Ministers on drugs (allegedly)

[kingdom hoop]

Thats the madness of addiction though and therein lies the problem with the programme.If it was a programme on addiction then fair enough but as a programme on the effects of coke most people would have laughed at it as OTT.

Good point. It was definitely way too dramatised and scaremonger-ific for any cynics like myself to be impressed. There was nothing new in it at all. It's hardly a revelation that coke is abused in this country. It's much easier to get, at least in my experience, than weed ffs - mostly as so much money can be made from it, it's smaller and doesn't stink out your whole house. My coke-loving housemate was briefly perturbed by the programme alright (don't know why he turned it on in the first place really) but there were not enough scientific/health arguments to stop him doing a line within twenty minutes of the programme's end. And I can guarantee that isn't sensationalism.

All power to you with the alcohol problem by the way Chiefo. Remember, foot.ie is always here for you.

[Lim till i die]

Good point. It was definitely way too dramatised and scaremonger-ific for any cynics like myself to be impressed. There was nothing new in it at all. It's hardly a revelation that coke is abused in this country. It's much easier to get, at least in my experience, than weed ffs - mostly as so much money can be made from it, it's smaller and doesn't stink out your whole house. My coke-loving housemate was briefly perturbed by the programme alright

Not to take away from the seriousness of the issue but I just got a fun mental picture of you smoking weed in the same house as your coke fiend housemate.

Has to be an odd couple esque sitcom in there somewhere

[cheifo]

Cheers Kingdom Hoop, having enjoyed the drunk stories thread I am looking forward to welcoming some of my Foot.ie colleagues on board the sane train.Lordy this Christmas is going to be very very strange.

[kingdom hoop]

Not to take away from the seriousness of the issue but I just got a fun mental picture of you smoking weed in the same house as your coke fiend housemate.

Has to be an odd couple esque sitcom in there somewhere

Yeah, a strange mix at times. Pretty uncomfortable for me sometimes, but in fairness usually the two don't overlap all that much, he only does coke Thursday - Saturday, times when I'd tend not to smoke much owing to it debilitating going out boisterousness. And from Sunday - Wednesday we happily share our nonsensical giggles.

Actually after some morning contemplation, an 'Ireland's Addictions Thread' (or words to that effect) and the forces therein may be a more worthwhile discussion than the current title. We're not really going anywhere discussing this 'story'. Whether unfortunately or otherwise I think I might be able to contribute quite a bit.

The societal abuse of alcohol indicates a serious cultural deficiency, converging on a cultural inability to comprehend how the natural mechanism that is humanity should properly function. To put it as starkly as possible: we have lost the capacity to teach our children how to live.

- Journalist John Waters a few weeks ago.

I think he's right. Alcohol is something of a crutch, a glorious one at that, but it can easily morph from a relatively benign crutch to being a depended-upon wheelchair. We probably place too much value on it. In order to solve epidemics like Ireland's infatuation with booze etc (importantly, I'd imagine if alcohol is any kind of indication, then the drug problem is hardly at its peak) we need an embracing vaccine, not just a responsive case-by-case antidote. Some kind of paradigm shift that makes people look at life a bit differently.

When addiction-related problems cost the country, family, and friends immeasurable harm I don't think the libertarian argument really stands up. Yes we are responsible only for our own actions but we're not living in an existential bubble at the same time, if our actions can cost other parties so much (be it financial or emotional) then our addictions are very much a problem that needs solving.

Alcohol may make Irish people very happy when it comes to a study by The Economist, but there is an ambivalence, a blasé-ness, to the over-indulgence in alcohol that perhaps masks what is happening on a deeper level. But with these cultural things it's as hard to precipitate any changes of course as it is with a huge iceberg. But we know drinking and drug use is steadily increasing. Maybe people don't really think that's a problem, I dunno. But personally speaking, the equation 'more alcohol = more fun' on a night out does not make sense from experience, and of course economic theory - marginal utility and all that. Seriously though, over-consumption is a problem that pervades society and is one we seriously need to think about. I'm just beginning to now, I'd like some company as I do. (will I shrug my shoulders and just blame it on capitalism I wonder??)

I suppose, donning my Presidential hat, I'd encourage people to understand that less can be more, and that we don't appreciate the simpler things in life, like nature for example, half enough. Whatever you appreciate appreciates. So if you continue to over-value alcohol/drugs/money you're slip slidin' away from true happiness.



Apologies for making the above post in the week of the foot.ie bash! I can assure all concerned that I will be having as much fun (probably more cos ye're burdened with me whereas I get the pleasure of ye're company.) as anyone but, famous last words, won't be carried home afterwards. Also, I noted OneRedArmy said half the country is on coke, obviously he wasn't being stastically serious but an anonymous poll here would be enlightening. Why not? Out of curiosity I'd love to see it - maybe have 'regular (at least once a month) user', 'the odd time', 'once or twice' or 'no, never.' Hopefully enough people would participate to make it some kind of indicator??

[pete]

Has to be an odd couple esque sitcom in there somewhere...

Which one is Cheech?

Kingdom Hoop and friend?

[CollegeTillIDie]

On a serious note, I would approve of coke users being charged with aiding and abetting organised crime. The fact that some of these well heeled individuals, be they politicians or otherwise, cannot see the link between their snorting and drive by gun crime and contract killings beggars belief. There are none so blind as those who WILL NOT SEE!

I have met people in my daily life over the years who are suspicious about prescribed drugs which at least if they are ineffective you can sue the pharmaceutical company concerned . And yet those self same people either smoked hash or popped illicit tablets.
I mean they didn't trust a pharmaceutically trained individual, but a Colombian criminal oh no problem !

[cheifo]

Coke is a particularly seedy drug.I have never met anyone who it does anything for.

[pete]

On a serious note, I would approve of coke users being charged with aiding and abetting organised crime.

That might be an accurate assessment but would you just charge coke users? What about other illegal drug users?

[CollegeTillIDie]

That might be an accurate assessment but would you just charge coke users? What about other illegal drug users?

Well coke users are usually affluent tax dodgers but you have a point