3 ms·

I am curious if you have never visited the United States, you're atypically nonsocial, or live in an isolated region. I'm really interested as to how you got y

I am curious if you have never visited the United States, you're atypically nonsocial, or live in an isolated region. I'm really interested as to how you got your perspective, as I find all of your premises bizarre.

Theodores 10y ago
I am one of those people that used to visit the U.S.A. but stopped going some years ago. Why might that be?!? Allegedly there was an election recently and some people voted for the crazy guy with small hands because he promised to build a wall to keep the drugs out. I don't think it was a bit of weed that concerned people, it was the epidemic in the truly destructive opiate/cocaine/crystal meth drugs that motivated them to vote. From what I hear all of this sad addiction epidemic goes on in isolated regions, rural America with 30 million Americans - mostly vulnerable people - getting hooked on the crazy drugs due to being prescribed opiates and then having to score on the street because it is cheaper. There is nothing recreational about this type of sad drug use, it is death spiral addiction where nobody does well as a recovering addict. These drugs get TV advertised, 'ask your doctor' is a unique U.S.A. thing, as is watching hours of TV laced with advertising. The rest of the world is not racing along with consumerism at the same level being bombarded with adverts for dangerous medications. But articles make it onto the web describing the horrors of the situation: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/3/23/14987892/opioid-heroin-epidemic-charts https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/3/23/14987892/op... Sounds to me like the U.S.A. has turned into a land of zombies with people in California still safe, but, good luck if you live in New Mexico or Ohio, you are not going to be far from one of these otherwise dull and unremarkable Americans turned criminal crazy by prescription drugs. So is that a tenth of the population doing shameful drugs that are totally not 'recreational' or social? These people are not spending their money on weed as they have the percocet or whatever to score or their crystal meth to 'shake and bake'. I don't see how a population engaged in such activities can also support a 'healthy' dope smoking scene particularly when normal smoking of tobacco has been made a taboo thing to do.
- linkregister 9y ago
  Thanks for sharing your perspective. If I may, I think that you have taken U.S. sensational news stories and popular movies as your entire context of the U.S. Since nobody else is respecting your point of view, I'll share. 1. Smoking tobacco is seen as a mild taboo, but many people still do it. As long as the smoking is done outside and away from a main entrance, it's unlikely anyone will comment. 2. A large amount of people are addicted to prescription opiates, but if you go to New Mexico or Ohio, it's not going to look like a scene out of The Walking Dead. The total amount of addicted people is estimated to be 2 million [1]. Out of 300 million people, it means that this tragedy is hidden unless you personally know an affected person. By the way, many in California are affected by this issue. 3. Tobacco isn't considered a "gateway" to cannabis use by experts or credible laypeople. Tobacco users and Cannabis users have little relation or overlap. 4. Cannabis is usually introduced in the same manner as alcohol (at parties or small gatherings of friends), though alcohol is far more socially acceptable. Cannabis has never been primarily considered a "trippy" drug in the U.S. ---though there are many people who do use it that way--- it's more of a recreational substance. Cannabis use has declined among the under 18-year-olds over the past decade, but has increased among adults. 4. There are many methamphetamine and heroin addicts in absolute numbers, but again, they do not dominate any metropolitan area. Sure, it is easy to find addicts among homeless populations, but it isn't like Crash, Breaking Bad, or The Wire in terms of pervasiveness and intensity. 1. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/overdose.html https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/overdose.html

Theodores 10y ago

I am one of those people that used to visit the U.S.A. but stopped going some years ago. Why might that be?!? Allegedly there was an election recently and some people voted for the crazy guy with small hands because he promised to build a wall to keep the drugs out. I don't think it was a bit of weed that concerned people, it was the epidemic in the truly destructive opiate/cocaine/crystal meth drugs that motivated them to vote. From what I hear all of this sad addiction epidemic goes on in isolated regions, rural America with 30 million Americans - mostly vulnerable people - getting hooked on the crazy drugs due to being prescribed opiates and then having to score on the street because it is cheaper. There is nothing recreational about this type of sad drug use, it is death spiral addiction where nobody does well as a recovering addict. These drugs get TV advertised, 'ask your doctor' is a unique U.S.A. thing, as is watching hours of TV laced with advertising. The rest of the world is not racing along with consumerism at the same level being bombarded with adverts for dangerous medications. But articles make it onto the web describing the horrors of the situation: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/3/23/14987892/opioid-heroin-epidemic-charts https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/3/23/14987892/op... Sounds to me like the U.S.A. has turned into a land of zombies with people in California still safe, but, good luck if you live in New Mexico or Ohio, you are not going to be far from one of these otherwise dull and unremarkable Americans turned criminal crazy by prescription drugs. So is that a tenth of the population doing shameful drugs that are totally not 'recreational' or social? These people are not spending their money on weed as they have the percocet or whatever to score or their crystal meth to 'shake and bake'. I don't see how a population engaged in such activities can also support a 'healthy' dope smoking scene particularly when normal smoking of tobacco has been made a taboo thing to do.

linkregister 9y ago
Thanks for sharing your perspective. If I may, I think that you have taken U.S. sensational news stories and popular movies as your entire context of the U.S. Since nobody else is respecting your point of view, I'll share. 1. Smoking tobacco is seen as a mild taboo, but many people still do it. As long as the smoking is done outside and away from a main entrance, it's unlikely anyone will comment. 2. A large amount of people are addicted to prescription opiates, but if you go to New Mexico or Ohio, it's not going to look like a scene out of The Walking Dead. The total amount of addicted people is estimated to be 2 million [1]. Out of 300 million people, it means that this tragedy is hidden unless you personally know an affected person. By the way, many in California are affected by this issue. 3. Tobacco isn't considered a "gateway" to cannabis use by experts or credible laypeople. Tobacco users and Cannabis users have little relation or overlap. 4. Cannabis is usually introduced in the same manner as alcohol (at parties or small gatherings of friends), though alcohol is far more socially acceptable. Cannabis has never been primarily considered a "trippy" drug in the U.S. ---though there are many people who do use it that way--- it's more of a recreational substance. Cannabis use has declined among the under 18-year-olds over the past decade, but has increased among adults. 4. There are many methamphetamine and heroin addicts in absolute numbers, but again, they do not dominate any metropolitan area. Sure, it is easy to find addicts among homeless populations, but it isn't like Crash, Breaking Bad, or The Wire in terms of pervasiveness and intensity. 1. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/overdose.html https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/overdose.html