General Chat

Was once in the Chemist waiting for my prescription when a man in his 20's came

into the shop looking ghastly. The Chemist immediately gave him his dose of
Methadone which he took, then turned and left the shop. I'd never seen a man looking
so ill. He looked dreadful :-0 :-S

CBD the non high part of cannabis is available on prescription and been shown to reduce tumours in people with cancer. My mother in law is hoping to be allowed it to help with her Neuro Endocrine Tumours (NETs). However people who take illegal drugs recreationaly cause a lot of problems in society and some of them don’t want to be helped.

I did however hear of one success story. A man and his partner liked getting high and after their daughter was born they took it in turns to look after the baby one and get high the next. One morning the man got up and it was his day to get high whilst his partner was supposed to look after the baby. He got up that morning though to find his partner had already taken his drugs. Instead of looking for more drugs he took care of the baby again. He admits himself that going cold turkey like that was hard but he realised he had someone important in his life who needed him. He eventually got given a council house for him and his daughter and he went through regular drug tests but has never gone back to drugs. He credits his daughter with his success and doesn’t know where he’d be without her.

Thank you all for your contributions

I am in favour of prescribed drugs for sufferers of things such as Multiple Sclerosis as long as the condition of the sufferer shows a marked improvement.

I am against drugs in general after having two members of my family attacked and injured while at work by people 'off their heads' on illegal drugs. I had no compassion when one of the druggies was killed a while later; in fact I was pleased because he had obtained personal details of my children and me.

When I hear MPs mention legalising soft drugs I always wonder which member of their family they need to (a) keep out of jail or (b) prevent him or her from getting a criminal record. It's no good them saying that no one dies of cannabis addiction because that is mostly the gateway to harder drugs so the death rate due to cannabis is actually much higher than statistics lead us to believe. They often also point to the fact that drink and smoking are drugs that are killing people and they are legal. They can see the problems so why would anyone want to legalise drugs and add to society's problems not to mention extra stress on the NHS?

No government of any stripe will ever legislate in favour of legalising class A drugs for the expediency of tax revenue. The downside is far too high. I myself am dubious about the commercial legislation of cannabis for general use ( as in Canada, Colorado USA) as opposed to medicinal use where a good case has been made.

Prior to Thatcher addicts could get a fix on the NHS - being an addict in no way broke the law unless the addict started dealing. As there was not much demand as a consequence organised crime had sparse involvment with drugs. Directly addiction became effectively illegal a market was created and the beginnings of the current disaster were laid. As a bonus for the criminals the NHS brought in methadone as a subst. for the now illegal heroin. Methodone is not an acceptable substitute for serious addicts BUT it can be traded illegally for the real thing. Beginners often start now with methadone.

Medical diamorphine and street heroin ( smack, horse ) are not the same thing apart from both being poppy products. Most legal medicinal opiates are made from Turkish poppies.

Anybody thinking there is some sort of rough equity between cannabis and heroin for sure has no knowledge of the subject. Nicotine and alchol addiction while serious is junior league in terms of effects on an individual and crime.

Heroin addicts can function as a viable human being for years and years often with a decent job so long as they have a reliable connection. The common perception of instant disaster is way wrong. A downside on the street with heroin addicts is that they do not seem to feel pain in the usual way. As a result getting into a street fight with these people is a really bad move especially as most carry.

Then there are several other mainline class A drugs plus all the here today kill you tomorrow such as crystal meth and popup drugs,

Suggest Dave stays safe at home with Channel 5.

I'm not qualified to say. The only "drugs" I know are prescribed. How they work I don't know.

Maybe cannabis, but hard drugs? I don't think so!!

I think it's only a matter of time until some Chancellor of the Exchequer finds an

acceptable way of legalising many drugs in return for tax revenue.

David mentioned morphine and I have always wondered what heroin addicts have available to them if they suffer extreme pain.

Those in authority (or so they think) have chosen as their objective to control the supply of dangerous and addictive drugs rather than the demand for them. The 180 U turn happened under Thatcher. This "war on drugs" has been lost at vast cost and general degradation of crime fighing and administration of justice.

Focus must be shifted back to reducing demand. It can be done and is being done in some jurisdictions.

David should be aware that there is V little overlap in supply between NHS opiate drugs and organised crime which has other sources.

Due to orthopedic trauma, once due to pelvic fractures caused by RTA and in a separate avoidable accident that crippled me I've spent a long time in trauma wards
often needing morphine.Was also on codeine and IV drip.Some other accident
victims I shared the ward with were nicotine addicts. Smoking within the hospital is prohibited. Ive patients leave their bed, down the corridor, into the lift, out the building,
to have a couple of cigarettes. Such is the strength of the addiction. I might joined him
if A) I could walk and B) I hadn't quit the habit in 1996 :-S

A very sad but true poem Susan.

I destroy homes, tear families apart,
take your children, and that's just the start.
I'm more costly than diamonds, more costly than gold,
the sorrow I bring is a sight to behold,
and if you need me, remember I'm easily found.
I live all around you, in schools and in town.
I live with the rich, I live with the poor,
I live down the street, and maybe next door.
My power is awesome; try me you'll see,
but if you do, you may never break free.
Just try me once and I might let you go,
but try me twice, and I'll own your soul.
When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie.
You do what you have to just to get high.
The crimes you'll commit, for my narcotic charms
will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms.
You'll lie to your mother; you'll steal from your dad
When you see their tears, you should feel sad.
But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised,
I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways.
I take kids from parents, and parents from kids,
I turn people from God, and separate from friends.
I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride,
I'll be with you always, right by your side.
You'll give up everything your family, your home,
your friends, your money, then you'll be alone.
I'll take and take, till you have nothing more to give.
When I'm finished with you you'll be lucky to live.
If you try me be warned this is no game.
If given the chance, I'll drive you insane.
I'll ravish your body; I'll control your mind.
I'll own you completely; your soul will be mine.
The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed,
the voices you'll hear from inside your head,
the sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see;
I want you to know, these are all gifts from me,
But then it's too late, and you'll know in your heart,
that you are mine, and we shall not part.
You'll regret that you tried me, they always do,
but you came to me, not I to you.
You knew this would happen. Many times you were told,
but you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.
You could have said no, and just walked away,
If you could live that day over, now what would you say?
I'll be your master; you will be my slave,
I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave.
Now that you have met me, what will you do?
Will you try me or not? Its all up to you.
I can bring you more misery than words can tell.
Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.

. ~ Unknown ~

Taking drugs is an addiction, which should be treated as an illness

Smoking is also an addiction, and some of us find it easier than others to quit. Some can quit cold turkey, I had laser treatment in 1990 that worked. Others need to take the nicotine patches, sprays, gum. Some never succeed.

Some people become addicted to drugs through taking medications for pain after surgery or injury .............. one reason why easy prescription of opioid drugs was restricted here in BC last year, leading to problems for people who were taking them on prescription after cancer, major spinal injury etc. Many of them ended up buying street drugs because nothing else gave them relief.

These restrictions have now been eased to allow such patients to continue to obtain prescription opiods.

Codeine is an opioid drug ................ I don't know about your paracetamol + codeine or co-codamol but my Tylenol 3 (300mg acetominophen + 30mg codeine + 15 mg caffeine) is available only on prescription and it requires a visit to the doctor before a new prescription will be provided.


I was addicted to cigarettes for over 30 years, managed to stop several times but never for more than a couple of months before something drove me back to it.

I never had more than 1 puff of a marijuana cigarette and that was just once at a party back in the early 1970s. I felt nothing, but watched in disbelief as the stub was first placed on a pin when it got too small to hold, then as the last person swallowed the last little bit.

I was never addicted to drink ................. I was one of those people who got physically ill before getting anywhere near drunk.


My feeling is that "there, but for the Grace of God, go I"


I feel sympathy for those poor addicted people and wish that governments would do more re treating them as sick people rather than idiots or fools.

No, just strong minded one, even with my kids!! Have had to be!!

You're a fortunate person.

I was a sole beneficiary David, but no one screwed me and no one ever will!!!

I have read that drugs like opium and morphine have their problems when taken

unprescribed, it's the synthetic manufactured drugs that are the big problem.

One of my nephews has Multiple Sclerosis.
He was diagnosed in his early 20's whilst at University.
Fortunately, he met another MS sufferer, who insisted he join a drugs trial he was on.
The trial was for Beta Interferons.
The drugs were a success for my nephew, unfortunately, due to costs, after a few years, the drugs were limited to those who had had at least 2 'relapses' - unless a person had been on the trial.
Nephew has been taking the drugs for over 20 years now. He is mobile, has a very responsible job, married, has a child, and another one due - the drugs have been amazing.
But.
Sometimes his muscles stiffen, and the best 'cure' for this, is cannabis - it relaxes the muscles.
He would rather have the drug prescribed, unfortunately this hasn't happened yet - too much money potentially involved.
It's good news that at least 2 children are now allowed cannabis oil for seizures, but there are many more people it could help.

Cannabis was first introduced to Britain in the 1840's, and was used in quite a few medications, until it was made illegal in the UK in 1928, when it was added to the Dangerous Drug Act. However, doctors could still use it for medical purposes up until 1971.
If it was made legal again, at least if you grew your own, you'd know what you were smoking/eating.
As it stands, in reality, a person has no idea what has been added to anything they buy off a dealer. :-(

My wife's been through the mill since her parents died. Getting screwed left right and
centre by my in laws and cowboys since she inherited money as a sole beneficiary.
When stressed I've noticed she sometimes talk to herself, but she's NOT on drugs. :-(