We're A Nation of Junkies!

It would be interesting to hear the theories as to why we've got such a major drug problem. No doubt some will claim that the price of alcohol is a contributing factor.

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Report: Drug use in Ireland among highest in world
26/01/2005 - 07:48:24

Levels of ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamine use in Ireland are among the highest in the world, according to a report published today by the 46-nation Council of Europe.

The report found that Ireland had the highest levels of ecstasy and amphetamine use in Europe and the second-highest level of cocaine use.

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Ful story on BreakingNews.ie

The price of drink is a contributing factor. For €20, I'm told, you can by enough pills for a monged night. €20 would barely buy you 4 pints.

Having said that, the price of drink isn't that big a factor - wealth, profile of population, the not give a shít generation etc etc.

no single cause to blame .
you've got drug availability for starters (despite the best efforts of our d.s),
we've never had it so good (according to econimists) re money, and binge drinking.

also kids get more adventureous as time goes by.

Alcohol is possibly the worst drug to take if you're looking for a proper night out. Terrible come down off it as well.

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Originally Posted by Conor74

Anything about a link between peoples that have suffered from colonisation or brutalisation over centuries and addiction to substances? Maybe it's myth but I always thought such problems were more critical amongst the Native Americans, Aborigines, the some extent the Irish etc. etc. Something buried in the psyche. Or maybe that's just nonsense...

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Davros the 2nd - "it's all the tans fault", howareya :D

I think there is a tendancy within the Irish psyche to celebrate people with a certain self-destructive personality, all the way from Behan to the Pogues to Paul McGrath.
It's an old joke that God gave us drink to stop us taking over the world.
It's another that the definition of an Irish queer is one who prefers girls to drink. It's a nasty stereotype that we're a nation of heavy drinkers, but it's one we sometimes play up to, I feel.
With the ridiculous availability of cheap drugs compared to the price of the pint, it'd be a near miracle if drug use were not taken up.
Of course, drinking heavily will kill you as readily as anything else, can be addictive, and destroys lives just as surely as anythign else will.
I've alwasy though that drugs money financed many gangs during the war in the North, and one side stopping the others drugs flow starved them of cash and therefore guns and ammo. With the (Please God) end of hostilities, I suppose there will be room for many former gang memebers to carry on plying their trade for pure monetary gain rather than ideological commitment.
Never seen the attraction myself. No offence, but I'd rather not put anything in my mouth that might have been up someones bottom first :eek: .

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Originally Posted by Conor74

Anything about a link between peoples that have suffered from colonisation or brutalisation over centuries and addiction to substances? Maybe it's myth but I always thought such problems were more critical amongst the Native Americans, Aborigines, the some extent the Irish etc. etc. Something buried in the psyche. Or maybe that's just nonsense...

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If you look at Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee you certainly get the impression that the addiction of the Native Americans to whisky was more than just free enterprise. OK its not an unbiased source - but what is. A continually drunk population is much easier to keep under control. I wonder if the same thing is true of the Australian Aborigines and the Maori. To compare the drink problem (if it even exists) here to the plight of these groups is like comparing chalk and cheese.

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Originally Posted by Jim Smith

A continually drunk population is much easier to keep under control.

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jees, i dunno. Been out on a student night lately?

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Originally Posted by Magoo

jees, i dunno. Been out on a student night lately?

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Nothing a few riot police couldn't deal with :eek:

Now I am not usually one who would quote Father Bernadette in a lot of areas but occasionally and I mean occasionally she gets things spot on.

Sinéad O'Connor reckons our alcoholism,drug abuse, child abuse and all other extraordinary behavioural traits in the Irish stem from damage caused to the Psyche of the Irish nation by the Potato Famine and it's aftermath.
The death of so many millions and the emigration caused a number of social phenomena at the time. People married later had fewer children and almost totally abandoned their native language and music to the extent that Conradh na Gaeilge and the so-called Celtic revival movement was actually championed largely by Anglo-Irish Protestants.
Our attitude towards fertility was shaped by this and the Church had a part to play in promoting this big time too. And because so many other things were taboo we took to the drink. And nowadays when we cannot afford to drink we take other substances to escape from reality.

Reminds me of the old T-shirt.." Reality Is an Illusion caused by Lack of Alcohol" you could argue that Drugs might be part of this.
Part of the drugs thing could be down to a loss of spirituality in this post catholic era too.

Having said all that I have been teetotal for years and am addicted only to footie and music. :D

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

Now I am not usually one who would quote Father Bernadette in a lot of areas but occasionally and I mean occasionally she gets things spot on.

Sinéad O'Connor reckons our alcoholism,drug abuse, child abuse and all other extraordinary behavioural traits in the Irish stem from damage caused to the Psyche of the Irish nation by the Potato Famine and it's aftermath.

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How do explain the fact that the UK has similar rates? And I'd certainly prefer a walk down Dame Street at 2am on Saturday night, to walking down any high street in England. It's bollóxology to trace every issue back to the Brits, not matter how much we may like too. Alcoholism, Drug abuse and child abuse are not exclusively Irish problems, and in no way are they Irish behavioural traits.

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Originally Posted by Macy

How do explain the fact that the UK has similar rates?

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Diaspora?

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Originally Posted by Peadar

Diaspora?

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Davros - enter stage left!

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Originally Posted by Superhoops

Davros - enter stage left!

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Superhoops, even I wouldn't accuse Davros of being one or all of a peado, dipso and junkie. :D

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Originally Posted by Peadar

Diaspora?

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So every Junkie, Peadophile and Alco in the UK is Irish or Irish decent?

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Originally Posted by Peadar

Diaspora?

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Ha ha ha :D :D Spot on. :D Actually laughed out loud and had to explain myself to those around me. :D

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Originally Posted by Macy

So every Junkie, Peadophile and Alco in the UK is Irish or Irish decent?

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It's subtle revenge!

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Originally Posted by green goblin

Ha ha ha :D :D Spot on. :D

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I'm going to be in trouble when Dav wakes up and reads this. :D

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Originally Posted by Peadar

It's subtle revenge!

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It all makes sense - it explains why some of us hate Celtic.

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Originally Posted by Macy

it explains why some of us hate Celtic.

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I wouldn't say that I hate Celtic.
I don't follow Scottish football and many of the Irish people who "support" Celtic annoy me.

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Originally Posted by Peadar

I wouldn't say that I hate Celtic.
I don't follow Scottish football and many of the Irish people who "support" Celtic annoy me.

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Same for me, but for the purposes of this thread.... ;)