I do find there are those who will never have there views shifted. I've also noticed that in areas known for higher drug use, there is more prevalence of drug myths. The problem with old people (speaking from experience ) is that the longer they hold onto a belief - perhaps because they never saw it to be contradicted - the harder it is to break that shell. And shell it is.
It also becomes a position of authority for some, being the "guru" in their crowd. For many who fit this class, when their reputation is at stake, it becomes more than apparent that ego and drug knowledge are not easily parted. Tact and patience is required, and eventully it's usually quite amazing what ideas/ beliefs people will throw away. It's usually at that moment when they learn something which also explains other mysteries for which they had no previous answer for.
None of us know everything. I'm the first to admit I know little about many areas of drugs, especially medicine. I know little of many of the tryptamines, as my experience and/ or extended knowledge of them isn't that great. So I eagerly listen when in the presence of someone with such knowledge....I become a self confessed unashamed groveler
Same goes for any area of interest. Ego willingly gives way to opportunity. Perhaps that's what a small amount of
accurate education in this field really does for someone. It certainly makes one realise a certain vastness in what there is to learn; a humbling realisation in anyones books.
I know of a lady who had a brother fall deeply into heroin while the family watched in vain as things led to disaster. Instead of campaigning against heroin, this lady went and learned about drugs; from use -abuse, eventually attaining high level post grad qualifications. She now works in coordinating fair workplace drug policy as well as in community related drug education and awareness. She has a very well balanced approach to informed, HR based drug use, and is supportive of testing, although it seems she is a lone voice among many rowdy opponents.
Take your time when informing someone who preaches the phoney gospel. They probably genuinely believe what they spout. Wait for the opportunity, then slip in something appropriate...it's a bit like playing cards
On the other side there are older people who really want to learn. Once while attending a rave in a HR capacity, a very straight St Johns worker - an older lady - approached our tent asking if someone could talk to her about drugs. Living in the country all her life, she had many questions. Afterwards she confessed her son was deeply into speed, and she felt so out of touch she couldn't relate to him. So she decided to learn about speed, what it is, where it came from and what it does. Shortly after another lady came over with simialr questions, then an older guy.....and so it was for 2 days. I found it to be an amazing and at time quite a moving experience.