Positive experiences of drug usage? (A short essay).

[raid517]

Hi, I know this is an unusual question. However I am doing an essay for my English class which is intended to argue for or against a particular topic (it's basically a discursive essay). As my subject I have chosen the legalisation of (all) drugs - but more than that I have chosen to argue for the positive benefits of their usage.

To this end I am interested in hearing any stories concerning positive experiences of things that happened to people on this forum when they have taken drugs.

By this I don't mean trip/or experience type reports, but maybe things about people you met, things you did, whether you got married, or shared something important with someone, or something that happened to you that changed your life, either as a direct or an indirect result of the consumption of drugs. In other words, I am looking for something real, rather than something that happened in your head, or that your fingers felt kinda 'tingly and funny' or whatever.

Surely some of you guys must have some positive memories of drug usage? I know I have a few.

[Metomni]

At first SWIM was only interested in the psychadelics, he did not want anything to do with "the dirty drugs" or so he called them at the time. He did not want to experiment with pretty much anything but Mushrooms, LSD, or Mescaline. Through his initial experiences with mushrooms he realized that all drugs are connected and that just because one doesn't give you the experience of another doesn't mean it's not as good or divine or whatever.

This realization has granted him a respect for every drug that is out there and has given him a wonderful baseline for experimenting with mind altering substances. Everything in moderation is pretty much how he does drugs and has also become how he lives his life. The new outlook has done wonders for his psyche and the new psyche has done wonders on his enjoyment of life.

He has learned that there are things to be learned from drugs, but that just like everything else in life, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. He has learned that it is important to appreciate life and to also not take anything for granted.

SWIM isn't sure if this is what SWIY was looking for, but he enjoyed writing it up.

[raid517]

Thanks for sharing. But I'm more looking for real physical events that happened in people's lives, rather than how drugs changed your perception of anything.

It would be weird and depressing if no one said anything good ever happened to them when they were on drugs.

[raid517]

OK, clearly this is a lot more difficult than I thought. Anyone reading this so far would possibly be led to assume that nothing positive can come out of drug usage.

I guess I will simply have to write it as a farce.

GJ

[hh339]

Positive effects of cannabis and also stimulants to a certain degree, for SWiM: Anxeity relief, focus and wanting to live another day. Depression is no longer an issue.

Psychedelics: Man this can't be answered easily, but they have taught SWiM so much about himself and life in general. Also anti-depressive for SWiM, but more long term effects than cannabis.

I can't explain most of it with words...

Short answer: Many drugs have been very beneficial, and keep in mind he has used many molecules for at least 12 years. Nowadays not so much, but he still smokes cannabis semi-daily.

Benzo's have been very negative on SWiM, it changed his personality for the worse and made him do stuff he would never... But all in all: "Drugs" are what you make of them, and SWiM managed to make it something good.

[Petethemeat]

I would say most of my positive drug times have been related to the social boosts it can add to your friendship. Drugs like ectsasy especially have led to some amazing times with friends. It also helped some of my friends with self esteem issues (a girl friend of mine realised she is actually attractive after looking at herself in the mirror while on it, and still holds this view).

[raid517]

These are great - but can you or anyone recall any actual specific events (and tell it like you remember it happened)? Like I went to the shop and took y drug and x happened, or I was once at a party and took drug a and b happened. So long as it is positive (or at least funny) it may be useful.

I am really looking for stories about you, rather than what you heard may have happened to other people.

Thanks.

[Bikelbees]

I think you will find Raid517 that members would wisely be reluctant to use personal anecdotes as they are compelled to discuss these events in an abstract way or in the third person.

Can I ask what purpose this information will be for (which course) and who will read it?

[raid517]

Oh come on, surely there's a limit to paranoia?

I have taken every drug legal and illegal known to man at one point or other in my life, several of which I'm sure a lot of people here would never have heard of.

So what? It's hardly a crime to say what you may have done in the past - only a crime to possess a substance now. (I will name several of the substances I have taken if you wish).

In any case there is a very well established system for protesting identities on this forum which has been in place from the outset. If people feel the need to use this, then that's fine by me.

Oh - and in case you didn't notice it the first time, it's a college essay, which means that it will be read by me and my tutor.

Sorry for the slightly annoyed tone, but this thread seems a washout anyway - and now I have to deal with silly time wasting replies like this too.

[Bikelbees]

Originally Posted by raid517

Oh come on, surely there's a limit to paranoia?

I have taken every drug legal and illegal known to man at one point or other in my life, several of which I'm sure a lot of people here would never have heard of.

So what? It's hardly a crime to say what you may have done in the past - only a crime to possess a substance now. (I will name several of the substances I have taken if you wish).

In any case there is a very well established system for protesting identities on this forum which has been in place from the outset. If people feel the need to use this, then that's fine by me.

Oh - and in case you didn't notice it the first time, it's a college essay, which means that it will be read by me and my tutor.

Sorry for the slightly annoyed tone, but this thread seems a washout anyway - and now I have to deal with silly time wasting replies like this too.

Hmm, you didn't say you were at college, for all I know you could be a school kid which is the obvious interpretation of "English class". I'm glad to hear that you have taken every drug including the ones we know nothing about and that kind of comment is counted as incriminating here and is at best "dick sizing".

[raid517]

Originally Posted by Bikelbees

Hmm, you didn't say you were at college, for all I know you could be a school kid which is the obvious interpretation of "English class". I'm glad to hear that you have taken every drug including the ones we know nothing about and that kind of comment is counted as incriminating here and is at best "dick sizing".

Nice to see you abuse the very little power you have by issuing a warning for no apparently good reason other than one-upmanship.

I have made it clear again and again, that people do not need to incriminate themselves. The system that is in place here is in place for a reason. And you are very much stretching the principal of self-incrimination. I could go to a police station tomorrow and say the same thing I said here and face no risk of any criminal proceedings. Why? Because I have not said when, where or what. I can even say what, so long as I don't say when and where. The onus is on the authorities to prove wrong doing - and without this information they are powerless.

I simply asked, reasonably politely if you would kindly mind not trashing my thread and asking unrelated and unnecessary questions.

I'm sorry I hurt your feelings by doing this, that wasn't my intention. I was simply very keen to stop my thread from straying off on an entirely unrelated tangent. (Particularly as I am working to a deadline).

However that does not seem possible now since you have persisted in this really quite unhelpful way - and have even issued an entirely unjustified warning.

I shall be reporting this matter to a super-moderator.

GJ

[D.U.M.B]

you could probably talk about medical marijuana and how it's helped a lot of people worldwide

[raid517]

That's a good idea. Thanks.

It would be interesting if there were similar arguments for other illegal drugs.

GJ

[FuBai]

Forum rules against self-incrimination bend for no man. However, I do not see why one cannot relate a story as if it were in the third person, and you can simply change the SWIMs to Is. If you want to find stories of excellent experiences with drugs told in the first person the Erowid Experience Vaults are your friend. Although there are a great many reports there it is easy to find particularly good ones as they are split into sections. You should look in the hallucinogen drug sections under "glowing experiences" or "mystical experiences". Aldous Huxley's "The Doors of Perception" is basically the account of one life changing and revolutionary experience which gave birth to great literary texts such as the Island. Don't say it resulted in him writing his most famous book: A Brave New World, as that was written long before he tried any hallucinogenic drug. In fact, a comparison of the drug related themes in the two books is excellent in revealing the effect drug use had on him - in a Brave New World drug use is implicitly condemned as a tool for the pacification of the masses in the form of Soma, whilst the Island views drug use as a tool for introspection, self-awareness and enlightenment. The Distopia then the Utopia.

[raid517]

Erm... thanks, but I have tried to make it abundantly clear that no one needs to speak in the first person. There is (as I said) an already well established system to prevent self-incrimination on this board.

Also Erowid and all the other trip report type sites aren't really what I'm looking for. Somehow I doubt telling my tutor about some guy on the internet who ate some 'shrooms' and thought he saw a giant muti-coloured psychedelic fairy pop out of his butt is going to earn me a very good grade. What I'm talking about is real world events, births, deaths, marriages, chance meetings, parties that were attended, things that were changed in practical terms - like a new house, a new job, a new girlfriend (or wife), either as a direct or indirect result of drugs. It could even be as a result of stopping taking drugs. Like you met somebody when you stopped taking drugs, that you probably wouldn't have met if you had never taken drugs to begin with etc.

All those other things are just stuff that happens in your head. It is difficult to discern how valuable (if at all) they are.

[FuBai]

Originally Posted by raid517

Erm... thanks, but I have tried to make it abundantly clear that no one needs to speak in the first person. There is (as I said) an already well established system to prevent self-incrimination on this board.

Also Erowid and all the other trip report type sites aren't really what I'm looking for. Somehow I doubt telling my tutor about some guy on the internet who ate some 'shrooms' and thought he saw a giant muti-coloured psychedelic fairy pop out of his butt is going to earn me a very good grade. What I'm talking about is real world events, births, deaths, marriages, chance meetings, parties that were attended, things that were changed in practical terms - like a new house, a new job, a new girlfriend (or wife), either as a direct or indirect result of drugs. It could even be as a result of stopping taking drugs. Like you met somebody when you stopped taking drugs, that you probably wouldn't have met if you had never taken drugs to begin with etc.

All those other things are just stuff that happens in your head. It is difficult to discern how valuable (if at all) they are.

How are our reports any different? We are a group of unknown people on the internet with an obvious political agenda. If anything we are as dubious a source of information as Erowid is. Secondly, what's wrong with Aldous Huxley? Thirdly the forum rules apply to everyone, you have flaunted them, expect a response. Don't blame Biklebees form enforcing the forum rules.

[raid517]

Well if you want to argue about Huxley, it depends what you call 'great literary insight' and what you do not. In a certain light, from a certain skewn (and often drug induced) perspective, what Huxley says may make a certain degree of sense. But it does not serve the purpose of what I am trying to do. (Which is simply to talk about nice and good things that happened to people while they were under the influence of drugs). Trip reports may have their place - along with the musings of Huxley and others - but they still do not equate to real world physical events, which for the purpose of this task is what I hope to focus on.

I had hoped that this thread would maintain a much more positive outlook. It is a shame that it doesn't seem to have worked out this way.

[Purest]

Little Red Dinosaur went through a pretty horrific breakup over a year ago, left him feeling pretty shitty about his life in general. Dinosaur had been clean for about 6 months only occasionally drinking alcohol socially, he decided to go out and actually enjoy himself with some friends and spent several weeks smoking large amounts of weed, and drinking ridiculous amounts of alcohol. During this time Dinosaur learnt a lot about himself and people in general, when he realised he was using drugs as a form of escapism Dinosaur got himself back on track and cut down his consumption entirely, it altered how he viewed the world and in the process gave him new experiences to reflect on and brought him a lot closer to new people. It was through a self destructive phase that was largely based around drugs and alcohol that Dinosaur was able to mature and actually begin to enjoy drugs again as a social thing rather than a form of escapism, which in essence is the best way to enjoy drugs.

Not sure if thats the sorta thing that you'd like to hear about, its a bit vague, but it was a positive outcome for Dinosaur who was largely a social recluse beforehand.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

[raid517]

Originally Posted by Purest

Little Red Dinosaur went through a pretty horrific breakup over a year ago, left him feeling pretty shitty about his life in general. Dinosaur had been clean for about 6 months only occasionally drinking alcohol socially, he decided to go out and actually enjoy himself with some friends and spent several weeks smoking large amounts of weed, and drinking ridiculous amounts of alcohol. During this time Dinosaur learnt a lot about himself and people in general, when he realised he was using drugs as a form of escapism Dinosaur got himself back on track and cut down his consumption entirely, it altered how he viewed the world and in the process gave him new experiences to reflect on and brought him a lot closer to new people. It was through a self destructive phase that was largely based around drugs and alcohol that Dinosaur was able to mature and actually begin to enjoy drugs again as a social thing rather than a form of escapism, which in essence is the best way to enjoy drugs.

Not sure if thats the sorta thing that you'd like to hear about, its a bit vague, but it was a positive outcome for Dinosaur who was largely a social recluse beforehand.

Thanks mate. That's a good effort. It's getting there. Still about 'self-realisation', rather than anything physical that happened to you. But definitely the best so far.

[Mint boi]

Good thing, and bad things happen to my ferret all the time. When he's on drugs, and when he's not on drugs. I don't see how a good thing happening to someone on drugs is any different to when they aren't.

Once when my ferret was very drunk he fell over and found 5 euro on the ground... Is that the kind of thing you're looking for?

[raid517]

Originally Posted by mint boi

Good thing, and bad things happen to my ferret all the time. When he's on drugs, and when he's not on drugs. I don't see how a good thing happening to someone on drugs is any different to when they aren't.

Once when my ferret was very drunk he fell over and found 5 euro on the ground... Is that the kind of thing you're looking for?

Yeah that's it. Something real. I mean I'm going to play with it. I'm going to deliberately make it sound like taking drugs is a good thing and everyone should do it. That is what a discursive essay is for. You take a position and then argue for it. So if I was writing this I would deliberately make it sound as though there was no way you could have found that 5 euros if you hadn't been on drugs. (Even if this isn't strictly true).

I'm just going to have a little fun with it is all. (Thats why I only want to hear positive things).

[Bikelbees]

Personally I think its a good thread theme and it can be tidied up later, I just reminded you Raid517 not to incriminate yourself or ask members to do the same (the latter of which you have agreed), whatever your understanding of the law is on this is irrelevant for it is the rules of the forum which I cite and apply here. Its nothing to do with "feelings" although not making a nod to the mod hardly is likely to encourage them to try and use their discretion in your favour when complaints already came from on high.

[thealmassi1]

I have friends that have conquered their depression and suicidal thoughts by taking shrooms. The thought process under the influence of the mushroom makes them think about life and their problems resulting in permanent and positive changes. I don't have time to write a whole thing on here but search on the internet and you'll find stories (i'm pretty sure). I have also heard of ppl who have taken acid and had similar effects on their life.
After all, for many ppl, it's the experience that counts and makes them view the world in a different light which tends to be the case with every person I know who has taken lsd and i'm sure with other drugs also (as you should know with your drug use).
Good luck on the essay.

[Paracelsus]

Find emotionally loaded stories about ketamine for depression and MDMA for PTSD.

[FuBai]

What are you looking for then? People's stories of how LSD conquered their depression? Stories of how Crick came up with the double-helix idea under the influence of LSD? How marijuana was much used by Charles Sagan who produced several popular papers under the influence of it and is quoted as asking for it because it stimulated his work? Because all of those have been posted on these forums already. Anyway, your opinion of Aldous Huxley is irrelevant to be honest; his work is usually classed as great literature whether you think it is or not, so surely it counts as a positive result? The Island resulted in the formation of the Island Foundation who seek to advocate the legality and use of psychedelics which, according to your own political beleifs may or may not be an admirable goal. Perhaps you want to hear about the excellent efficacy of MDMA in post-traumatic stress treatment or psilocybin in resolving depression resulting from terminal illness?