Have you ever used Cocaine?

[Shpongled]

Cocaine is one of the few recreational drugs that has actually earned its bad reputation. Its multitude of cascade effects means LD50/100's vary wildly in individuals, it's incredibly short lasting high and short half-life strongly incentivises repeat dosing.

When it comes to drugs that i have/haven't used it would be easier for me to just name the ones i haven't, and overall i'd say that most of the drug's i've used have lead to amazing experiences with little to no downsides. I'd genuinely recommend the likes of LSD or magic mushrooms to anyone whose looking into trying new things in life, but cocaine is one of the few drug's i would say to never even bother trying.

Unless you're in S. America most of what you'll be sniffing be benzo/lidocaine, laxatives and baby powder etc, the high is so short you're always left wanting more, and even if you dose responsibly there's still a chance it'll kill you.

Anyone out there thinking of giving it a go: don't bother mate, there's no point, it's shit and its dangerous. Just get some MDMA for a good night out.

Do you think that most people started doing hard drugs under sound reasoning, do you think it makes any sense for somebody to do a drug that could reasonably kill them in one single use?

Yes, yes I could. A lot of cocaine users are high powered, intelligent individuals. Corporate lawyers, bankers and stock traders and these sorts of people, who'll use cocaine on the weekends like it's like its caffeine.

Raw cocaine in itself isn't that dangerous. What's more dangerous are A: the cutting agents, and B: crack cocaine. Crack is much more potent, much more addictive and generally nastier than "vanilla" coke. I'm not saying it's safe or advocating people use it, but it's not the most dangerous drug around, plenty of people use it occasionally and never really have ill effects (except legal effects if they get caught).

OT: I have never tried cocaine, I never intend to try cocaine. I still think it should be legalised though.

Well, aside from reducing people to subhuman creatures who end up shaking in my waiting area hoping for methadone, there is the moral dimension that anyone who buys cocaine helps finance the FARC in Colombia and a host of other similar crime cartels. They make themselves responsible for that by financing those cartels.

That would be strange, since Methadone is a substitue for heroin, which is quite different to cocaine.

One reason that I personally have for legalising certain drugs, including cocaine, is the involvement of these criminal gangs. It's kind of circular reasoning, but if governments did legalise it they would massively decrease the revenue that these groups generate. We can never stop drugs, so legalise them, make legit operations, maybe we stop people like FARC and the cartels.

Cocaine IS very dangerous, even in it's pure form, it's not very selective at all in it's action and it causes a cascade of effects throughout multiple systems in the body, whereas most drugs are fairly selective in their effects and have little to no effect on bodily systems outside the good stuff. This means that, unlike most drugs, there effectively is no safe dose. I can IV Xmg's of heroin and be 99% sure one way or the other whether this dose will kill me. I can IV Xmg's of cocaine (pure) and whether it's fatal or not is entirely up to how my individual body deals with it... something no one can possibly know.

It's not a matter of "cocaine is a hard drug, so it's dangerous". Cocaine, pure or not, freebase form or not, IS far more dangerous than most (all) common recreational drugs. Including heroin and meth. Heroin is ironically a fairly safe drug all things considered, it's the addiction potential that makes it dangerous, that and the complete lack of understanding in it's users about purity, tolerance and how they relate to the dosages they should be taking.

With most drugs risk is a question of responsible use, take a low dose, no risk, take a high dose, you're risking it. With cocaine that question is gone, any dose could be lethal and there's no way of knowing.

As to Blahblah and co, do you really think criminal gangs with full-auto's shooting up shit is the fault of an inanimate chemical? Criminalise bread tomorrow and i 100 per-fucking-cent guarantee you'll have bread cartels killing each other by mid-afternoon. The substance is meaningless, if someones willing to pay for X and you try and stop them getting what they want then you can be sure as shit someones going to be willing to break the law to get that money.

 

[RustlessPotato]

I never got why people are so against drugs. I never do drugs, nor do I smoke, but to take away ones right to do that i don't get. They only hurt themselves. It should be legal, but legistlated and controlled by the government. For example, you're allowed to do hard drugs in those big centers they would build, so they're no a danger to themselves or anyone else when they're high. They'd be pretty sure of the quality of the drugs and at all time it'd be easier for them to find a way to go to rehab, because everytime they would go out or back they'd get info on where to get rehab.

And that whole "weed will ruin your life thing" is a bit ridiculous. I know plenty who study medicine, are in the top of their year and party hard and also do weed.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

Never had it, not immensely opposed to trying it but couldn't really care whether I did or not.

I do think it should be legalised along with all other drugs though. For one thing it would cause less trouble than the state of things now, contrary to what many seem to think.

 

[Idlemessiah]

Yeah, twice. It's a hell of a drug. Damn good fun.

 

[the darknees abyss]

Never ever would take durgs Never ever but on a side note do have any i love me some pot

 

[Ragsnstitches]

I never got why people are so against drugs. I never do drugs, nor do I smoke, but to take away ones right to do that i don't get. They only hurt themselves. It should be legal, but legistlated and controlled by the government. For example, you're allowed to do hard drugs in those big centers they would build, so they're no a danger to themselves or anyone else when they're high. They'd be pretty sure of the quality of the drugs and at all time it'd be easier for them to find a way to go to rehab, because everytime they would go out or back they'd get info on where to get rehab.

And that whole "weed will ruin your life thing" is a bit ridiculous. I know plenty who study medicine, are in the top of their year and party hard and also do weed.

"They only hurt themselves"

That isn't true for all cases.

Most drugs purchased from a street corner dealer are so impure there is a chance you could get a bad dose and it could kill you. I can guarantee you that very few people have access to quality products in this industry. The folks selling this stuff want money, not your personal satisfaction... if they can cut corners they will, and have done so with tragic consequences.

Some drugs are so potent they have a chance of killing you even when pure, moderated dosages are impossible for them.

There are other drugs that have adverse long term psychological affects on an individual, some of which can lead to variety of different forms of psychosis. Who looks after these people when they become unfit to look after themselves? What happens if it makes them unstable and dangerous?

Some Drugs have immediate psychological effects, some of them even inducing anger or forcing adrenaline (fight or flight hormone) to be pumped throughout your body... Ever here of Roid-rage? Or what about the invincibility drug (PCP)?

There are only a few drugs that I can think of that have no perceivable negative impact IF used cautiously. But the people who tend to take these drugs are already skirting rational thought, so caution might not be present. Only a small number of drug users are responsible enough to consume their preferred substance and not suffer any affects.

The major problem with drug consumption, especially those that have immediate psychological affects, is the person taking them. Psychologically influential drugs can be a bad mix with someone who has problems. Most of the major drugs can have adverse affects on anyone, depending on dosage or how your body metabolises it.

Body Chemistry, Mental Health and responsibility are incredibly important for "safe" drug consumption, but they aren't things most consumers consider.

Society/Family/Friends are the ones who have to pick up the pieces for this negligence...

OP: I've already seen one person ruin their life with weed, a drug even I consider relatively harmless. I'm not willing to chance the stronger stuff.

But I don't see why it's illegal. People will do what they want, the role the state should have is to minimise the negative impact, not make incentives for it. Legalising drug consumption gives room for education of proper use and understanding of possible consequences.

 

[Pharsalus]

Tried it, ha a few older roomates who were into it. Certainly was a rush, too much of a rush, got all jittery and sweaty trying to do anything, video game, chess even. Overall not worth the expense, and certainly not worth going to the ghetto to acquire the stuff.

 

[razer17]

Do you think that most people started doing hard drugs under sound reasoning, do you think it makes any sense for somebody to do a drug that could reasonably kill them in one single use?

Yes, yes I could. A lot of cocaine users are high powered, intelligent individuals. Corporate lawyers, bankers and stock traders and these sorts of people, who'll use cocaine on the weekends like it's like its caffeine.

Raw cocaine in itself isn't that dangerous. What's more dangerous are A: the cutting agents, and B: crack cocaine. Crack is much more potent, much more addictive and generally nastier than "vanilla" coke. I'm not saying it's safe or advocating people use it, but it's not the most dangerous drug around, plenty of people use it occasionally and never really have ill effects (except legal effects if they get caught).

OT: I have never tried cocaine, I never intend to try cocaine. I still think it should be legalised though.

Well, aside from reducing people to subhuman creatures who end up shaking in my waiting area hoping for methadone, there is the moral dimension that anyone who buys cocaine helps finance the FARC in Colombia and a host of other similar crime cartels. They make themselves responsible for that by financing those cartels.

That would be strange, since Methadone is a substitue for heroin, which is quite different to cocaine.

One reason that I personally have for legalising certain drugs, including cocaine, is the involvement of these criminal gangs. It's kind of circular reasoning, but if governments did legalise it they would massively decrease the revenue that these groups generate. We can never stop drugs, so legalise them, make legit operations, maybe we stop people like FARC and the cartels.

Cocaine IS very dangerous, even in it's pure form, it's not very selective at all in it's action and it causes a cascade of effects throughout multiple systems in the body, whereas most drugs are fairly selective in their effects and have little to no effect on bodily systems outside the good stuff. This means that, unlike most drugs, there effectively is no safe dose. I can IV Xmg's of heroin and be 99% sure one way or the other whether this dose will kill me. I can IV Xmg's of cocaine (pure) and whether it's fatal or not is entirely up to how my individual body deals with it... something no one can possibly know.

It's not a matter of "cocaine is a hard drug, so it's dangerous". Cocaine, pure or not, freebase form or not, IS far more dangerous than most (all) common recreational drugs. Including heroin and meth. Heroin is ironically a fairly safe drug all things considered, it's the addiction potential that makes it dangerous, that and the complete lack of understanding in it's users about purity, tolerance and how they relate to the dosages they should be taking.

With most drugs risk is a question of responsible use, take a low dose, no risk, take a high dose, you're risking it. With cocaine that question is gone, any dose could be lethal and there's no way of knowing.

Although, after a little research on how dangerous cocaine really is, I have decided it's more dangerous than I first thought, but I also maintain that it isn't as dangerous as heroin or crystal meth (according to David Nutt in the Lancet). Cocaine is the 4th most harmful drug to people (which is weighted by number of people using it) so since cocaine is more used than meth and heroin, I still think its not as bad as those two.

 

[Phasmal]

Never tried any drugs, cept the ones the doctors give me. Sadly, my family has a history of mental instability. I think taking drugs would be too much like tempting fate.

I'd rather just stay in and play games.

 

[RustlessPotato]

How you like this sexy snip ?

It's true now. That's why i was imagining a world where the government would have total control of the hard drugs supply and you would only be allowed to use it in appointed buildings where at all times they would be watched when high and always have acces to rehab. If we would get that, there wouldn't really be so much a need for a black market where you would get those drugs illegally and the drugs would be of better quality altogether. Though you always have some stuff no one should ever use, like that "krokodil" drug in Russia.

I know it's not a reality and i'm not advocating drugs. But I find the attitude of some governments on them a bit dated. When their "war on drugs" is failing, they should look for an alternative (looking at you, U.S of A). Why not legalise it and tax it ? Especially weed ? Especially if you can get it by saying you hurt your back ? I mean even Colombia is to enact the legalization of drugs.

There are probably some factors i'm not aware of though, because i'm from Belgium, so feel free to educate me.

 

[Zenn3k]

I did a line once, didn't really feel anything.

Little bit more energy I suppose...but I wasn't impressed overall. Maybe I just didn't do enough

 

[Ragsnstitches]

How you like this sexy snip ?

It's true now. That's why i was imagining a world where the government would have total control of the hard drugs supply and you would only be allowed to use it in appointed buildings where at all times they would be watched when high and always have acces to rehab. If we would get that, there wouldn't really be so much a need for a black market where you would get those drugs illegally and the drugs would be of better quality altogether. Though you always have some stuff no one should ever use, like that "krokodil" drug in Russia.

I know it's not a reality and i'm not advocating drugs. But I find the attitude of some governments on them a bit dated. When their "war on drugs" is failing, they should look for an alternative (looking at you, U.S of A). Why not legalise it and tax it ? Especially weed ? Especially if you can get it by saying you hurt your back ? I mean even Colombia is to enact the legalization of drugs.

There are probably some factors i'm not aware of though, because i'm from Belgium, so feel free to educate me.

I added a bit at he end of my post... I agree, it shouldn't be made illegal based on draconian standards. It should be monitored and controlled, but not made taboo... that just creates even more incentive for people looking for fringe thrills. EDIT: And those people are the most likely ones to harm themselves or others.

"tickled ivories"... what have you been smoking captcha?

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Ehh... Nope. And I don't think I ever will. Weed is good enough for me.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

It's probably one of the drugs I would almost certainly avoid due to fear of becoming an addict. Have you seen what that stuff can do to your septum if you abuse it? Nasty shit man...

However, as with most things, I am of the opinion that so long ass nobody else is being hurt by it, what life choices, for better or worse, other people want to make are not my business, and from a purely pragmatic point of view it just makes so much more sense to legalise all drugs, even the harder stuff, rather than continue with this phony and counter-productive 'war'.

 

[The Last Nomad]

I don't like the effects of cocaine, but I can only judge from the legal alternatives and this one bag I found on the side of the road, which was most likely cocaine, but I'm not sure.

Cocaine is one drug I don't really want to do but I'm not overly against it.
I feel all drugs should be legal, cocaine included, but I won't be buying it if it ever is.

 

[BodomBeachChild]

I used to love coke =( Goodbye right nasal passge. It's a pretty wicked drug to do and is hella fun, but screw it. Not worth fiending for it not being able to breathe and too goddamn expensive.

I'll stick to the herb. Cheaper, maybe not as bad for you, and keeps my head focused on what I need. I've always wanted to chew a coca leaf though! I don't believe in using hard drugs but if the US went the way of Peru maybe it'd work to keep drugs off the street. (looking at you US Government)