Another Young Life Taken Early.........

[ToraToraTora]

https://news.sky.com/story/man-and-woman-die-at-portsmouths-mutiny-festival-11386717
Why would anyone trust any substance available at these "music" festivals? Do parents no longer tell their kids not to take things when you have no idea what it is? madness.

[Sqad]

I agree....madness.
But you can lead a horse to water.........

[cassa333]

I went past KGF playing field at about 1.30pm this morning and wondered why there was so much traffic about. Even for a festival it was busier than I would expect so perhaps people were leaving then.

[-SharonA-]

Do parents no longer tell their kids not to take things when you have no idea what it is? madness.

Do parents tell their kids NOT to take anything at all!????

[andy-hughes]

They don't 'trust' substences from anywhere, music festivals, local dealers, friends, wherever drugs are sourced.

The notion of not trusting an illicit substance, for absolutely valid reasons, that the consumer does not know the strength and content, implies that some thought goes into the process of drug-taking.

By definition, it does not.

People who take drugs don't think ahead and make reasoned, socially aware, self-reserving decisions - if they did, they would never take drugs in the first place.

People who take drugs are often young, and with youth comes an inbuilt sense of indestructability, which, as here, is so often proven to be seriously misplaced.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes, warnings are given to young and not so young alike - but tragically warnings are ignored.

A very sad outcome - again.

[bednobs]

There has been a lot of vileness locally because the festival decided not to run today and people have lost their money

[gulliver1]

Agree with you squad," you can lead a horse to water"
But a Pencil must always be lead!,

[maggiebee]

I think the attitude "It'll never happen to me." prevails.

[marval]

It is sad, but why do people do such a stupid thing.

[andy-hughes]

maggiebee - // I think the attitude "It'll never happen to me." prevails. //

I don't think people who take drugs even think it through that far.

People who take drugs want gratification quickly, and drugs are a way to get it. The notion of thinking "Well there is a risk, but it won't happen to me …" infers pre-thinking, which, as I have said, is something people who take drugs simply don't do.

If you stopped to ponder the risks of taking drugs, you wouldn't take them.

Drug takers don't ponder, they take drugs.

[cassa333]

What do you mean bednobs. Angry young men and women rampaging through Cosham High Street while they wait for the train?

[andy-hughes]

marvel - // It is sad, but why do people do such a stupid thing. //

I refer you to my predvious post.

[Islay]

Well if you dance with the devil in the pale moonlight!

[kvalidir]

Everyone knows the risks of taking certain types of substances, but they tend to feel as Maggie says that it won't happen to them.Nearly everyone I know know someone or of someone that have been lost to overdoses or dodgy gear, they aren't stupid, long whistful conversations are had about it, and yet they still do it because they feel invincible, a lot of the time it's easy to think it won't happen to you at our age, but it does and all too often x

[douglas9401]

Lessons must be learned, etc.

[andy-hughes]

douglas - // Lessons must be learned, etc. //

Whenever I hear the phrase 'Lessons must be learned ...' I always think that speaker should add on to the end - " … but they never are."

[dunnitall]

Que sera sera.... Our books are 'written' what will be will be. You will never stop what is going to happen... It might look as though you can...but IMO... The future for everyone of us is planned and ne'er this world and that world will meet. Sad old life innit.....

[TheChair]

When you buy dodgy cigs or alcohol at a car boot sale, at least you had the opportunity to buy less dangerous ones at a shop. Unfortunately, because of our inconsistent and illogical attitude to other recreational drugs, if you want them, you take your chances, while also funding terrorism, and helping to keep the drug lords in power.

[cassa333]

Is that a call for legalisation then TheChair?

In my opinion if you want any of the illegal drugs made legal you would have to prove their safety.

[andy-hughes]

TheChair - // When you buy dodgy cigs or alcohol at a car boot sale, at least you had the opportunity to buy less dangerous ones at a shop. Unfortunately, because of our inconsistent and illogical attitude to other recreational drugs, if you want them, you take your chances, while also funding terrorism, and helping to keep the drug lords in power. //

I believe this makes a strong argument for the legalisation of drugs.

As a society, we have no choice about whether or not we have drugs, that is a given - the choice we have is how much control we have over them.

Because society chooses to take a 'Heavens-to-Betsies!!!' attitude to drugs, and holds it hands up in horror at the mere notion, it has embarked on a vastly expensive, utterly futile and ultimately unwinnable 'war on drugs'.

This is because society wants to see drugs as an evil scourge which can be eradicated with police action.

It is time to acknowledge that this approach is fundamentally flawed, and start approaching the issue from a more meaningful and effective viewpoint.

Culturally, harmful drugs like nicotine and alcohol have been absorbed into society as being acceptable, if controlled appropriately.

It is time to bring other drugs into line with that situation, purely on the basis that it cannot fail to improve the current situation.

Of course, to even suggest such a notion is political suicide, so we will need to wait for enlightenment to take hold, and that will not be for the foreseeable future.