> Half-measures, such as not prosecuting cocaine users, are not enough. If producing the stuff is still illegal, it will be criminals who produce it, and decriminalisation of consumption will probably increase demand and boost their profits. The real answer is full legalisation, allowing non-criminals to supply a strictly regulated, highly taxed product, just as whisky- and cigarette-makers do. (Advertising it should be banned.)
You don’t tell everyone you use it. There’s a stigma attached to it.
It’s better when people aren’t trying to guess when you’re on it or joking that you must have taken a double dose when you are extra productive (with or without the drug).
But fyi it’s super common in the US and often unheard of outside of it.
I'm not exposed to people consuming such stuff nor have I had it but I'm intrigued to read that people actually use drugs to boost their performance in their day job.
I understand the high pressure and high performing environments, however, what I do not understand is how do these drugs help you in that respect? I figure that it could help you in short-term peaks but what about if you're working in the environment where high expectations are a constant and so the pressure is as well? Care to share some details? Thanks!
Many of my friends are programmers, and I have pretty open conversations with most of them. I know a few of them who have or still use various recreational drugs. I don't know anyone who uses Adderall.
Maybe it's different where ever you live, but in my neck of the woods "using Adderall to stay on top of things" seem virtually unheard of.
> Maybe it's different where ever you live, but in my neck of the woods "using Adderall to stay on top of things" seem virtually unheard of.
The tone you're using here seems quite judgemental to me. If I had to, I'd bet anyone working near you detects the same and is not going to be open with you about their use of such things.
> I'd bet anyone working near you detects the same and is not going to be open with you about their use of such things.
If you only knew how ridiculous that statement is you wouldn't have made it.
I don't understand why you keep insisting that everyone in the world must have the same habits as the people you know, or that there must somehow be something wrong with people ("no programmer friends", "judgemental attitude") if that's not the case.
> I don't understand why you keep insisting that everyone in the world must have the same habits as the people you know
My mistake, I assumed we were talking about the USA. In the US ADHD meds are commonplace, without even considering knowledge workers using them for increased performance.
Does therapeutic use count? Some of us have actual adhd and a low consistent dose is kinda life changing without any of the euphoria or crazy work output
I'd like to thank them for making it harder for people with ADHD to access medicine.
I've always wondered why privileged people like to abuse Adderall or Ritalin when methamphetamine is clearly better, and more readily available. Programmers, law students etc.
Is it because abusing prescription drugs is considered bad, but not that bad, in their circles, but using meth is a bridge too far?
Because they are guaranteed to be what it says on the label. When you get your drugs from the street, you have no way of knowing what you are ingesting unless you take a sample to a mass spectrometer every time.
The people making it harder for you are college/highschoolers sharing it with their friends to cram for school or party through the night.
The other problem is the low bar to get a script. If someone had to see a psychiatrist then be put on a drug like guanfacine for several months before they were put in a controlled substance, many (including those with ADD) would fallout.
Programmers getting scripts to do their work is hardly the problem.
> I find it amazing how far we have come, that the Economist is arguing for the legalization of coke.
How far... from what? Cocaine was legal and sold at pharmacies without prescription a mere two generations ago. Coca Cola had cocaine in it (coca leafs).
My buddy gets his from "Big [redacted]" in tha hood. I think it was $40/gram a few years ago and now its something like $70. It was $20/gram in Medellin, Colombia a couple years ago and was so pure and medicinal that we couldnt finish it and had to hide it in a bush before going past the Marriot drug dog so we could go to sleep.
Cocaine is a boring drug. It's job is to make you more effective, just like amphetamines but it comes at the price of several health implications, even without all the extra bullshit that's in it.
Just like Ritalin or Adderal abuse it's a symptom of a society that always asks more and more of its people.
If you don't suffer from permanent pressure cocaine is just a boring, expensive, usually dirty stimulant. If you do however, it's your downfall.
Dang. Now I'm really wondering how inflation is affecting illicit markets. I mean, it's been decades since I worked in the music industry, so it's not like I have a vested interest. But I've always been fascinated by illicit markets and think they could provide an interesting picture into the "above-board" economy.
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[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 96.6 ms ] threadI find it amazing how far we have come, that the Economist is arguing for the legalization of coke.
https://archive.ph/VTwSr
> Half-measures, such as not prosecuting cocaine users, are not enough. If producing the stuff is still illegal, it will be criminals who produce it, and decriminalisation of consumption will probably increase demand and boost their profits. The real answer is full legalisation, allowing non-criminals to supply a strictly regulated, highly taxed product, just as whisky- and cigarette-makers do. (Advertising it should be banned.)
Maybe we can get "Code Completion" added to the slang words for cocaine, https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-07/DIR-022-18.p...
Source is me, a burn out
It’s better when people aren’t trying to guess when you’re on it or joking that you must have taken a double dose when you are extra productive (with or without the drug).
But fyi it’s super common in the US and often unheard of outside of it.
You either don't know many programmers, or they're not being forthcoming with you about such personal matters.
However only very few of my peers went into working directions where it even makes sense to push yourself so hard.
Give me a break dude, what do you think Coffee is?
If you want to actually benefit from 'illegal' drugs in a work environment look into microdosing psychodelics.
It isn't. The side effects of adderall are lower than that of coffee and way more effective at dealing with the symptoms of ADHD.
Maybe it's different where ever you live, but in my neck of the woods "using Adderall to stay on top of things" seem virtually unheard of.
The tone you're using here seems quite judgemental to me. If I had to, I'd bet anyone working near you detects the same and is not going to be open with you about their use of such things.
If you only knew how ridiculous that statement is you wouldn't have made it.
I don't understand why you keep insisting that everyone in the world must have the same habits as the people you know, or that there must somehow be something wrong with people ("no programmer friends", "judgemental attitude") if that's not the case.
My mistake, I assumed we were talking about the USA. In the US ADHD meds are commonplace, without even considering knowledge workers using them for increased performance.
I've always wondered why privileged people like to abuse Adderall or Ritalin when methamphetamine is clearly better, and more readily available. Programmers, law students etc.
Is it because abusing prescription drugs is considered bad, but not that bad, in their circles, but using meth is a bridge too far?
Or is it just a way to lie to yourself?
Hmmm, damn it, I'm going to have to re-evaluate some existing notions.
The other problem is the low bar to get a script. If someone had to see a psychiatrist then be put on a drug like guanfacine for several months before they were put in a controlled substance, many (including those with ADD) would fallout.
Programmers getting scripts to do their work is hardly the problem.
How far... from what? Cocaine was legal and sold at pharmacies without prescription a mere two generations ago. Coca Cola had cocaine in it (coca leafs).
Cocaine is still a legal to prescribe medication, but it could no longer be obtained over the counter in 1914 by the Harrison Narcotics Act.
Cocaine stopped being an ingredient in Coca-Cola in 1903. Coca leaves are still an ingredient in Coca-Cola.
Sigmund Freud and Uber Cocaine https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/074054...
Just like Ritalin or Adderal abuse it's a symptom of a society that always asks more and more of its people.
If you don't suffer from permanent pressure cocaine is just a boring, expensive, usually dirty stimulant. If you do however, it's your downfall.