Drugs. Legal highs.

Ouch. I only heard about these shops recently, when I saw a photo of one on facebook. I was amazed that the council allowed them - but then I am also amazed that they allow massage parlours.

When it became illegal to drink and drive, teens turned to drugs. The risk-taking years for many of them last for around ten years, after that I suppose now we just have to be grateful that any are still alive and not brain-damaged. I think it's impossible to stop, but whoever allowed those shops to open should be shot.

However, as the ex-wife of an alcoholic, I once felt the same about pubs and off-licences. I told my DCs all I knew about alcohol and drugs, made them read up about them and they attended many talks and workshops. DD admitted to a few months of cannabis-smoking when with an Ex, but DS is dead against drugs and rarely drinks. I hope my DD will instill enough sense into my GCs to keep them safe, and give them enough confidence to not succumb to peer pressure, which I feel is the main problem. I can remember very clearly not being invited to many parties as a teenager because I didn't approve of drug-taking, and was once evicted from one for throwing dope buns out of a bathroom window. Someone accused me of cruelty to birds!

at your last couple of lines.

I had thought about bumping the thread, but came to the conclusion that gransnetters dont have many problems as regards drugs in general, so thought all well and good.

Peer pressure is a big problem, I agree.
I hope that your GC stay safe.

I don't think teenagers turned to drugs when drink-driving laws were introduced. There weren't many teenage drivers in the UK in 1966!

There's always some new 'high' to tempt the thrill-seeking youth of each generation, but at least drug laws provide some degree of deterrence. The trouble with these 'legal highs' is that they can be so dangerous, and the dealers always seem to be one step ahead of the law-makers.

There was a 17 year old died from taking legal highs in my nearest town a couple of weeks ago. His family are naturally distraught and trying to highlight the dangers of these drugs. They might be legal but they are deadly.

I meant when they were more strictly enforced, Ana. Sorry, I wasn't very clear, I remember local police being very lax when I was a teenager. Even as an adult. I think it was only about 25 years ago that people started to take notice, as the punishments became harder, cars had become more powerful and death rates increased. A policeman friend said at first they were confused by the erratic driving of some teens and young adults, never at first dreaming that drugs were behind it, not alcohol. It was some years before they were able to test for drugs as well as alcohol in drivers.

What are legal highs.

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/drugs/Pages/legalhighs.aspx

If you put into google, "legal highs", some recent up to date information comes up about them.

Legal highs have got some untested chemicals in them, which can kill, and are not yet covered by law.
"Manufacturers" keep evading authorities, by changing slightly what is in the pills.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3044840/Will-child-die-legal-high-Freely-available-targeted-naive-teenagers-chemical-highs-soon-kill-Britons-heroin.html
[I know some gransnetters dont like daily mail links, but this article is useful in the circumstances].

These things are really, really, worrying. My grandsons at the moment are two very sweet innocents. I so hope and pray they never take a wrong turning in life.

It can so easily happen. And very quickly.

Soontobe
You are right. I have seen this happen to one of my grandchildren.You don't believe it can happen but it does.

Where I live legal highs are sold in some corner shops under the counter.Also at least one petrol station that I know of.

GC thankfully is now in rehab. It has been a long horrible journey, but I try not to think of what could have happened.

I now look forward to getting my beautiful granddaughter back now that this evil stuff has left her system.

Legal highs are also an issue that there has been an attempt to address where I live too – although meth amphetamines remain the biggest problem. The difficulty with banning synthesised drugs is that only a tiny change in the formula changes the named drug that's banned to a drug that isn't. Lawmakers and police have to play catch-up which is far from effective.

On another note, I think Gransnetters are generally unwilling to discuss recreational drugs. Anyone who has concerns about a grandson or other young relative and drugs may understandably feel that it is unwise to put details of the problem on a public forum. Those who don't really remember the sixties and seventies have no intention of disclosing the fact now.

Sympathy to you and your family pinkprinces and good luck.

There is a valid argument for legalising such "recreational" drugs. Not only does the illegal status feed crime here and abroad, but none of it is tested, regulated, dose controlled etc etc (It's not a weird idea - the Economist has favoured this for years) but I agree with this inventive chemistry it is difficult.
A young woman died in NE Wales using diet pills bought over the 'net and taking more than recommended dose.

Ds's first facebook posting once he had started Uni, only 18 months ago, was that 'All the people on my course are Stoners ' He got used to it, but like me at his age, feels a bit left out. As he didn't drink either, it took a while for him to settle. He nurses a bottle of beer all evening now. He says he has just got used to it.

However, those in his house do not take anything other than a few beers after playing football on Saturdays, so he tends to stay with them more now. He likes the people on his course very much, but just doesn't like socialising with them. He hasn't a girlfriend, he says he is just too picky, he doesn't want one who either drinks or takes substances but doesn't feel he can ask a girl the first time he meets her! I can see him having to find someone online.

janerowena - has he tried the christian clubs? He doesnt have to become a christian! But, on the whole, drugs and excess drinking are not on their top list of priorities in life. Just an idea.

JessM - I am never sure about the legalising route. But, as I said, I dont know much about it all.

absent - I agree about not putting to much detail on gransnet.

pinkprincess . I hope that your gc makes a full recovery.

And at shops and a petrol station doing this.

Lapwing. The issue does indeed need to be talked about.
Lets hope that the Government acts quickly.

soon after years of being a chorister in a cathedral, he is a confirmed atheist and the only one of his peers to flatly refuse to be confirmed. He is lovely though, he does have friends. Just not close ones living nearby.

I can imagine that being a chorister in a cathedral could put someone off.

It isn't just as simple as the government acting quickly, soontobe. As absent says, as soon as one 'legal high' is made illegal, another one with a slight change in the formula is put onto the market.

There is a conference/symposium/some sort of high-powered gathering of scientists and academics at one of our universities this weekend where there will be discussions and talks about legal highs. One of the leading figures in this field was interviewed on television and pointed out that most of the deaths are the result of overdoses. If this is the case, then regulation should be considered as a viable option.

What do you mean by regulation, absent? Regulation of what?

How can you regulate against someone overdosing on any drug, legal or illegal?

You can't stop someone deliberately ingesting, injecting or otherwise taking a drug in dangerously large quantities but you can regulate the manufacture.

That wouldn't stop the problem of more and more 'new' legal highs being introduced into the market.