I'm not saying you don't understand the difference. Just that most of the ordinary population doesn't. If you wanna use the word toxic and have a clear definition of the term, that's all fine. And on that basis, sure, nicotine is a toxic substance. But the general population isn't quite so scientifically minded. I'm sure you know this already. You'd have to realize how poor most people's understanding of chemistry is and that they aren't exactly using a particularly clear definition of the word toxic.
So, if you wanna use it in a specific discussion where the meaning of the word is already understood between the participants, then that's all great. I have no problem with that at all. What I'm saying is outside of such a specific audience, I avoid the word all together because of how widely misused it is. And that the way most people imagine the word gives an inaccurate perception of nicotine.
OK, so, going by the definition you've given, sure, nicotine is toxic. But so are many other substances that are used relatively safely all the time. Which is not the way most people understand and use the word. Which is why I avoid using it. So I get what you're saying. But surely you'd agree that the way you'd use the word toxic in this sort of scientific context would be misleading to most ordinary people.
I haven't actually tried fentanyl to my knowledge. Thankfully it's still uncommon in the Australian heroin market. I used to get monthly drug tests when I was getting my methadone at a clinic and I always looked at the results. Only once did anything apart from 6-MAM and morphine show up in my system which I couldn't account for. As I recall it was a benzo, Valium I think. Must have been in an adulterant in some of the h I was using at the time. It had been unusually sedating so I wasn't that surprised. Just that one month though, never happened again.
Just because people incorrectly use the word doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a correct use.
Of course not. Although I generally consider word definitions fairly abstract and relative. Dictionaries eventually conform to the public not the other way around. So a wrong meaning today can be the right meaning tomorrow.
But yes, I agree that there's generally a correct usage of the term. And if everyone understood and followed it, I would too. But they don't, they consider toxic to just mean bad and to always be avoided and use it to mean any substance they imagine to be bad based on generally no better reason than what their social circle decides.
Since most people misuse it, for clarity in communication I avoid the word all together. Sure,if it's someone with a clear understanding like in this instance that's different. But in the real world sadly that's uncommon. And so if people have no idea what they mean using it, I'd rather not confuse them more.
