Alcohol vs. Pills

[Whipped Dream]

I grew up with an alcoholic for a dad. Every day he would come home from work, and stand out in the backyard with a six pack of his favorite beer, or sometimes even the heavy stuff (whiskey). Every fishing trip was always accompanied with him knocking back beers most of the time.

Now that I'm older and I have a family of my own, I don't wish to follow in my dad's footsteps. However, I DO understand now WHY he did it. The stresses of everyday life and raising a family can be overwhelming. He drank to take the edge off. A little coping strategy to keep himself from going krazy.

My question is...why is drinking alcohol to take the edge off considered more acceptable in our society than popping a mild opiate/benzo/or whatever your pleasure to gain the same effect?

Seems like a double standard to me. Someone prove me wrong please.

 

[Lord]

The following is about benzos, not opiates.

Probably because alcohol is legal, and because benzos are sleep meds/ tranquilizers... scary words. 8)

IMO+IME
Alcohol makes you act out more than benzos do, but benzos dull your emotions more. Also benzo dependence and withdrawal is often extreme (time to taper and withdrawal). The case is more severe than with alcohol. Also, benzos can be very moreish and it's much easier to swallow or eat many pills than to drink a lot of alcohol.
Alcohol is no joke, but I think benzos are worse.

This took me 20 minutes to write.
I perfected this post just for you...

 

[fryingsquirrel]

I disagree, though I speak only for myself. I'm an asshole on alcohol, starting fights and shit. Other than a minor shoplifting problem I'm cool on benzos.

 

[n y m u s]

The news hasn't done much to help this, doing stories on prescription abuse, which assists the general publics soft, malleable mind to come to the conclusion that all drugs are the same.

For instance, I've been doing black tar heroin for two years, mostly shooting up. Although it is simply a chemically changed substance, and so is alcohol, you bet your ass I can't even mention I do it to people without acompletely shocked and confused reaction. Whereas if you saw someone doing coke at a party or club, you would maybe laugh a little, pass it off, and accept it. You wouldn't walk up to the person, telling them "hey that's a hard drug, don't do that shit in public". ( know that I would never be stupid enough to do heroin in front of a bunch of people who don't even know what it is). Its just the taboo that surrounds certain drugs that makes people overreact( in the case of drugs like heroin) mind you, heroin is slowly fucking up my life, but I am well aware of that fact) or underreact ( in the case of substances like alcohol)

 

[lman_15]

I disagree, though I speak only for myself. I'm an asshole on alcohol, starting fights and shit. Other than a minor shoplifting problem I'm cool on benzos.

lol took the words right outta my mouth.. alcohol for me = big time asshole take things in a negative context even if they ain't, get depressed, start fights.. benzo's & opiates = chill & for some reason i have the same issue i always tend to steal shit on benzo's, opiates actually a lot more for some reason

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

Alcohol is far worse... It is the most destructive drug, and most easy to make, the cheapest to buy. Hell, dirt is more expensive than this moral degrading toxin. Brain lesions, vitamin deficiencies, severe mood swings,

Benzos are far less toxic, and are given for alcoholism in clinical setting.
The seizures are way more erratic from alcohol. You can't taper with alcohol. You gotta go above and beyond with alcohol, no one in their right mind knows the exact amount to drink not to feel bad, even when you hit that point, you aren't gonna stop. You will drink till you pass out, and IF there is some tomorrow, you will go to buy more...

I don't see how there is any comparison between the two.

You don't have a set amount of alcohol you can buy.

You don't have to call any connect off the street for alcohol.

Benzos don't make you reek.

There is no establishment built around benzo consumption. (Bars, Juke joints...)

There is no stability. I'd thank god if I had some xanax... I'm tired of almost being a bum...

There is no way benzos are worse than alcohol.

 

[Whipped Dream]

Not just benzos and opiates but smoking weed, adderall, etc...whatever drug you take that brings you down and takes the edge off is for some reason considered many times worse than alcohol...because alcohol is deemed legal by society.

 

[Whipped Dream]

Just to bolster my point: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20101101/Alcohol-the-worst-drug!.aspx

"Alcohol - the worst drug!
1. November 2010 22:12

By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD

A new study shows that alcohol abuse is by far the worst habit to have when compared to other recreational drug habits like that of marijuana, crack or heroin. Neuropharmacologist David Nutt, of Imperial College London who is also a former British government drug advisor and his team rated 20 different drugs on a scale that takes into account the various harms caused by a drug. Drugs are rated on the nine harms a drug causes to an individual and seven harms a drug causes to the society. The scale was developed by a panel of experts called the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ICSD), ranges from 0 (no harm) to 100 (greatest possible harm). It is weighted so that a drug that scores 50 is half as harmful as a drug that scores 100.

Nutt and colleagues write, “The highest and lowest overall harm scores … are 72 for alcohol and 5 for mushrooms… The ICSD scores lend support to the widely accepted view that alcohol is an extremely harmful drug both to users and to society.” Alcohol scores as the most harmful drug to society and the fourth most harmful drug to individual users. Alcohol has been linked to more than 60 diseases say researchers so this is no surprise.

James C. Garbutt, an alcohol researcher of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admitted, “Alcohol does all kinds of things in the body, and we're not fully aware of all its effects… It's a pretty complicated little molecule.”




WE LIVE IN A FUCKED UP SOCIETY!!!

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

Just to bolster my point: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20101101/Alcohol-the-worst-drug!.aspx

"Alcohol - the worst drug!
1. November 2010 22:12

By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD

A new study shows that alcohol abuse is by far the worst habit to have when compared to other recreational drug habits like that of marijuana, crack or heroin. Neuropharmacologist David Nutt, of Imperial College London who is also a former British government drug advisor and his team rated 20 different drugs on a scale that takes into account the various harms caused by a drug. Drugs are rated on the nine harms a drug causes to an individual and seven harms a drug causes to the society. The scale was developed by a panel of experts called the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ICSD), ranges from 0 (no harm) to 100 (greatest possible harm). It is weighted so that a drug that scores 50 is half as harmful as a drug that scores 100.

Nutt and colleagues write, “The highest and lowest overall harm scores … are 72 for alcohol and 5 for mushrooms… The ICSD scores lend support to the widely accepted view that alcohol is an extremely harmful drug both to users and to society.” Alcohol scores as the most harmful drug to society and the fourth most harmful drug to individual users. Alcohol has been linked to more than 60 diseases say researchers so this is no surprise.

James C. Garbutt, an alcohol researcher of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admitted, “Alcohol does all kinds of things in the body, and we're not fully aware of all its effects… It's a pretty complicated little molecule.”




WE LIVE IN A FUCKED UP SOCIETY!!!

That's the exact shit I'm talking about.
Since alcohol is acceptable, so many more people are wrapped up in it than almost every other type of addiction.

Again, since it is acceptable, it's just not properly regulated at all. IMHO

 

[TheLostBoys]

Alcohol for me was always to get drunk. I never drank a beer with my meal, I thought beer is nasty to drink while eating. I was always a happy drunk & the kind of guy that would always have fun at a party. I quit drinking alcohol 7 years ago because the thought of killing someone while DUI or getting caught by the police wouldnt be a good thing. Knock on wood neither thing ever happened.

Opiates can be a good thing & bad thing for obvious reasons. I rather take a Vicodin over alcohol any day of the week. I dont have children, but if I did, I could see myself coming home & popping a Vicodin to chill out & take the daily stress away & then take my kids out in the yard & play with them while we laughed & had a good time.

Drinking throws your motor skills right out the door but I can prefectly do anything on opiates.

Alcohol is socially accepted but they still get you with all those DUI's

 

[TheLostBoys]

Just to bolster my point: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20101101/Alcohol-the-worst-drug!.aspx

"Alcohol - the worst drug!
1. November 2010 22:12

By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD

A new study shows that alcohol abuse is by far the worst habit to have when compared to other recreational drug habits like that of marijuana, crack or heroin. Neuropharmacologist David Nutt, of Imperial College London who is also a former British government drug advisor and his team rated 20 different drugs on a scale that takes into account the various harms caused by a drug. Drugs are rated on the nine harms a drug causes to an individual and seven harms a drug causes to the society. The scale was developed by a panel of experts called the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ICSD), ranges from 0 (no harm) to 100 (greatest possible harm). It is weighted so that a drug that scores 50 is half as harmful as a drug that scores 100.

Nutt and colleagues write, “The highest and lowest overall harm scores … are 72 for alcohol and 5 for mushrooms… The ICSD scores lend support to the widely accepted view that alcohol is an extremely harmful drug both to users and to society.” Alcohol scores as the most harmful drug to society and the fourth most harmful drug to individual users. Alcohol has been linked to more than 60 diseases say researchers so this is no surprise.

James C. Garbutt, an alcohol researcher of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admitted, “Alcohol does all kinds of things in the body, and we're not fully aware of all its effects… It's a pretty complicated little molecule.”




WE LIVE IN A FUCKED UP SOCIETY!!!

I hired a waitress at the restaurant I managed. I swore she was 60 years old but was only 41. After a few weeks, we got to talking & she told me shes been drinking since she was 17 & hadnt stopped. She considers herself an alcoholic. Her face looks so aged because of her drinking. Alcohol does age a person alot & ive paid attention to this with others. It seems alocoholics look way older than they really are.

 

[unsettled]

as much as I hate to recommend benzos I think it's better to have a doctor prescribe you some benzos that you take as needed than for you to become an alcoholic.

if you can just drink occasionally than there is no problem with alcohol, if not I think you should find other ways to relieve the stress and if it has to be drugs I think alcohol is the worst or one of the worst to be addicted to.

I've been addicted to most of the major drug types, opiates, rx amphetamines, benzos, weed, alcohol.... alcohol was the worst when done in excess by far, amphetamines were probably second.

P.S. who cares what society thinks, do what is best for you! I don't recommend picking up a heroin habit or anything but there are a lot of options out there if you want to take the edge off. Alcohol is the worst in my experience.

 

[Tony Williams]

I think the major difference is people who drink or get drunk are doing it because they wanna feel good or are doing it socially. Same with Cocaine, "yeah who cares I am at a party, wanna feel goood" Cocaine in the UK is ALMOST socially acceptable like Alcohol.

NOT MY OPINION OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS GENERALLY WHAT PEOPLE THINK - I LOVE A BAG OR OXY NOW AND AGAIN. *happy face* People tend to do Heroin because thier life sucks and need some crap to make it feel better. same maybe can be said for alcohol vs drugs in general.

Just my 2 euros and 2 cent.

.... I want my euros back

 

[Lord]

I usually can't stop myself from overdoing the benzos but alcohol is rarely a problem (except in combos). So I guess I'm right.

 

[StaySedated]

oxys, quaaludes, strong barbs, and temazepam i'd say is better than booze.

however i love alcohol.

i guess the best way to solve this question is to mix the two...

 

[Alex000]

Alcohol has just been around so long, and everyone has become accustomed to it. It is society's drug of choice, at least the one that is considered acceptable. That is just the way the cookie crumbled. It really is bothersome though, for those who use alcohol to look down on those who use other substances for their own pleasure.

 

[phatass]

alcohol is far more dangerous for the body, it's organs, and the mind, than any opiate or benzo...

but, problem with opiates, tolerance, it shoots up when taking daily, what will start as a 5mg oxy/day habit, will end up as a 20mg/day oxy habit by the end of the month, and a 300mg oxy habit after a year just to feel well... thats an expensive habit

problem with benzos, addiction, if you take (for example) valium everyday, you will get addicted, your tolerance takes a longer time to go u than opiates.... but creeps up all the same, start at 5mg a day, be at 50mg/day by the end of the year or sumn....

to choose out of the three i'd say benzos are your best opion, BUT opiates are still less dangerous than alcohol... alcohol fucks u up, can fuck up your family, your life, your love, your social situation etc.

 

[SPC123]

I will play devils advocate here.

Almost everybody drinks. So even if the chances of developing alcoholism, a liver disease or drinking, driving and killing someone are 1 in a million, that's a WHOLE lot of people with diseases killing each other in cars.

If 1 in a million people who abuse Oxy OD, or drive and kill someone, that's what, 2 or 3 people? You'd probably never hear about it.

I guess the point I am trying to make is, if everyone stopped drinking tomorrow and instead picked up opiates and benzo's, and used them to the same extent alcohol is currently used, we might think very differently.

Maybe I am wrong. The point is, we can't know.

 

[TheLostBoys]

I will play devils advocate here.

Almost everybody drinks. So even if the chances of developing alcoholism, a liver disease or drinking, driving and killing someone are 1 in a million, that's a WHOLE lot of people with diseases killing each other in cars.

If 1 in a million people who abuse Oxy OD, or drive and kill someone, that's what, 2 or 3 people? You'd probably never hear about it.

I guess the point I am trying to make is, if everyone stopped drinking tomorrow and instead picked up opiates and benzo's, and used them to the same extent alcohol is currently used, we might think very differently.

Maybe I am wrong. The point is, we can't know.

Point is people do use opiates like alcoholics drink alcohol & they do well in using their opiates & function.

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

I will play devils advocate here.

Almost everybody drinks. So even if the chances of developing alcoholism, a liver disease or drinking, driving and killing someone are 1 in a million, that's a WHOLE lot of people with diseases killing each other in cars.

If 1 in a million people who abuse Oxy OD, or drive and kill someone, that's what, 2 or 3 people? You'd probably never hear about it.

I guess the point I am trying to make is, if everyone stopped drinking tomorrow and instead picked up opiates and benzo's, and used them to the same extent alcohol is currently used, we might think very differently.

Maybe I am wrong. The point is, we can't know.

We do know...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6089353/ns/health-addictions/

http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm

Now, think about this, heroin, doesn't even cause this much of a widespread death rate...