Alcoholism – A Disease?

I think Charlie (what an appropriate name) Sheen is an exception to the rule. But I hope I would not have been that free and easy.

Same here. I've had a bit of a wild period as a teen, but I wouldn't even want a one night stand anymore now, doubt money would change that. Not into the type of girl that's after money either. Sheen's girlfriend is a porn actress isn't she? I wouldn't even sleep with her, let alone want her as my girlfriend. I saw him in an interview recently, looked like a shadow of himself because of his unhealthy lifestyle.

I know this is slightly off-topic.

But cannabis should be legal and alcohol should probably be banned. I like a drink but I don't like myself sometimes when I'm drunk and I certainly don't like the way hundreds of thousands of people behave at the weekend because of it.

I've never done anything to hurt anyone (emotionally or physically) or something I've regretted when I've been stoned. It is a placid and relaxing drug whereas alcohol is really in many ways the worst.

It'll never happen because so many have been conditioned to think one way about things.

But cannabis should be legal and alcohol should probably be banned. I like a drink but I don't like myself sometimes when I'm drunk and I certainly don't like the way hundreds of thousands of people behave at the weekend because of it.

I've never done anything to hurt anyone (emotionally or physically) or something I've regretted when I've been stoned. It is a placid and relaxing drug whereas alcohol is really in many ways the worst.

It'll never happen because so many have been conditioned to think one way about things.

I hear this argument a lot and though I agree with much of the sentiment, the truth is that they are BOTH dengerous if 'used' excessively. I don't give a sh*t what any scientist, politician or comedian tells me, I have known enough people who have gradually smoked more and more weed and are now a mess. Ok, they're less likely to harm other people but they have next to no short term memory, talk at half the pace they used to, have no motivation to keep themselves or their houses clean and can have very sudden mood swings.
There is nothing wrong with either 'drug' in moderation but both (again, regardless of that people tell me) can be addictive because they make you feel good in different ways.

I know this is slightly off-topic.

But cannabis should be legal and alcohol should probably be banned. I like a drink but I don't like myself sometimes when I'm drunk and I certainly don't like the way hundreds of thousands of people behave at the weekend because of it.

I've never done anything to hurt anyone (emotionally or physically) or something I've regretted when I've been stoned. It is a placid and relaxing drug whereas alcohol is really in many ways the worst.

It'll never happen because so many have been conditioned to think one way about things.

Unfortunately the side effects (amongst others) with heavy cannabis users are Paranoia and Schizophrenia. People have killed because of Cannabis.

I think the be all and end all is everything in moderation. Unfortunately genetics sometimes won't listen.

Moderation is the key to it but people will not all use it in moderation.

However the worst effects of cannabis are nowhere near as bad as the worst effects of alcohol in my eyes. You wouldn't need to have such heavy policing of town centres etc.

Unfortunately the side effects (amongst others) with heavy cannabis users are Paranoia and Schizophrenia. People have killed because of Cannabis.

I think the be all and end all is everything in moderation. Unfortunately genetics sometimes won't listen.

I'm aware of the potential linkages to mental problems however these exist and are more common in people who use alcohol heavily. But do you have an example of anyone who has died because of cannabis? Its not something I've ever heard anyone raise before.

People have killed because of Cannabis.

As well as smack, beak, booze, money, love etc etc.

I will say personally I've done far crazier things when drunk than I have ever done when stoned!

I will agree with what you say about moderation though.

Cannabis poisoning kills Welsh addict

http://www.cannabis.net/uk/mortality.html

Fair enough but if cannabis was legal and sold from a pharmacy/shop then cannabis itself would be tested to make sure it was fit for consumption. Same way they test any product for public consumption.

Fair enough but if cannabis was legal and sold from a pharmacy/shop then cannabis itself would be tested to make sure it was fit for consumption. Same way they test any product for public consumption.

Can someone put up the mortality rate of teenagers in holland? would be intresting to see the figures.

Alcohol has been past for public consumption but that does not mean its actually safe,drink a bottle of whisky jump in a car and off you go! we all know what the end result would be.

It's all down to the individual how they use the product.

You can find deaths caused by pretty much anything these days. Remember I read an article about a guy dieing from a caffein overdose, he took the equivalent of 70 red bulls or something.

Fair enough but if cannabis was legal and sold from a pharmacy/shop then cannabis itself would be tested to make sure it was fit for consumption. Same way they test any product for public consumption.

I can't see cannabis being sold at pharmacies, besides the ones for medicinal use. But you could include a THC %, like with alcohol. Not that something like that happens in my country.

I have alot more to say on the cannabis subject, but I gotta run so maybe I'll do it later.

I read a report done by the UK government, the report compiled all global research done on cannabis use and compared the different countries' policies on cannabis use and it's effects. And they came to the conclusion that cannabis is less damaging to an individual and to a society in general than nicotine and alcohol.

Canabis is just as bad when it is abused in the same way as Alcohol, as far as addiction goes.

However i also think it should be legalized. No worse than grog, and as someone said - generally most are a lot more passive under the influence of it. You abuse anything you'll die, F**k i was told to cut down on my sugar intake in my coffees and such because i was endangering myself.

All about moderation, peeps!

Can someone put up the mortality rate of teenagers in holland? would be intresting to see the figures.

Alcohol has been past for public consumption but that does not mean its actually safe,drink a bottle of whisky jump in a car and off you go! we all know what the end result would be.

It's all down to the individual how they use the product.

I'm talking about safety testing, like testing products to make sure they don't contain anything that'd poison someone...

Like the guy in that link, you could regulate it to make sure it wasn't in lethal doses.

"Dr Guy, who has researched cannabis-related deaths, said he had never come across such a case.

He said, "A lot of things can harm and even kill in the right quantities. I recall a man who ate two packets of regular tobacco and that almost killed him. To die from smoking cannabis is unheard of."

From your own link.

I know which of the two has caused more suffering and fatalities and the facts are indisputable.
How many people are killed by drunken drivers? How many are kicked to death by pissed up lunatics or drunken disputes of any kind? THen there are the deaths through extreme consumption.
Against this I know people who have used heroin moderately for years with no ill effect to anyone else, of course ultimately it will take it's toll but not in the devastating manner that alcohol does, I smoked cannabis most of my adult life and stopped when I was diagnosed with blood pressure and cholestral, Iwas not told to give it up but thought it better that I did.

Against this I know people who have used heroin moderately for years with no ill effect to anyone else, of course ultimately it will take it's toll but not in the devastating manner that alcohol does, I smoked cannabis most of my adult life and stopped when I was diagnosed with blood pressure and cholestral, Iwas not told to give it up but thought it better that I did.

I'm sorry, but alcohol doesn't always take it's toll in a devastating manner at all. Most people use alcohol moderately their whole life and never run into any problems because of it. Heroin use can be extremely devastating, not to mention that overdoses do regularly happen. I run into heroin junkies daily here in Amsterdam, and you can't look much worse than they do. If heroin would be used by as many people that use alcohol then society would be fu**ed.

Do you think people on heroin used cannabis in the past but moved onto more serious class A drugs because of the next stage in the 'buzz'? and its that buzz that has them trapped.

No Shabs, I don't think so. What am I sure about though, cannabis being legal or not would not change that if it was true.

Do you think people on heroin used cannabis in the past but moved onto more serious class A drugs because of the next stage in the 'buzz'? and its that buzz that has them trapped.

Gateway drug is a disputed point, personally I think it is overplayed by government ministers etc.

But there will be plenty of research on it.

No Shabs, I don't think so. What am I sure about though, cannabis being legal or not would not change that if it was true.

I know of atleast 10/20 people who started off on cannabis then ended up on crack/heroin all for 'chasing the dragon' (buzz),they needed something harder,my best freind damian hung himselg at the age of 21 because he could not live with the craving his body was asking for,but he he started of with cannabis at the age of 12.

Everyone i know here smokes a bit of weed every now and then, some pretty regularly. Not one of them is a user of anything harder.

Saying its a gateway drug is kinda silly IMO. Yes, some go onto something harder - but thats addiction. If you wanna go the route of non-legalization based on the gateway theory, then we should ban alcohol as well because thats where it usually starts before weed!

I know of atleast 10/20 people who started off on cannabis then ended up on crack/heroin all for 'chasing the dragon' (buzz),they needed something harder,my best freind damian hung himselg at the age of 21 because he could not live with the craving his body was asking for,but he he started of with cannabis at the age of 12.

Yeah, but is only cannabis to blame? Who says they wouldn't have started using anything else if cannabis didn't exist? People don't just start using stuff excessively unless there's some other issues. Obviously a 12 year old kid shouldn't be smoking that stuff, where are the parents? Like I said though, I assume this happened in a society where cannabis was illegal, nothing will change if it would've been legal. In fact I think it has positive sides. I've been frequenting coffeeshops here in Holland where they sell cannabis legally most of my life and I wouldn't even know where to get heroin. By making cannabis legal you take it out of it's shady environment and away from shady people. Besides, making cannabis legal will not increase the number of cannabis users or will it increase the number of heroin users. We have one of the lowest rates of cannabis users in Europe. That probably surprises people. And I know for a fact that our heroin user rate is much lower than Britain's and France's aswell. Which is an achievement aswell since most of Europe's harddrugs comes in through Rotterdam's port.

Sorry about your mate though, that is harsh.

Got to say it but it's complete bollocks that having a blow leads on to class A, the choice is there as with most things if you try smack, coke or anything you know what it entails and if you know the consequences make the right decision.
I speak from experience having tried the previous gear and opium and amphet which by the way in my considered opinion is the most addictive substance of them all and I did dwell over long on that one, but smoked the weed for thirty years and was able to give it up overnight.
The Guinness and the odd ciggy will suffice but I am ever watchful for psychosis, paranoia and schyzophrenia after my thirty odd years on the weed.[EDIT:  ]
Just remembered that me and Liz were out with some friends and their ladies last month and the blow was going around as it does, well being enjoyabley pissed had a few tokes and very chilled it was. that was the first time in about 6 years so moderation was called for if I'd have hammered it I wouldn't have got home.

Wowsers I would, can you imagine what it must be like to have beautiful women throwing themselves at you everyday ?

I'm would not be that good with that sort of temptation to pass up on the opportunity.

To be honest, you get used to it.

Alcoholism like some other diseases is self inflicted.

Some people die and cannot do anything about it.

Nobody forces you to drink too much.

There are times when I wish for the neg button back