Some parents trying to rationalize drug use legal or illegal.

[StarSong]

Which again gets down to some simple truths. Us oldsters are out of touch. Today, kids grow up in a far more lax drug environment. In the UK and US in 2024, alcohol sales were down. Yet people still got high. The availability question isn't really the argument - we lost that one as a society. We need better solutions.

All manner of rugs were EVERYWHERE when I came of age in the 70s, and not just in California. Everything from cocaine to pot to LSD. With the notable exception of some guys who'd been to Vietnam (a whole different story), everyone I knew grew tired of the scene within a relatively short period and started (as they say now) adulting.

A couple became alcoholics, but looking back, their problems alcohol started long before they tried pot or other drugs.

 

[dilettante]

It must depend on what you could afford because I wasn't around drug abusers of any stripe in the 1970s. There was occasional beer drinking, sometimes even a ridiculous binge. But those always left us swearing it off for months. I was far more worried about affording a place to live, buying food, bus fare, and paying for school.

 

[StarSong]

It must depend on what you could afford because I wasn't around drug abusers of any stripe in the 1970s. There was occasional beer drinking, sometimes even a ridiculous binge. But those always left us swearing it off for months. I was far more worried about affording a place to live, buying food, bus fare, and paying for school.

Rent, food, cars and tuition were dirt cheap here in the 70s, and jobs (full and part time) were plentiful.

We didn't party endlessly, I regret if I gave that impression. Just a little experimentation here and there.

 

[David777]

Only a low percentage of adults don't use or take any psychoactive recreational drugs or psychoactive prescription drugs. As I pointed out earlier, the most common human drug in the recent human centuries has been caffeine, with nicotine and alcohol close behind. We can certainly condemn nicotine, while arguing caffeine drinks can be beneficial in making our lives more pleasant to live as long as one allows balance. Although one might say many are addicted to caffeine, that is only in the same sense as being addicted to the taste of sugar because it is sensually pleasurable.

There can be much social and ritualistic value in say drinking tea or coffee as well as providing us with increased alertness when such has purpose. For instance, helping one stay awake while driving long distances. And yes alcohol too if occasionally consumed in moderate balance can be of value by changing our normal feelings into a more relaxed softer experience as well as wine with cultural, historical, and ritualistic values during human meals and ceremonies.

So when we talked about psychoactive drugs in general, doing so as though they are all negative without human experiential or social value is misplaced. Caffeine isn't the only drug being consumed today that in the opinion of a significant minority of people has real positive value at least by some when consumed occasionally. For a few others it is occasional stronger hallucinogenic drugs like psylocybin. Especially within some rather hardcore Counterculture groups, though not part of my own social world. Where does society draw the line on which drugs are acceptable and should lines be drawn at all?

Personally, I feel most stronger depressants and strong stimulants have strong enough negative societal issues that at a minimum, use ought be discouraged with access limited made difficult. This person has more of a "Let it Be" personal freedom attitude as long as there are not significant societal negatives. And that has been central to the immense enjoyment and value of my own precious quite active, experiential, adventurous life.

 

[StarSong]

Only a low percentage of adults don't use or take any psychoactive recreational drugs or psychoactive prescription drugs. As I pointed out earlier, the most common human drug in the recent human centuries has been caffeine, with nicotine and alcohol close behind. We can certainly condemn nicotine, while arguing caffeine drinks can be beneficial in making our lives more pleasant to live as long as one allows balance. Although one might say many are addicted to caffeine, that is only in the same sense as being addicted to the taste of sugar because it is sensually pleasurable.

There can be much social and ritualistic value in say drinking tea or coffee as well as providing us with increased alertness when such has purpose. For instance, helping one stay awake while driving long distances. And yes alcohol too if occasionally consumed in moderate balance can be of value by changing our normal feelings into a more relaxed softer experience as well as wine with cultural, historical, and ritualistic values during human meals and ceremonies.

So when we talked about psychoactive drugs in general, doing so as though they are all negative without human experiential or social value is misplaced. Caffeine isn't the only drug being consumed today that in the opinion of a significant minority of people has real positive value at least by some when consumed occasionally. For a few others it is occasional stronger hallucinogenic drugs like psylocybin. Especially within some rather hardcore Counterculture groups, though not part of my own social world. Where does society draw the line on which drugs are acceptable and should lines be drawn at all?

Personally, I feel most stronger depressants and strong stimulants have strong enough negative societal issues that at a minimum, use ought be discouraged with access limited made difficult. This person has more of a "Let it Be" personal freedom attitude as long as there are not significant societal negatives. And that has been central to the immense enjoyment and value of my own precious quite active, experiential, adventurous life.

Well said, David.

 

[VaughanJB]

All manner of rugs were EVERYWHERE when I came of age in the 70s, and not just in California. Everything from cocaine to pot to LSD. With the notable exception of some guys who'd been to Vietnam (a whole different story), everyone I knew grew tired of the scene within a relatively short period and started (as they say now) adulting.

A couple became alcoholics, but looking back, their problems alcohol started long before they tried pot or other drugs.

Most of the drugs available today were available back in the 60's. They weren't as casually accepted though, other than among other drug takers. Society doesn't seem to care too much these days, not unless the addicts turn up at their front door.

 

[Twostep]

Most of the drugs available today were available back in the 60's. They weren't as casually accepted though, other than among other drug takers. Society doesn't seem to care too much these days, not unless the addicts turn up at their front door.

Please go shopping:>)

 

[StarSong]

Most of the drugs available today were available back in the 60's. They weren't as casually accepted though, other than among other drug takers. Society doesn't seem to care too much these days, not unless the addicts turn up at their front door.

Maybe true where you are, but not here. Most (perhaps all) US states publicly fund addiction treatment centers, rehab facilities and outreach programs.

 

[Mr. Ed]

Psychedelics have earned a bad name based on lies and propaganda by promoting fear and unrealistic punishment for possession. I wonder how LSD might have been used to day if testing proved an effective method of mind control? Ordinary citizens would have the capacity to become assassins and terrorist under the contro of governmental orders.

When LSD mind control failed, LSD and other psychedelic non-addictive substances for consciousness and awareness were deemed harmful and a menace to society because they gave individuals the ability to think and reason beyond predictability and control.

NYS legalized marijuana and legislature has been introduced for the approval of psilocybin found in mushrooms for treatment of depression and other forms of mental illness. MMDA may soon be a viable treatment method for physical and mental health conditions. However, it is all about money not necessarily for patient/client benefit.

 

[UpstateGal]

The original post was about parents rationalizing their use of drugs. I found this article on the New York Post the other day:

UES moms are stocking up on high-end goods at the ‘Bergdorf of weed’ in Times Square

I honestly don't care what adults do in the privacy of their own homes. I do care about people being stoned on prescribed drugs or illicit drugs and drunk on the roadways killing innocent people.. I do care about the general welfare of young children in the care of parents who are high/drunk at home. Drugs/alcohol slows down your reaction time in the case of an emergency. You cannot dispute that fact regardless of how much you justify your choice of using drugs to get high.

If you read the article, one mother jokes about waking up a bit stoned in the morning. Quote from the article:

“If I wake up just a tiny bit stoned, I guess we’re just going to have a dance party before school – it makes me a more patient mom,”

With all the knowledge and information we have these days regarding healthy choices, I say try something a bit healthy to work on your patience, maybe yoga, meditation, see a therapist, but that is just my humble opinion.