Well here is the thread to elaborate on your answers if you feel they deserve it. Also what are everyone's thoughts on drug use (alcohol and tobacco included)?
Sonic reg
Just say no! [commentary]
Answer to 9 was nope... I'd probably be like 90 percent of the people and try and justify my substance abuse problem and keep telling myself that I'm the exception to the rule and that everything is AOkay!
Heck... I'm usually the one to tell others they have a substance abuse problem, and it's miraculous how they think they are the exception to the rule.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg
What do you consider abuse? Using once a week, twice a week, once a month, twice a month... etc?
reg
I consider abuse to be using it to the point where it becomes a detriment to your life in any way whatsoever, health wise, job wise, school wise, family wise, anything like that, then CONTINUING to use. I've seen a couple lives totally fall apart because of drugs and/or alcohol and the people were definitely being told they had a problem but apparently refused to believe it. Having never had a sip of alcohol or a puff of a cigarette, I can't really put myself in the same mind set as these people and really I'm kind of curious. I can speculate and probably become pretty accurate, but I'd rather here from the users.
Why did you start?
Why do you still use?
Why did you stop?
What has it adversely affected in your life?
I think this to be a pretty interesting topic as I'm sure it's affected everyone either directly or indirectly... They say that 1 in every 8 American adults is an alcoholic, so that probably means at least one person in your extended family, or at least a friends parent. I know my and my friend's families have more than our share.
Sonic reg
quote:
Originally posted by Alfador:
Why did you start?
Why do you still use?
Why did you stop?
What has it adversely affected in your life?Sonic
I first tried pot, the only drug I've ever used when I was 17, 19 now.
I still use it because I enjoy it.
The only bad thing that has happened to me so far is my sinuses act up, other then that... not a thing. reg
How often do you typically use?
I've never used drugs, but I got a contact high once from a coffeeshop. Nasty headache. 
Aerienne reg
How often do I do drugs? (the pot 
)
)About everyother day during the week, two, three, four times a day weekends..
Why did I start? Seemed like fun at the time. Still is.
Do I have a problem? Not a chance. I am doing better then ever in school this year, I maintain an active social life and I play sports regularly.
One thing for sure though, I am TOTALLY against legalisation. Cause no matter what anyone says, the shit does fuck you up. I personally6 cant drive when I'm high. I ave hit people, ran lights ect. Just stupid stuff. If it was legal, lots of people would be like that. Dangerous.
By the way, I'm 17.
G
reg
<<One thing for sure though, I am TOTALLY against legalisation. Cause no matter what
anyone says, the shit does fuck you up. I personally6 cant drive when I'm high. I ave hit people, ran lights ect. Just stupid stuff. If it was legal, lots of people would be like that. Dangerous.>>
anyone says, the shit does fuck you up. I personally6 cant drive when I'm high. I ave hit people, ran lights ect. Just stupid stuff. If it was legal, lots of people would be like that. Dangerous.>>
Thank you for being one of the few using voices of reason. From the looks of it, there isn't a better person, experience wise, to listen to here than Krong. I'll definitely second the 'no way' to legalization.
Sonic reg
While we are on it, who thinks that we should legalize more than is currently legal. If so, why? Please don't just give me a 'because it's our right.' Take into the considering the inevitable consequences such as increased usage and availability, not just a 'so I don't have to break the law anymore.'
Sonic reg
I personally never say the draw to do drugs. I get into enough trouble (having brains, a sick sense of humor, and the ability to act on my ideas)sober and clean I never saw a need. I am always the sober guy, DD, whatever you wanna call it because I can have a blast and still look out for my friends when we go out. I see alot of legal substance abuse by my peers and it just doesn't do anything for me.
I have to agree thought of no legalization, legalization would scare the crap out of me. Being that the substances in reference are currently illegal means that the majority of the users will be prone to do so in the privacy of homes and away from the public, not always the case but safe to say the majority. This as Krong stated keeps them off the streets during the time that they are feeling the effects of whatever it is they are doing. Most of the folks I know that do drugs and want to drive will go down a secluded country road to hot box. Keeps thems off the highways while high. Don't get me wrong I would still rather be on the road with a toker than a drunk.
------------------
Anticor Rifling, Giantman Wizard reg
Where would the line be drawn on what drugs become legal, and what drugs do not become legal?
We hear a lot about freedom in our society, freedom to wear what we want, eat what we want, live the life style we want, and certainly we're given a lot of that freedom in this society... but freedom can also destabalize a society.
Legalizing more drugs than is already legal would set a precedent towards destabilization of society. Infact, we should be lucky that the drugs currently legal are infact legal even after the horrors they present to us. 1 in 8 alcoholics is not something a society should be proud of, infact it's a shame. Society needs to have laws to protect *itself* against something so dangerous and destructive.
- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg
I totally agree Kranar, and in fact I am in favor of prohibition. Alcohol and cigarettes should both be illegal.
Sonic reg
That will never happen.
Personally, I think the reason pot will never be legalised is that it is so easy to grow. Think about it. Tax on tobacco and alcohol is rediculously high. They are very hard to make. Tobacco plants are extremely hard to grow. Marijuana is easy. Taxing it would be near impossible. I dont know if I am explaining this properly, but I hope you get it.
G reg
Why did you start?
Around 14
Why do you still use?
I still drink some, and RARELY smoke up
Why did you stop?
I didn't stop but I drink a lot less now. I realized that I was sick of partying and the people I hung out with were losers (future-wise)
What has it adversely affected in your life?
I've been wild, I've been good, I think I still like being good. If anything, it's helped me to shape back up realizing that I didn't want to end up anything like some of the people I was with.
Around 14
Why do you still use?
I still drink some, and RARELY smoke up
Why did you stop?
I didn't stop but I drink a lot less now. I realized that I was sick of partying and the people I hung out with were losers (future-wise)
What has it adversely affected in your life?
I've been wild, I've been good, I think I still like being good. If anything, it's helped me to shape back up realizing that I didn't want to end up anything like some of the people I was with.
I don't legalisation should be passed either. That stuff does screw people up. Hell, I wouldn't even let anyone that's had more than 1 beer drive me anywhere. What makes you think I'd put my life into the hands of someone that's high? <chuckle>
Bianca
reg
I know prohibition will never come back and believe me, I'm not about to start lobbying for it.
On another note, I gotta say I'm pretty happy with the discussion here. I'm also pretty happy that everyone is being reasonable.
Sonic reg
quote:
Originally posted by Alfador:
I totally agree Kranar, and in fact I am in favor of prohibition. Alcohol and cigarettes should both be illegal.Sonic
Not going to happen anytime soon, once you get into the real world you'll actually see how many adults use those.
I was surprised at my company's outtings how many people drank, there were only a couple who did not and I don't know for sure, but I would say most of america is like that. So you don't label right away, the people at my company are all professionals, have been through college and make a very nice living. reg
quote:
How often do you typically use?
I've never used drugs, but I got a contact high once from a coffeeshop. Nasty headache.Aerienne
I usually smoke something when I get home from work. It puts me in a very relaxed mood after a long hard day. If you knew what I had to share an office with you would understand the need for that one. (joking)
I usually have something after dinner also, when I'm ready to relax for the night. reg
quote:
Not going to happen anytime soon, once you get into the real world you'll actually see how many adults use those.
Haha, that's funny...
Sonic reg
quote:
Originally posted by Dustin Brookthorn:
Not going to happen anytime soon, once you get into the real world you'll actually see how many adults use those.
I wish I had a little face with a raised eyebrow. 
This was funny to read. reg
I think that prohibition is a great idea in itself, but I know first-hand that it doesn't work.
In my home country (I now live in the U.S.), prohibition existed for most of my childhood.
The government ran beautiful ads featuring non-alcoholic parties and praising itself for being so smart and so good to its people and for curing alcoholism.
In the meantime, the people drank rubbing alcohol, perfume, moonshine and *everything else* that had even a tiny drop of alcohol in it, even if it made them sick and in some cases got them killed.There were even several brands of perfume that were especially favored for their taste.
The wealthy were still able to buy the pre-prohibition produced drinks on the black market, so it didn't affect them at all.
In the end, prohibition was quitely lifted as the government would not publicly announce its complete failure.
-TB
(edited for spelling error)
[This message has been edited by TinkerBell (edited 04-03-2002).] reg
Interesting information Tinkerbell. I'd love to know where you are from, if you wouldn't mind sharing.
It's kind of interesting, but the among the very first things that colonists will do in their new land is find a way to make alcohol.
Aerienne reg
quote:
Originally posted by TinkerBell:
[B]I think that prohibition is a great idea in itself, but I know first-hand that it doesn't work.
B]
Here's an analysis of prohibition for the Cato Institute. Normally they're a little too libertarian for my tastes, but the analysis nails the problems with prohibition.
Stopping alcohol use is like stopping anything else, you gotta start from the ground up. The older generation will not change. They will however eventually die. If you want to stop the country from drinking, stop the kids and wait 50 years.
Sonic reg
I'm from the (former) Soviet Union.
Alcoholism has always been a huge problem in Russia and I think it's even worse now.
I remember we used to have these government-run "Sobering" houses where the police would bring in drunks from the street. They would stay there for a couple of days and then go back to their old ways.
I guess the government tried to solve this problem, but it didn't go the right way about it (and I don't know what the right way would be). Like Alfador said, you can't make something that existed for hundreds of years go away just by declaring it illegal.
-TB reg
Two of my best friends came from right outside Kiev, Ukraine. Where specifically are you from TB? Also, tell me you don't like caviar.
Sonic reg
Moscow.
And I do like caviar. It really isn't such a big deal as it is here. Sure, you would only have it on holidays, but it was never a status symbol, just a tasty delicacy. I like it on lightly buttered crusty white bread.
-TB reg
All I ever see my friends Igor and Andrei's parents eating is caviar it seems. Do you actually like sallo (i dunno if thats the proper spelling.. but its like frozen salted pig fat.) They insist it's a popular food there but I have a hard time seeing how.
Sonic reg
I don't like salo, which,like you said, is salted pig fat with a bit of meat. But it is very popular, especially in Ukraine. It's one of their national dishes. One would usually eat it thinly sliced with boiled potatoes and/or bread.
I guess it's what you grow up with.
-TB reg
It looks and sounds like trash, so I've adamantly refused it everytime it's been offered to me. I'll have to let them know that I found Soviet who doesn't like it!
Sonic reg