What is it with people who think drugs are bad but drinking is okay?

[Malson]

You know these people. The ones who claim they're "straightedge" and hate drugs of all sorts. The ones who claim this, and then go get drunk at some party because "drinking is fun." I ask, what the hell's the difference? It's like they're oblivious to the fact that alcohol is a drug. That alcohol alters your mental and physical processes just as any other drug would. So why exclude it? It can be just as damaging, it can be abused just as badly, and it can be addictive just like any other drug. So why say it's okay when other drugs aren't?

I ask this because there are several people I know with this mindset, and it just seems retarded to me.

[Link]

This is true, i know people who have the exact same reasoning, i enjoy a drink, but i have never done drugs, and properly wont, but i do not think they are terrible, i understand why people would take them.

But i would like to see if anyone on this forum has that reasoning, with out screaming 'HOLY SHIT DRUGS ARE BAD, no i like alcohol, BUT LIKE....DRUGS ARE WORSE' 

[biohazard]

There is no reasoning behind it whatsoever, marijuana is a weaker and less deadly drug than alcohol, and anyone who argues against drugs and then goes out and drinks doesn't know anything about them.

[:)]

You know these people. The ones who claim they're "straightedge" and hate drugs of all sorts. The ones who claim this, and then go get drunk at some party because "drinking is fun." I ask, what the hell's the difference? It's like they're oblivious to the fact that alcohol is a drug. That alcohol alters your mental and physical processes just as any other drug would. So why exclude it? It can be just as damaging, it can be abused just as badly, and it can be addictive just like any other drug. So why say it's okay when other drugs aren't?

I ask this because there are several people I know with this mindset, and it just seems retarded to me.

ok, this might sound weid, but just 1 min ago I had a discussion about this with my dad and I said alcohol is a drug, now I see this topic D:

and yeah it's true, we did a health project about it

[Leventhan]

We can helpl prevent it in the next generation of people by banning our kids from drinking and any type of drugs starting from birth.

For the people that you mention, they're just trying to hide the facts.

[Esmeralda]

Time for me ruth this alittle;

For starters, yes, alcohol is a drug and blah blah dc. Now, I have a brother who has used drugs since he was 16, he has used them for 6 years and he started using them before he started drinking like hardcore. Naturally, when he was 14 he was liak "I might drink but no drugs 4 me, no.". Everyone who drinks will probably say that alcohol isn't as bad as drugs, and that's correct. What's wrong with letting people think like this? It's what they think is right and they feel comfortable about thinking so.

And now, if everyone would use drugs, we wouldn't have a very good economy would we? Drugs are insanely expensive, my brother owes me more money than I even knew I have. If you got to choose, would be addicted to drugs or alcohol? The answer is pretty self-explanationary. There is absolutely nothing wrong with alcohol aslong as you don't overdo it. A drink now and then is relaxing and good (Swedish gossip magazine tells red wine is good for your heart :3). You can only blame yourself if you drink so much you swabble around more than Spongebob. As for marijuana, there are evidence that it fucks up your mind ~_~ It does lead to the use of deadlier drugs later on. Either due to social or mental needs.

[biohazard]

marijuana, It does lead to the use of deadlier drugs later on.

False, this is due solely to the fact that it is an illegal drug, and therefore to get it you have to go to a drug dealer which sells other drugs, if it was legal, there would be no temptation to try others whatsoever, and marijuana does nothing to the long term status of your brain, it actually can regenerate dead brain cells.

[Malson]

Everyone who drinks will probably say that alcohol isn't as bad as drugs, and that's correct.

..but it's not correct. That's the whole point I'm trying to make.

[Esmeralda]

typo  and bio that's what I meant by social.

[Malson]

Then I'll try again.

What's wrong with letting people think like this?

Because it's false.

[modern algebra]

It's not really false. I neither drink nor do drugs. But practically everyone I know does drink, and practically everyone I know that does drugs is fucked up. I know three people who do drugs whose lives aren't fucked up, and about 10 or so whose lives are. Practically everybody I know drinks, but aside from one guy who got into a car crash drunk driving, and the father of a friend who wasted his paycheck on drinking until he got help, most of them are fine.

Alcohol is a drug, yes, but it is not addictive in the way that cocaine, meth, etc... are. It can be a social addiction, but it is not a chemical addiction. I believe Pot is also not a chemical addiction, but pot smells like rotting shit being burnt in a toaster, so fuck legalizing that shit, though I live in Canada, and it is unfortunately pretty close. I would also argue that with drinking, it is social, so you really only have fun if there are other people also getting drunk. Because of this, people don't drink in the daytime, or even so much on weekdays, at least not to the extent of getting drunk. Marijuana, and other drugs, have no such restriction and so people do it at any time in the day, which could have negative effects on society. Whether it does or not, the reason I think drugs have worse effects then alcohol (as, at least in my experience, it does), is precisely because of the social nature of alcohol and the fact that drugs do not carry with them that necessity. Of course, a lot of that is speculation based on the observation that drugs have a 77% chance of fucking up your life (from my observation), and alcohol has a 3% chance (also based on my observation).

[djkdjl]

Alcohol is a drug, yes, but it is not addictive in the way that cocaine, meth, etc... are. It can be a social addiction, but it is not a chemical addiction. I believe Pot is also not a chemical addiction, but pot smells like rotting shit being burnt in a toaster, so fuck legalizing that shit, though I live in Canada, and it is unfortunately pretty close

Yes,,alcohol is not as bad of a drug as others are.

And that's where the quote: "Drugs are BAD,,alcohol is so much better" comes from.

If you just HAVE to do drugs,,then choose alcohol.  It has the least chance of messing up your life.

[Malson]

Alcohol is a drug, yes, but it is not addictive in the way that cocaine, meth, etc... are. It can be a social addiction, but it is not a chemical addiction.

Alcohol is physically addictive. It has been proven to be physically addictive, and alcoholics who quit drinking suffer withdrawal.

[djkdjl]

alcoholism was never an addiction,,until psycologists came up with the term,,so that they could make some more money.

[Arrow]

...It was always an addiction. It wasn't a DISEASE until the ALCOHOLICS needed yet another CRUTCH.

[Malson]

And the fact that alcoholics exist, and in large quantities, leads back to my point: You can't say that you hate drugs and like drinking. It is a total contradiction.

[Jalkson]

...It was always an addiction. It wasn't a DISEASE until the ALCOHOLICS needed yet another CRUTCH.

Well put.

Yes,,alcohol is not as bad of a drug as others are.

And that's where the quote: "Drugs are BAD,,alcohol is so much better" comes from.

If you just HAVE to do drugs,,then choose alcohol.  It has the least chance of messing up your life.

I don't see how anyone would HAVE to do drugs.  The least chance of messing up your life? Wrong.  Alcohol has the same chance to mess up your life as anything else does. 

The quantity, frequency and regularity of alcohol consumption required to develop alcoholism varies greatly from person to person. In addition, although the biological mechanisms underpinning alcoholism are uncertain, some risk factors, including social environment, emotional health and genetic predisposition, have been identified.

...

It is common for a person suffering from alcoholism to drink well after physical health effects start to manifest. The physical health effects associated with alcohol consumption are described in Alcohol consumption and health, but may include cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, polyneuropathy, alcoholic dementia, heart disease, increased chance of cancer, nutritional deficiencies, sexual dysfunction, and death from many sources.

I'd say that could easily ruin a persons life.

And the fact that alcoholics exist, and in large quantities, leads back to my point: You can't say that you hate drugs and like drinking. It is a total contradiction.

Though I would consider alcohol a drug, I don't think theres anything wrong with drinking once in a while. When you start drinking on a daily basis(more than a beer or glass of wine) thats when it can become a problem. 

Anyone who's ever said "alchohol is a drug" in their life is either a loser or extremely sheltered.  Shut th fuck up. 

Lol, I've definitely had my fair share of parties where I woke up the next day not remembering anything from the night before.  Yes I do drink, though not at an unhealthy level, and I believe alcohol is a drug.

What about caffeine?  I know lots of "straitedge" people who drink way to much caffeine.  Guess their drug adicts eh?

Overuse

In large amounts, and especially over extended periods of time, caffeine can lead to a condition known as caffeinism.[57][58] Caffeinism usually combines caffeine dependency with a wide range of unpleasant physical and mental conditions including nervousness, irritability, anxiety, tremulousness, muscle twitching (hyperreflexia), insomnia, headaches, respiratory alkalosis[59] and heart palpitations.[60] Furthermore, because caffeine increases the production of stomach acid, high usage over time can lead to peptic ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.[61] However, since both "regular" and decaffeinated coffees have been shown to stimulate the gastric mucosa and increase stomach acid secretion, caffeine is probably not the sole component of coffee responsible.[62]

There are four caffeine-induced psychiatric disorders recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition: caffeine intoxication, caffeine-induced anxiety disorder, caffeine-induced sleep disorder, and caffeine-related disorder not otherwise specified (NOS).

[djkdjl]

I hate drugs,,but I like drinking

cuz drinking is the lesser of two evils.

[Malson]

Anyone who's ever said "alchohol is a drug" in their life is either a loser or extremely sheltered.  Shut th fuck up.  What about caffeine?  I know lots of "straitedge" people who drink way to much caffeine.  Guess their drug adicts eh?

I was about to address this as well. Caffeine is different from alcohol in that it is often consumed simply because it's there. I would say I'm straightedge, and yes I do drink beverages with caffeine in them. Why? Because I like soda, and because most sodas contain caffeine. Would I have an issue if the beverage didn't have caffeine? Certainly not. The difference is clear in that people drink alcohol simply because it is alcoholic. There is no other sensible reason to drink an alcoholic beverage, seeing as how alcohol has dehydration properties and makes the drinker MORE thirsty.

[biohazard]

alcoholism was never an addiction,,until psycologists came up with the term,,so that they could make some more money.

In the same way that cancer wasn't a disease until doctors came up with a term, so they could raise more money.

[modern algebra]

Anyone who's ever said "alchohol is a drug" in their life is either a loser or extremely sheltered.  Shut th fuck up.  What about caffeine?  I know lots of "straitedge" people who drink way to much caffeine.  Guess their drug adicts eh?

I was about to address this as well. Caffeine is different from alcohol in that it is often consumed simply because it's there. I would say I'm straightedge, and yes I do drink beverages with caffeine in them. Why? Because I like soda, and because most sodas contain caffeine. Would I have an issue if the beverage didn't have caffeine? Certainly not. The difference is clear in that people drink alcohol simply because it is alcoholic. There is no other sensible reason to drink an alcoholic beverage, seeing as how alcohol has dehydration properties and makes the drinker MORE thirsty.

Ah, but people who normally drink coffee in the morning do get headaches when they do not drink it. Also, soft drinks do cause major health problems, specifically because of the sugar or aspartaine, and even after these problems begin to manifest, such as obesity and high blood pressure, people often do not stop drinking soft drinks. It is at least as much an addiction as anything else. There's always water to be drunk instead of soft drinks, and so 'just because it's there' is not a good excuse. With (soda: lame americans) pop, the caffeine is not an issue, it is more or less a psychological addiction, same as with alcohol.

Also, while there are a lot of alcoholics, the proportion of alcoholics to people who drink alcohol is much smaller then the proportion of drug addicts to those who do drugs. And like I said, there is nothing in the alcohol itself which causes dependency:

How does alcohol cause alcoholism? Recent research findings indicate that alcohol doesn't cause alcoholism. To appreciate this, people must understand that alcohol dependence (the scientific word for "alcoholism") is a brain disease. This brain disease is expressed through the compulsive drinking of alcohol. Thus if a person never drinks alcohol, the disease will not be seen. (December 16, 2002)

This is a direct contrast to drugs like cocaine or nicotine, which modify your body in such a way that you do not feel normal without the administration of the drug.

Drug addiction has two components: physical dependency, and psychological dependency. Physical dependency occurs when a drug has been used habitually and the body has become accustomed to its effects. The person must then continue to use the drug in order to feel normal, or its absence will trigger the symptoms of withdrawal. Psychological dependency occurs when a drug has been used habitually and the mind has become emotionally reliant on its effects, either to elicit pleasure or relieve pain, and does not feel capable of functioning without it. Its absence produces intense cravings, which are often brought on or magnified by stress. A dependent person may have either aspects of dependency or both.

Alcoholism is the second of the two, the dependency is psychological, not physical. Psychological dependencies also tend to take a long time to manifest, which is another difference between the two. That, to me makes alcohol better then cocaine, meth, etc... And, while I am not aware of this applying to marijuana, I've already stated my opposition to it in the post above.

[Malson]

Ah, but people who normally drink coffee in the morning do get headaches when they do not drink it. Also, soft drinks do cause major health problems, specifically because of the sugar or aspartame, and even after these problems begin to manifest, such as obesity and high blood pressure, people often do not stop drinking soft drinks. It is at least as much an addiction as anything else. There's always water to be drunk instead of soft drinks, and so 'just because it's there' is not a good excuse. With (soda: lame americans) pop, the caffeine is not an issue, it is more or less a psychological addiction, same as with alcohol.

I drink soda every day, and I could quit drinking it any day of the week no problem. As I said, the difference between that and alcohol is that I drink it because it tastes good, not because of the effects it has on my body and my mind (which are minimal at best).

[modern algebra]

Psychological dependency occurs when a drug has been used habitually and the mind has become emotionally reliant on its effects, either to elicit pleasure

Don't get me wrong, I am addicted to pop myself. But pleasure can be because it tastes good or because it makes you drunk. The two are equivalent.  Anybody can quit drinking alcohol any day of the week no problem too. They don't because they like the way in which it alters their mind, and you and I don't quit drinking soda because, just like the obese guy with major heart problems, soft drinks taste good. It is a conscious decision in both cases. The fact is, it is very rare that someone is drinking alcohol or pop because they are addicted to it. Very few people who drink alcohol actually develop a dependency. However, the way that you can become addicted to pop is the same way that you can become addicted to alcohol.  With harder drugs, the dependency develops faster, is pretty much inevitable, and it causes physical dependency, which is the harder of the two addictions to get rid of. I would say that makes alcohol better then cocaine.

[Malson]

But alcohol IS physically addictive, because recovering alcoholics suffer physical withdrawal symptoms. That isn't the case with being "addicted" to pop because it tastes good.

[modern algebra]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_addiction

"Recent behavioral tests in rats further back the idea of an overlap between sweets and drugs. Drug addiction often includes three steps. A person will increase his intake of the drug, experience withdrawal symptoms when access to the drug is cut off and then face an urge to relapse back into drug use. Rats on sugar have similar experiences. Researchers withheld food for 12 hours and then gave rats food plus sugar water. This created a cycle of binging where the animals increased their daily sugar intake until it doubled. When researchers either stopped the diet or administered an opioid blocker the rats showed signs common to drug withdrawal, such as teeth-chattering and the shakes. Early findings also indicate signs of relapse. Rats weaned off sugar repeatedly pressed a lever that previously dispensed the sweet solution."

Again, unlike most narcotics, an addiction to alcohol is very rare, even among people who drink on a regular basis. For other narcotics, it is very common.