I was recently sitting down to tea with a friend of mine's (we're both in our early 20's), and the topic wandered over to hard drug use (e.g. stuff like cocaine and crystal meth, not marijuana or alcohol.) When comparing our perceptions of how common hard drug use was, we were completely surprised when our answers were polar opposites: I saw it as an extremely rare thing, but she said it was something virtually everyone did but no one talked about. What's the truth here? How prevalent is hard drug use anyway? And why do our experiences differ so much?
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posted by Conspire
on May 24, 2013 -
39 answers
I saw a post on tumblr, about why some larger bills have little stamps on them. The reason they gave is that drug dealers will stamp the bills to keep track of them. This makes absolutely no sense to me.
So question one is, does this sound accurate? Does anyone have any way of saying if this is or isn't true?
Question two, why the heck are these stamps on bills?
Here's a
picture of a purported drug dealer stamped bill.
posted by trogdole
on May 11, 2013 -
8 answers
From a medical/science standpoint, what are the limiting factors that make it difficult to produce pharmaceutical drugs that do not have negative side effects?
posted by 6spd
on Feb 17, 2013 -
22 answers
About a decade ago I started University in the UK. Towards the end of my first year a friend I made began to become paranoid. His behaviour towards me was particularly troubling, and eventually rumours circulated that he had been institutionalised. I have always wondered what happened to him, and if he is OK. My concerns linger these many years later, but tracking him down online has achieved nothing. Is there any way I can find out if everything turned out alright for him, preferably without causing too many ripples?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 11, 2013 -
12 answers
Only marijuana lets me be the person I want to be. But I don't want to be dependent on drugs just to function.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 30, 2013 -
14 answers
The movie was released in the late 1990's early 2000's. It's a movie set in LA in the 70's or 80's. There's a murder (or beating?) at a nice house over a drug deal.
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posted by roboton666
on Jan 17, 2013 -
8 answers
Extremely medicated mom: My mom has struggled with intense bipolar disorder for most of her life. She attempted suicide twice and has been hospitalized 3 times. For the past 3 years or so, medication has stabilized her moods, but at what appears to me to be a heavy cost. She's dulled and flattened to the point that she seems like only a small fraction of the person she was. It's hard for me to see her this way, but I don't know what I can do.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 26, 2012 -
20 answers
Biochemistry Filter: I believe I have some kind of resistance/insensitivity to opioid painkillers, although I have not been able to verify that this is a medically known phenomenon. I am due to give birth soon, and I am concerned with the possible efficacy of drugs that may be administered for labor pain. Do you have any experience with this in yourself or others, or can you comment on the chemical plausibility of it?
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posted by zadermatermorts
on Dec 20, 2012 -
20 answers
How long do the blood-thinning effects of alcohol last? I'm asking so I can know how far in advance to stop consuming alcohol before my next tattoo session.
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posted by rhiannonstone
on Dec 17, 2012 -
8 answers
pharmacology question: what does it mean that I reacted so very badly to a single dose of Lunesta (eszopiclone, 3 mg)?
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posted by Corvid
on Oct 24, 2012 -
4 answers
A man in my neighborhood is selling drugs, and from what I can tell its something hard. I want to report this anonymously to the police. I'm afraid of retribution if he or any of his associates find out about this. I'm confident I've identified him on Facebook. What materials should I include with my report? How likely is it to be followed up on?
posted by anonymous
on Oct 19, 2012 -
18 answers
I'd like to read more about Mexico's narco-war (both the inner workings of the cartels and violence against civilians/journalists/law enforcement). Both articles and books are welcome--nonfiction and journalism preferred, but academic texts OK. English preferred, but Spanish is OK too.
posted by elizeh
on Oct 5, 2012 -
12 answers
What (if any) powdered drugs, illegal or pharmaceutical, can be identified by taste or smell - you know, like how the cops do on TV?
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posted by forallmankind
on Sep 24, 2012 -
15 answers
I bought a pack of Cepacol lozenges at my local neighborhood pharmacy here in Massachusetts, and was surprised that I was required to scan my driver's license to get it. Active ingredients are listed as Benzocaine 7.5 mg and Dextromethorphan Hbr 5 mg, none of which I recognize as chemical precursors to drugs with a high potential for abuse, like (for instance) Pseudoephedrine. Dextromethorphan does have some potential for abuse on its own, but the ingredient is common to most cold formulations, none of which are tracked or rationed. Does anyone here have a good explanation for the driver's license requirement?
posted by The Confessor
on Sep 19, 2012 -
5 answers
How can I get over periods of psychosis and depression by putting it behind me, gaining some experiences and achievements to make the relapses feel like less of a big deal?or How can I stop thinking about me?
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posted by Erred
on Sep 19, 2012 -
9 answers
My neighbor's dogs wake me up at all hours of the night barking. It is taking its toll on my well being and capacity to work. It's actually a big big problem that is not fixed by ear plugs and multiple sources of white noise. I am literally surrounded by white noise.
The big problem? I'm fairly certain they are drug dealers. I have tried to handle the noise in a low key straightforward manner, acting as if they wer not drug dealers. Someone tipped off the landlord though about the barking and they blame me for "tattling".
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posted by KoiPond
on Sep 14, 2012 -
54 answers
Need some advice regarding facing your fears, starting a new life, self confidence, social anxiety and self-loathing
(I will be getting therapy soon)
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posted by frenchfryfrenzy
on Sep 12, 2012 -
8 answers
Sex, guns, drugs, rocknroll, fashion blog site from a few years back? Link please?
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posted by varion
on Sep 5, 2012 -
8 answers
How do I talk to doctors when they prescribe something that I believe is contraindicated for me if they don't believe or care? This keeps happening and I'm kind of sick of being a guinea pig to only have exactly what I said would happen, happen.
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posted by [insert clever name here]
on Aug 20, 2012 -
29 answers
Please help me find some alternative activities to drugs and booze - stuff to keep me diverted and entertained during the long nights of insomnia and loneliness I'm looking forward to over the next few months. I'm looking for both general and specific recommendations - books to read, films to watch, games to play, things to cook and activities outside the house I could get involved in.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 15, 2012 -
30 answers
Dealing with a friend who is in a bad place in her life - how can I handle this situation with grace and as few hurt feelings as possible?
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posted by sarahgrace
on Aug 13, 2012 -
15 answers
How do I stop doing drugs when it is so involved with my friends and my own personal view of artistic creativity?
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posted by lyinlion
on Aug 12, 2012 -
54 answers
My best friend of three years, lover, and fiancee did a line of coke today. Intellectually, it shouldn't be that big of a deal, but I cannot stop freaking out. How can I be okay with this, and with him?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 9, 2012 -
78 answers
Looking for a relatable, compassionate, pill-free mental/emotional/marital health specialist in Seattle, for a spouse who hates doctors. Any recommendations (or advice in general)? Details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 25, 2012 -
9 answers
I want to go to this festival with my friends but not if they're going to do tons of drugs. Can I avoid an ultimatum?
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 11, 2012 -
32 answers
How do i talk to my doctor about switching my prescription from Vicodin(hydrocodone)/Tramadol to oxycodone?
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posted by isopropyl
on Jun 8, 2012 -
17 answers
A close friend recently revealed to me that she's been using heroin on occasion. She is unconcerned; I am freaking out. I need advice on how to handle this, or if I can.
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 4, 2012 -
38 answers
I have been almost immune to most medications for as long as I've been taking them, particularly pain medications, anesthesia, anxiety medications, benzodiapines, and psychotropic drugs (this one is iffy because sometimes they don't work on people anyway). I feel literally nothing even on high doses. Wtf?
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posted by jitterbug perfume
on Jun 2, 2012 -
21 answers
Neuropharmacologyfilter. Brief me on the practical basics (and the theoretical rudiments) of what it means to have a chemical in one's "system."
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posted by foursentences
on May 27, 2012 -
5 answers
From past addicts/addiction experience - At what point does a teen drug use go beyond teenage rebellion into a full blown addiction, and can anything be done if the teen doesn't want help, and not all parties are on board with consequences? Snowflake details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on May 19, 2012 -
15 answers
At some point, I remember someone telling me that one of the reasons vicodin includes acetominophen in addition to hydrocodone was so that people trying to abuse Vicodin would suffer liver failure before the opioid abuse killed them. Wikipedia does not mention this, nor do the obvious Google queries. Can anyone confirm or deny this? And, more generally, what would be the ethical or business considerations that inform that decision?
posted by d. z. wang
on May 18, 2012 -
13 answers
My roommate is going to try to kick me out of the apartment for breaching one of his rules twice. I am struggling with communicating how sorry I am and how much I would like to stay.
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 28, 2012 -
46 answers
Is it possible to get high from tea made out of poppies ordered off of ebay (the kind used for floral arrangements)?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 14, 2012 -
21 answers
My neighbors moved in two days ago, and haven't stopped yelling since. And they're drug dealers. Can I nip this in the bud?
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posted by vathek
on Mar 5, 2012 -
18 answers
I need to mail prescription medications from the United States to my son, who is doing student exchange in Brazil. How can I best accomplish this?
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posted by SomeTrickPony
on Feb 10, 2012 -
14 answers
I manage a harm reduction based needle exchange program that operates both from a fixed location (Mon to Fri, always the same hours) and via delivery (you call, we bring you your drug use supplies).
Our rate of return on the used needles is abysmally low - and I need to increase it. How can I convince people to bring me their used needles?
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posted by VioletU
on Jan 5, 2012 -
28 answers
