Anyone on here tried heroine?

Prohibition never works

+1

Will everyone really start doing heroin just because it is legal?

Clearly not, but the point was some kind of discouragement is necessary. Simple prohibition is stupid though and clearly does not work.

Well, my 2p.

I’m surprised at how many people claim to have tried it, perhaps that’s naiive, but I was under the impression that it was fairly uncommon outside of society’s underclasses and rockstar circles (which aren’t always separate things).

I’ve never tried it, I don’t know anyone who’s tried it, and my only experience of people who have are the junkie scrotes I see milling around the streets looking like Jeremy Kyle guests. I’m pretty unobservant, but even I can spot a heroine addict.

To be honest, (illegal) drugs in general have never really appealed to me, and they’ve not featured very highly (ho ho!) amongst my peers. I probably drink too much, but that’s about my lot.

I’ve had friends who have been massively into the weed and I tried that a couple of times forever ago, but it mostly left me wondering what all the fuss was about. When I expressed this opinion to a stoner mate, he started asking me for Coke bottles and toilet roll tubes and Pink Floyd DVDs, and started proposing some wierd hippy carpentry stuff and I just thought, y’know what, this is all more trouble than it’s worth and I’d rather have a beer.

I wonder if it’s largely just social consequence? Back when I was a teenager my friends drank, and that’s what I segued into. Smoking was the habit of the remedial classes (at my school at any rate), and harder drugs were non-existant even if I’d wanted to try something. I think back then maybe a part of me rationalised that if it was legal it must be ‘safe’ and if it was illegal then I might die, or something.

Jeez – scary how many people on here have tried some serious drugs :-O

Well, yeah…would the world be a better place if all of them had been convicted of possession? Did criminalisation do that good a job of restricting those people’s access to heroin? 🙁

The current arrangement isn’t working – unless you think that allowing huge amounts of money to be shovelled into the pockets of some of the most evil people on the planet is a good idea.

Jeez – scary how many people on here have tried some serious drugs :-O
Well, yeah…would the world be a better place if all of them had been convicted of possession? Did criminalisation do that good a job of restricting those people’s access to heroin?

Not sure how that answer relates to that comment. I am just surprised at the drugs some people have taken, not moralising about drug use or consequences.

I have smoked quite a bit of opium. It started when I was living in a cave in India

text for STW mag binder 😉

some kind of discouragement is necessary

Back when I was a kid, the message drummed into us was very much that this stuff will fk you up. Even if I’d a desire to try it, I’m pretty sure that I’d have been too straight / scared to. If it was legal and ‘acceptable’ then that restriction perhaps wouldn’t have been present.

I’m not sure where I stand on the whole “prohibition versus legalisation” business. I’m quite the fan of natural selection generally and I wince every time I read “contents may be hot” on a coffee cup, but some people do need protecting from themselves.

For something that’s as addictive and life-controlling as heroin, I’m not sure as it’s a situation where you can empower people to try it and then not do it again if they didn’t like it; for a large percentage of people it’d be too late by then. First hit’s free, kiddies!

If anyone reading this thread has decided that they too would like to try heroine… paypal gift me £10 and I’ll see what I can do.. 😉

but some people do need protecting from themselves

If only for the sake of their loved ones or those who love them.

Keva, WTF as addictive as sugar and fat!!!?? Never seen anyone shoplifting, burgling or robbing for a Snickers and a packet of Frazzles!!!

Never seen anyone shoplifting, burgling or robbing for a Snickers and a packet of Frazzles!!!

you haven’t met mrsconsequence when it comes to chocolate… i dont understand how she’s not HUGE.

You are aware that alcohol is a drug ? Just a legal one

I never made any claims that it wasn’t but its effects are known and the majority of people can enjoy it without ruining their lives.

I was under the impression that it was fairly uncommon outside of society’s underclasses and rockstar circles (which aren’t always separate things).

That really is quite a pompous statement, do you go out of your bubble much? Or are you really that naive?

Not sure I agree with this.

its effects (alcohol) are known and the majority of people can enjoy it without ruining their lives.

‘According to the 2009/10 BCS, victims believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol in half (50%) of all violent incidents, similar to the level in the 2008/09 survey.

Based on the 2009/10 BCS, there were 986,000 violent incidents where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol
http://www.alcoholpolicy.net/2010/07/british-crime-survey-0910-drug-and-alcoholrelated-crime.html

The number of alcohol-related deaths in the UK has increased since the early 1990s, rising from the lowest figure of 4,023 (6.7 per 100,000 population) in 1992 to the highest of 9,031 (13.6 per 100,000) in 2008. In 2009 the number of deaths fell to 8,664 (12.8 per 100,000).

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1091

Not sure I agree with this.

its effects (alcohol) are known and the majority of people can enjoy it without ruining their lives.

If it is true, then it’s very diffiult to be sure that it isn’t true of other drugs too. There seems to be very little information available on the numbers of people who take illegal drugs (be it the odd smoke of green, through to shooting up with H) who also live relatively normal lives. I guess the trouble is the only ones who actually come above the radar and get coverage are the ones who take it to excess/extreme levels either through quantity used or the resultant lifestyle.

This is the problem with talking to many drugs campaigners, they only ever have to deal with the f*ck-ups, ‘cos the normals never need their help…

+1 for being surprised at the number who’ve tried heroin and crack.

I’ve never had anything class A and don’t want to. I’d never consider a hallucinogenic as I fear my trip would comprise very bad things.

I did once say to mrs. S that if I could get hold of some pharmaceutical quality diamorphine then I would like to try it. We were a bit pissed at the time and I remember she wasn’ too happy with my comment. She threw one of her trainers at my head and I fell off my chair.

If a good reason to not take hard drugs was needed…

Remember – it could be YOU

+1 for the surprise at the ammount of testers on here.

I have done, E’s, coke, weed, speed – all rubbish and all when i was about 19-20 never liked any of it just went with the drinking culture at the time. Didnt like not having any control.

Heroin – surely the worst substance ever – ok maybe crack and crystal meth are in comepetition. Its a vile disgusting life wrecking and terrifying downward spiral in my opinion. I was trerrified from Grange Hill days with Zammo – and that just say no message stuck with me.

Never seen it used or know anyone who has ever used it and hopefully it will stay that way. I am pretty naive to all this thing though.

I never suggested alcohol was entirely without risks but for the majority of us a drink is a simple pleasure that tends to have a minimal impact on our lives or the lives of those around us. We’re not all out there drinking ourselves to death or drunkenly kicking some poor sod to death.

The number of deaths per 100,000 actually seems fairly low when you consider how deeply ingrained the use of alcohol is in British culture. Sorry to sound callous but 8,664 deaths related to alcohol in a population of 61million people is low. On a bad year more people can die from seasonal flu and many more are thought do die due to the cold every year. The fact pensioners are being killed off by high energy bills concerns me more than a few alcoholics and drunken chavs kicking the bucket.

Keva, WTF as addictive as sugar and fat!!!?? Never seen anyone shoplifting, burgling or robbing for a Snickers and a packet of Frazzles!!!

Plenty of deaths though.

Tried almost everything at some point in my misguided youth but never touched smack. Thought I might have liked it a bit too much.

Crack is hoot though!

bloody hell, cant believe how many people are saying heroin is fairly harmless
been a bobby for 21 years and have seen the misery and torment it causes in literally hundreds of people, never met heroin addict who wants to be on heroin.Ive met plenty cocaine users who like coke, but never a heroin addict
i feel very very sad for heroin users

Does anyone actually believe that our laws surrounding drugs are either effective or measured?

If heroin was made a prescription drug with it’s distribution and purity closely monitored what would happen? Would the police have more or less crimes involving addicts? It’s only really the perception of the general public through decades of scaremongering and misinformation that is preventing us taking a far more reasoned approach to addiction and recreational drug use.

I think a lot of people hear the word ‘drugs’ and feel scared. This is a major part of the problem and one of the main obstacles to reform.

How can we continue to license nicotine and alcohol sales? How can naturally occurring substances and fungi be ‘banned’? It’s absurd and contradictory.

john drummer – is that the same Ed Johnson that used to hang out in Players in Wakefield?

I’m with BigDave on this one

I might be wrong (having never taken heroin) but it is possible to have a drink or two and stop, but when you take heroin you are taking your body off to a completely different place in one shot and you are there for hours.

Whereas I can get home from work and have a bottle of beer or a glass of wine and can still – quite safely – put my children to bed or cook a meal.

I might be wrong (having never taken heroin) but it is possible to have a drink or two and stop, but when you take heroin you are taking your body off to a completely different place in one shot and you are there for hours.

Whereas I can get home from work and have a bottle of beer or a glass of wine and can still – quite safely – put my children to bed or cook a meal.

Surely that’s more about appropriate dosage than about specific substance though? If you compare 0.1mg of heroin and a bottle of Smirnoff your probably safer with you kids on H than on the Vodka!

MF – on more than one occasion I’d come home from a big weekend, have a toot and go to work. Once again this is about knowledge vs assumption. As a couple of people have stated previously it is entirely possible to continue with a normal life whilst being a habitual user.

Having avoided heroin thus far, watching Dog The Bounty Hunter has done a fine job of putting me off crack, heroin and crystal meth. The highs are clearly not worth the lows…

If you compare 0.1mg of heroin and a bottle of Smirnoff your probably safer with you kids on H than on the Vodka!

Really? People tend to forget that there is a whole underworld of organised crime linked to the supply and distribution of drugs. That 0.1mg of heroine has undoubtedly been handled by violent criminals. I don’t recall any instances where Smirnoff has murdered people to keep its supply lines open or to silence their competition. I don’t have kids but if I did I would rather they grew up in a world full of off licence owners than drug dealers.

What annoys about the ‘lets all take a more measured approach to drugs’ line is that the people spouting such crap forget that the drugs they buy are ultimately tainted with the blood of countless people.

Despite that, on the whole I believe legalisation in some form would control the problem better than the current method.

Surely that’s more about appropriate dosage than about specific substance though? If you compare 0.1mg of heroin and a bottle of Smirnoff

Yeah except the nature of herion is such that you don’t just take one tiny does then carry on. It tends to consume your life making you forget about anything else, pretty much from the off. There is (usually) no middle ground. As I understand it, anyway.

What annoys about the ‘lets all take a more measured approach to drugs’ line is that the people spouting such crap forget that the drugs they buy are ultimately tainted with the blood of countless people.

You aren’t thinking enough. As soon as say cannabis is legalised it will be grown commercially in uk by someone like pfizer thereby totally undermining the criminal infrastructure from grower to smuggler to dealer.

What annoys about the ‘lets all take a more measured approach to drugs’ line is that the people spouting such crap forget that the drugs they buy are ultimately tainted with the blood of countless people.

Surely prohibition (ie the government) is to blame for this?

it is entirely possible to continue with a normal life whilst being a habitual user.

true to an extent..
in my earlier comment I stated that I knew of only a couple of people that managed to regain control of their lives after habitual use..
this left out the handful of people I know that lead ‘normal’ lives while regularly using heroin.. (job.. family.. consumerism etc..)
they are still totally at the mercy of their addiction.. the drug still has to be their number one priority..
as the police officer above mentioned.. all of them would rather not take heroin..

Really? People tend to forget that there is a whole underworld of organised crime linked to the supply and distribution of drugs. That 0.1mg of heroine has undoubtedly been handled by violent criminals. I don’t recall any instances where Smirnoff has murdered people to keep its supply lines open or to silence their competition. I don’t have kids but if I did I would rather they grew up in a world full of off licence owners than drug dealers.

Again the line of discussion takes a different course! In MF’s example he was talking about the effect it would have on him and his own personal level of control (or words to that effect).

If you want to go off on one about supply chains, organized crime etc… then that’s fine. I would point out though, that just as there are legal supplies of heroin (dimorphine) there are also illegal supplies of alcohol, no doubt also controlled by criminal gangs hell bent on creating your nightmare world. What you seem to be arguing for is a controlled market that removes the dodgy methods of production and distribution. I would completely agree with your sentiments if my assumption is correct.

What annoys about the ‘lets all take a more measured approach to drugs’ line is that the people spouting such crap forget that the drugs they buy are ultimately tainted with the blood of countless people.

I think your making some crass assumptions there about the people who support taking a more measured approach.

I never made any claims that it wasn’t but its effects are known and the majority of people can enjoy it without ruining their lives

And the same applies to most drugs or gambling

I don’t recall any instances where Smirnoff has murdered people to keep its supply lines open or to silence their competition. I don’t have kids but if I did I would rather they grew up in a world full of off licence owners than drug dealers.

Clearly the word prohibition means nothing to you then you think if alcohol was banned this would not happen? an argument for legalisation surely

What annoys about the ‘lets all take a more measured approach to drugs’ line is that the people spouting such crap forget that the drugs they buy are ultimately tainted with the blood of countless people.

Another great argument for legalisation seeing as we can be fairly certain banning it has never worked
What is your view on fags – do you think the suppliers of that are tainted by death? Arnsms suppliers are these OK because they are legal? Oddly a 13 year old kid cannt see the hypocrisy in this argument though it is often lost on adults
Morals need to be applied universally not selectively

Big Dave, I think you are also forgetting this statistic,

Based on the 2009/10 BCS, there were 986,000 violent incidents where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol

Alcohol is hardly an innocent drug, just a legal one. Why not have kids grow up in a drug free environment?

( I don’t mean to be picking on you by the way), heroin and alcohol are both harmful to individuals and society and cost a fortune in money and police time, especially as the law stands.

Yeah except the nature of herion is such that you don’t just take one tiny does then carry on. It tends to consume your life making you forget about anything else, pretty much from the off. There is (usually) no middle ground. As I understand it, anyway.

This is what I have heard too. It’s certainly the line that is taken by pretty much all of the media outlets I’ve experience.

I have to say though that I’m getting less and less convinced of it’s accuracy. Not that I have any personal experience or research to back my opinion up I hasten to add! It just seems odd to me that so many people can try it and not get sucked into BigDave’s scary world of drugs-hell.

I don’t see how the Government could ever legalise drugs. Alcohol is relatively low risk and has been used widely quite literally since man found out how to make it. Can you seriously imagine a time when there will be a minimum legal age for people to buy drugs like heroine or cannabis? Get real.

Drugs like heroine, cocaine, and arguably cannabis, can induce severe long term physiological problems in a very short space of time and after relatively small quantities have been ingested. No way the powers that be will ever legalise them; they are far too dangerous to justify any revenue raised through the duty that would undoubtedly be levied on them. The NHS would probably also go into meltdown if more people started using drugs recreationally.

I’m also quite sure most drug users would resent the government telling them how strong the substances they are allowed to take should be and having to pay duty on them and so the illegal trade would still continue.

Alcohol is relatively low risk and has been used widely quite literally since man found out how to make it.

Qwality

Where do you get your ideas from? Genuine question as you strike me as someone who is either an ex-addict or has had their life blighted by drug addiction