gamer, and I smoke, and I drink, and I smoke marijuana any time I have the opportunity to do so (unless I'm at work, or on the way to work, in which case I gotta stay sober.). I deal with a lot of shit in life, I have dealt with a lot of shit, and my life constantly reminds me that it's never gonna get any better, which drives me to escapism to try and relieve myself of the stress of being depressed, working a shitty job with no hope of any kind of advancement, with no time or money to change that, with no car, no life, and no reason to get out of bed, other than to get to work, to sell people cigarettes, snacks, and gas, for minimum wage.

So yeah, if I had the money, I would probably end up fucked on hard drugs, because it takes damn near everything I have to not slit my own damn throat every morning when I wake up as it is.

But hey, that's par for the course when you struggle with depression for decades, and counselling, and medication does nothing to even reduce the constant struggle against one's own mind. You gotta try and survive for just a little longer, cuz y'know, maybe miracles do happen, and maybe they'll find a cure for it, cuz chemical imbalances in your brain gotta be connected to something, something that could maybe be corrected... Never know if you die before it happens right?

All I know, is that when I'm high, I don't think about that shit, I can relax, my suicidal thoughts melt away into the fuzzy haze of not giving a shit about anything that's not in the moment, plus food tastes amazing(not really better persay, but I seem to be able to identify individual flavours and the direct effects of the combinations of them more clearly, so it brings out new dimensions in the foods I eat), music sounds better(kinda the same as food, see previous comment), and funny shit is funnier, so why the fuck not.

 

[DementedSheep]

I don't think it's wise but then I had friend who did the "no, its totally cool. I'm not an addict or anything" thing and ended massively screwing herself over. If you are actually capable of being moderate and self aware enough to realise when you're going off the deep end I don't have an issue. Even if you're not it's your life. I don't really think stuff like weed is worse than alcohol (though it stays in your system longer and is harder to do a road side test for which makes it a bit of pain). I'm just not going to hang out with someone when their high...or really drunk for that matter since I don't like drugs or drinking and baby sitting people who are off their face is not my idea of a good time.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I don't harbour prejudice against anyone for engaging in recreational drug use, I don't see a problem with it all. People are free to do what they like as far as I'm concerned.

If you're like a full-on meth-head I'll probably steer clear of you though.
Methface is nasty.

 

[Something Amyss]

Not against the generic banner of unspecified "drug use," no.

Doesn't mean I'm a fan, mind.

 

[TakerFoxx]

I...try not to. I'm personally mildly disapproving of drug use, though that's for personal reasons and I know that they can and are used in moderation. I just don't find anything attractive about them at all. Doesn't help that I deliver pizzas for a living and stoners are among the most irritating people to deliver to.

 

[aPod]

Why tell anyone that you do drugs at all. If it's none of their business. The more information about an individual made public the more to be scrutinized and judged by others.

Drug use itself isn't a problem so long as it doesn't become someone else's problem.

 

[SexyGarfield]

Your body your choice as far as I'm concerned. If even half of the money we spend to imprison nonviolent drug offenders was channeled to treatment and prevention for those that need and are willing to accept it we would live in a much better world.

aPod brings up a good point though, the stigma associated with drug use does exist. Why bring it up unless you know the other person has similar attitude towards recreational drugs?

 

[leberkaese]

I love me some recreational drugs, too! Every morning I drink half a litre of coffee

Now seriously: depending on the drug you're taking, it seems like you're mentally strong enough to don't get addicted and can control how much you consume. That rather speaks for you.
I wouldn't have prejudices against people taking drugs, but if you were a friend of mine I probably would try to talk you out of taking them. The risk of geting addicted is too big ... whatever you're taking.

 

[SKBPinkie]

Well, I don't care too much about the use of drugs, considering that it's your own body and you can do whatever you want to it.

My problem is that you're supporting a business run by some of the worst human beings on the planet. Seriously, the things you hear about the cartels and the drug gangs is fucking atrocious stuff and that's not something anyone should encourage.

 

[Story]

Yes, though I do feel bad about it.
It's their body, let them do what they want.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

My problem is that you're supporting a business run by some of the worst human beings in history. Seriously, the things you hear about the cartels and the drug gangs is fucking atrocious stuff and that's not something anyone should encourage.

This is my biggest gripe too. This is why, hypothetically, if i ever tried pot or other drugs id only want something that ive seen grown or was grown by a trusted friend. I dont want to trust these monsters with what goes into my body. Or support some frankly horrific shit.