Hypothetical Qs - Drugs
 

1) If you could try any and every drug out there, just once, with a guarantee that you would not become addicted or have negative side effects besides the equivalent of a hangover the next day, would you do it? Why or why not? Would you try everything or is there something that you wouldn't try even with that guarantee?

2) If synthetic versions of any/all drugs existed that were non-addictive, with similarly minimal side effects and do not have the corresponding geo-political complications, would you use them recreationally? Why or why not?


Context: I end up having these discussions with classmates and co-workers since we all work with people with substance abuse issues and also many of us have our own, albeit legal, addictions (caffeine and nicotine primarily).

1) K_S ages 18-21: X (because of descriptions of the "high" by folks that have used it). K_S age 21+: Nope.

2) No. It's bad enough that I'm currently wasting money on cigarettes. Don't need any additional cash-guzzlers.

Do we need to send you a Nicotine patch? Smoking is bad, mmmmkay?

1) No. Just because.
2) No. Just because.

1) No because have seen the side effects on the family since the age of 10 through family members

2) No, why bother? I'm like KS, spend enough on cigarettes and coffee, that's enough of an addiction that I need to have.

Please do.

We can do it, it's all up to us, mmmmkay

i don't care about drugs in general. i am, however, extremely curious about weed. :o

that's about it.

1) I'd try everything, except maybe acid, because at this stage in life I've been through too much mentally and would be afraid of it all coming back.

2) The only reason to make a synthetic anything is if the real version of it is extremely hazardous to acquire or in danger of dying out. To me it would be kind of like taking the Jetsons food capsules instead of actually eating.

1. Probably not. If there were no professional repercussions I may have to re-think that.
2. Same.

I take a lot of medications for my genetic illness. Virtually every major organ is compromised. I experience crappy side effects from a lot of my medications, even the ones that people might consider "the good stuff" (like sedation for tests and anesthesia for surgery). I am also allergic to a lot of common medications.

So no, I wouldn't add anything to my medication list "just for fun". It honestly makes me sick to think that people do take them indiscriminately. I'd give almost anything to not have to take any medication, let alone as many as I do. Sorry for such a downer answer.

1. LSD, and then I would watch Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movies and listen to the Beatles or something.

2. I probably would just try the LSD once, just to see what it was like. I probably wouldn't use anything routinely or recreationally. I don't even do caffeine.

<---Hates the taste of coffee.

^^ me too.

1. No, I mentor young people and I think I would feel like a failure as a mentor if I engaged in this sort of activity. There are so many other things to do in this world to express your sense of adventure.

2. Weeeeeell, I was amused by the scene in "Knocked Up" where they go to Las Vegas and take mushrooms before watching Cirque du Soleil... (I understand that this answer goes against what I wrote for the first answer. I am obviously kidding...)

But that's part of her hypothetical - that there wouldn't be any yucky side effects. That would include your legal meds as well.

Coke. Especially if the only effect was a minimal hangover the next day.

Yeah, cuz they can be pretty rad.

True, and no professional repercussions either. However I understand people not wanting to take anything at all after they have to take a lot of different things just to keep stable.


I've always had a curious streak and I think if I had the safety guarantee, no addiction and no serious side effects, I'd want to try everything just once. So I could go 'oh that's what that's like.'

Although I'm a caffeine junkie mostly for self-medication purposes I don't like to drink in part because I'm a control freak and in part because I hate the taste. I don't think I'd take anything recreationally because of the control freak part of me. It's possible I'd change my mind but obviously this is hugely hypothetical.

Thanks everyone who's posted so far, this is really interesting.

Nope, I quite enjoy being straight edge.

Bingo. I quit smoking specifically for the girls I mentor because I want to be a person they can emulate, not the person who shows behaviors I tell the to avoid. (Plus, IDKW I was dumb enough to ever start in the first place.)

I'm curious about all drugs, but I'd never actually try one. Though I've had fun with various amounts of caffeine. 5 hour energy + Monster shooter = crack. :eek:

Coke and X.

Yes but not heroin. I've had morphine derivatives, they just make me want to puke. But if I don't have any side-effects, all steam ahead!

I remember having my teeth pulled when I was 12 before I got braces, and they gave me nitrous gas to anesthetize me. I had hallucinations that were so vivid and cool! The teeth were pulled in two sessions, and I couldn't wait to go back and have the second set pulled. That's coming from the girl with absolutely NO pain tolerance!

BTW, I think that a lot of drugs have been demonized, and the problems associated with them are more related to the illegal nature of the drug trade than the actual drug themselves. But that's a different thread.

Interesting question.

I'm curious by nature, so I'd probably try anything that came with the no ill-effects guarantee. (I'm assuming that I wouldn't be trying/experiencing this in front of my kids, students, or other folks who see me in any kind of role-model figure.)

If nothing else, I think I would walk away from that experiment knowing what paraphernalia is used for what, and how each drug is consumed. From a parent's perspective, this could be extremely useful information some day.

1. No
2. No

At my age, the drugs I would/will be taking are the ones that will keep me alive and ticking.

1.) There isn't anything that I haven't tried that I still want to try.
2.) No.

Agree.

hijack/
And that began long before commercials started warning (white) parents about their (white) teenagers going into their medicine cabinets.
/hijack

Ha...but nothing is a problem before it's a white problem.:D

Like kids shooting up schools and pregnancy pacts?! :eek:

What she said.

I would be interested in meth. Something that (at least at the beginning) makes you totally untired and you're bursting with energy and motivation to work, and even makes the work fun? I would want to take it when I need to do some unpleasant task like cleaning out the garage and washing windows.
________
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Get some speed metal CDs and turn them up full blast. Seriously, it is the best housecleaning music. :D

http://i46.tinypic.com/1pi3rc.jpg

My face when speed metal is recommended.

Also, neoclassical, symphonic/melodic power metal and UK Hardcore dance music is awesome for that too

Hmmm. If I had no experience taking meds or possibility of side effects? I don't know. I don't get "good feelings" from legal meds that typically make people "high", so who knows if they'd work on me lol. However, my nausea medication makes me forget words. That can be entertaining!!

If I had to liken this to drinking (which I can't do anymore), I DO miss getting a wine buzz. Wine is good. I miss it!!!!

I've never done drugs and I never will, nor would I want to even try any, even if I wouldn't get addicted and/or sick.

Do you include caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes in there? Just curious as that hypocrisy (in ourselves) is what made my coworkers and I ask the question.

Does anyone else look at the Title "Hypothetical Qs - Drugs" and wonder why someone cares what it would have been like someone named Drugs had joined Omega Psi Phi?

Ha, didn't even think of that. No connection meant of course ;)

I don't smoke, I never have and I never will. I got drunk one time when I was in undergrad (peer pressure) and I got really sick (never again). I mean, I'll have a beer when I go to a baseball game, but other than that I don't drink alcohol. I do drink a lot of coffee, but that's because I had to study a lot when I was doing my classroom work, plus I've been studying a lot for my board exam. I was talking about the illegal drugs and alcohol abuse. I'll never do that.

*nod* I understand. My envisioning of this was what if instead of drinking socially (not being an alcoholic) people did drugs socially with as minimal repercussions. Similarly instead of caffeine what if people tried meth instead. Kind of a fun idea to play with. Makes me want to write something.

Classic addict rationalization. The only difference between your addiction and that of an alcoholic or a crackhead is the societal acceptance (or lack of same) and the degree of side effects.

Exactly, it's the degree of side effects, that's why crack is illegal and should be. But, I'm not addicted to coffee. I don't get headaches or anything like that. I used to think my headaches were from the coffee, but when I went to see my Dr. she said it was from lack of sleep.