# Drugs :( **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 19, 2000, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124 "2000-03-19T01:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NothingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b77776/32.png) [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/21 "2000-03-20T04:59:00Z")
Now wait a minute. You are all sharing your experiences here. We shall have none of that. After all, X for the OP could mean heavenly bliss, extreme intelligence, and a great sex life. So no more experience sharing!! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/22 "2000-03-20T06:37:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by NothingMan: > So, LSD = happiness, and religion = unhappiness. > > Ooooooohkayyyyy. You need some classes in reading comprehension, because I didn’t say or imply that at all. Not even close. > [@](#): > > I “shouldn’t try to tell others what their experiences with anything will be”. Right. Well I believe that if you shoot yourself in the head with a gun it will be a bad experience, but, what the hell do I know ?? As far as drugs go, I only had my best frined in college die from X - but hey - the OP should do lots of it !! It could be like Mardis Gras and warm puppies and your first kiss all rolled into one ! So do lots of X and any other drug you can get your hands on, and while you are at it invite OpalCat to come along for the ride. **I have been lurking long enough to know she is completely happy and stable !** (bolding mine: what on earth does that have to do with anything? ) _sigh_ Now I know what the “Nothing” in your name means. Anyway, here is the slowed down version for folks like you who are too slow to understand: You can give all the medical facts about drugs, and offer your opinions and experiences on them til the cows come home and I won’t say a thing. The thing I had a problem with was this line: “I have been whereof you speak and it is nowhere, nothingness.” Here is why: No. You have not been anywhere but your own experiences. You have NOT been where I have been. If you want to say “I have been whereof you speak and for me it is nowhere, nothingness.” I wouldn’t have a problem. But you stated your experience as universal, when it is clearly not. To say “drugs are/can be dangerous” is not a problem. To say “I think you shouldn’t do drugs” is not a problem. To say “my experiences are the universal experiences, and yours will be the same” is just idiocy, a trait you seem to have in abundance. For the record: I have never done X, or most other drugs for that matter. * * * – From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion” _the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable_ O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2000, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/23 "2000-03-21T03:35:00Z")
I’ve said this in other threads: when I started smoking weed, it opened my world for the first time. * * * “His eyes are as green as a fresh-pickled toad, His hair is as dark as a blackboard, I wish he was mine, he’s really divine, The hero who conquered the Dark Lord.” ---
**Author:** ![R\_dawg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/87869e/32.png) [@R\_dawg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R_dawg)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2000, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/24 "2000-03-21T04:17:00Z")
So…no birth defects reported? ---
**Author:** ![quadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@quadell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quadell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2000, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/25 "2000-03-21T04:29:00Z")
No, no evidence of birth defects. But there are other problems. While not addictive, MDMA (X) still builds up a tolerance. So then 10th time you take it, it won’t be nearly as strong as the first. This is true even if your 10th time is years after your 9th. To me, this indicates a permanent change in the brain. Plus, the stuff hasn’t been studied nearly as well as LSD or others, so just because no study has linked it to birth defects doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t cause them. There just haven’t been that many studies on it. Then again, alcohol is addictive and causes birth defects, and most of America takes that drug. Just read Kat’s links thoroughly, and if you take MDMA, be careful. Your Quadell P.S. The authorities are really cracking down on MDMA lately, so busts are a high risk right now. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2000, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/26 "2000-03-21T04:39:00Z")
Why are you so worried about birth defects? You’re a 17 year old male, right? Or not? Something tells me there’s more to these ‘friends’ of yours. What’s the Dope? ---
**Author:** ![R\_dawg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/87869e/32.png) [@R\_dawg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R_dawg)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2000, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/27 "2000-03-22T20:44:00Z")
Yuppers you got me there. My “friend” is someone I do like a bit ;P. But she is serious about life and stuff and now that the issue was brought up around us I know that I would be the one blamed if later on she had a messed up kid. I like her cause she’s the kind that I could fall in deep love with forever. But yeah…I just wanna know so I can say “These experts told me blah blah blah” and hope to change her mind. By the way…are you a mother? (Last person who posted on this). Cause I kinda got BUSTED! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2000, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/28 "2000-03-22T21:09:00Z")
Fun story: This kid I went to high school with just died. They found him curled in the fetal position, naked in back of a Seventh Day Adventist Church. He was definately one of the popular kids, but he was always very nice, never arrogant, just one cool kid. Turns out he and this OTHER kid I went to high school with were doing 'shrooms and went to the local teeny-bopper skating rink (closest thing to a surreal experiance you can get 'round these parts.) Brian (dead kid) started having a VERY bad trip, and the other kid decided it would be in everyone’s best interest to get him home. They’re driving home, and stop at a stop light in front of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Brian starts ripping off his clothes, opens the door and, still pulling off clothes, starts running around in 2 feet of snow screaming “I’ve found it! I’ve found God!” And ran in back of the church. The other kid chases him, and tries to get him to get back in the car, and Brian attacks him, telling him that “No, man, **I** found God. Not you, ME.” The other kid goes to get help. He brings back Brian’s dad and a cop. Brian is already dead of exposure. Sure, it couldn’t happen to everyone, and sure, you can have great experiances with hallucigens, but IN A CONTROLLED ENVIROMMENT. This kid wasn’t a druggie per se, he was going to the New England Cullinary Institute to become a chef. Beware. ps: I went to Woodstock '99. They had nightly raves. It was the only time I was ever tempted to do X, because it was so godammed boring without it. But they were charging 40 a hit! Pluuuuuu-ease. ---
**Author:** ![quadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@quadell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quadell)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/29 "2000-03-22T21:54:00Z")
SwimmingRiddles, What was the Brian’s last name, and in what city did it happen? I don’t mean to doubt you or discount the seriousness of a tragic death, but I’ve heard so many friend-of-a-friend stories without names or locations that I’ve been a bit hardened. Snopes said there’s never been a documented case of someone jumping off a building while stoned because he thought he could fly, or going blind from staring at the sun while tripping. So if you have a source (anyone can look up the obits), maybe it’ll do some good to have a real-live documented case people can point to. If not, I’m going to have file it with the “…and he still believes he’s an orange” stories. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/30 "2000-03-23T07:19:00Z")
Goin’ on a bumpin’ spree… ---
**Author:** ![crackwise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@crackwise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crackwise)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/31 "2000-03-23T07:46:00Z")
Tried X once. In London. The stuff I had wasn’t good. Mostly speed. Terrible time. That was **my** experience. In college, I had numerous friends who did X and had wonderful times. There is research being done. I have a nice picture of some of that research. One month after taking X only once, there are many areas of the brain where serotonin reception sites are NOT back to normal. One month. Don’t let birth defects be your only consideration. There are other aspects of your health that you should think about. This is coming from someone who has no regrets about his drug experimentation days. Did acid several times. Found that mushrooms were much better. The pot I smoked here in N.M. is much better than most of the stuff I had back in Georgia. Still got things accomplished. Didn’t slack off. Found myself more creative or it sometimes started off a creative kick. Drugs now? No. It’s been many years and I also now have a kid of my own (16 months). If you’re the experimenting type, you’re probably going to do it anyway. I’d give it some time, though. Think about **why** you’re considering it. It’s hard, but get all your friends’ voices out of your head and your decision. * * * ~handcrafted signatures since 1975~ ---
**Author:** ![NothingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b77776/32.png) [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/32 "2000-03-23T07:51:00Z")
I had forgotten about this thread. OpalCat - you are right, it seems I may have taken the whole issue a tad personally . . . sorry. Hope you can understand why. I attacked you personally and that was tacky of me. I do not advocate drugs, in my experience they tear lives apart. But I suppose the mistakes are the OP and anyone elses to make. Kay ? * * * “No one cares how pretty the souffle is, if the appetizer is turds-in-a-blanket.” Bill McNeil, _NewsRadio_ ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/33 "2000-03-23T13:31:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by quadell: > \*\*SwimmingRiddles, > > What was the Brian’s last name, and in what city did it happen? I don’t mean to doubt you or discount the seriousness of a tragic death, but I’ve heard so many friend-of-a-friend stories without names or locations that I’ve been a bit hardened. Snopes said there’s never been a documented case of someone jumping off a building while stoned because he thought he could fly, or going blind from staring at the sun while tripping. So if you have a source (anyone can look up the obits), maybe it’ll do some good to have a real-live documented case people can point to. If not, I’m going to have file it with the “…and he still believes he’s an orange” stories. > > Your Quadell\*\* Atherton. He died in Williston, Vermont, he was from South Burlington, Vermont. He was living in Shelburne, Vermont at the time of his death. He was 20 years old. [Brian’s Obit](http://www.freepressclassified.com/cv3/burlington/search?searchterm%3Alist=&subclass%3Alist=All&mainclass=Obits&searchterm%3Alist=%22atherton%22)[Transcript of the news story identifing Brian](http://tv3.wcax.com/cgi-bin/tdtwais-gw.cgi?action=getsingledoc&sfile=/arch/2000FEB/2000-02-10.12.06.htm&qry=%22Atherton%22) The 'shrooms are not mentioned because the family asked that the drug aspect not be played up. And because this is Vermont, the media respected that. But knock yourself out. * * * DON PEDRO: Your silence most offends me, and to be merry best becomes you; for, out of question, you were born in a merry hour. BEATRICE: No, sure, my lord, my mother cried; but then there was a star danced, and under that was I born. -Much Ado About Nothing, Act II, Sc: i ---
**Author:** ![quadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@quadell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quadell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/34 "2000-03-23T19:55:00Z")
SwimmingRiddles, I’m sorry about your friend. I didn’t mean to sound like an ass. This is the first case I’ve heard of where someone’s died of doing something stupid while tripping on mushrooms, but the story checks out. > [@](#): > > We know more now about that young man found dead in Williston Tuesday. State police say he was 20-year-old Brian Atherton of Shelburne. Police say Atherton was riding around with friends Monday night, when he apparently stripped naked and took off running. His body was found in a field off Route 2-A. No word on cause of death…Police are waiting for a toxicology report – which would determine if Atherton was using drugs or alcohol. That was on February 10th so the toxicology report should be in by now, and if the news didn’t release it, I’m sure it’s because the family asked them not to. Again, I’m sorry, and I hope people learn something from this. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![quadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@quadell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quadell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/35 "2000-03-23T20:00:00Z")
SwimmingRiddles, I’m sorry about your friend. I didn’t mean to sound like an ass. This is the first case I’ve heard of where someone’s died of doing something stupid while tripping on mushrooms, but the story checks out. > [@](#): > > We know more now about that young man found dead in Williston Tuesday. State police say he was 20-year-old Brian Atherton of Shelburne. Police say Atherton was riding around with friends Monday night, when he apparently stripped naked and took off running. His body was found in a field off Route 2-A. No word on cause of death…Police are waiting for a toxicology report – which would determine if Atherton was using drugs or alcohol. That was on February 10th so the toxicology report should be in by now, and if the news didn’t release it, I’m sure it’s because the family asked them not to. Again, I’m sorry, and I hope people learn something from this. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![quadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@quadell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quadell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/36 "2000-03-23T20:03:00Z")
SwimmingRiddles, I’m sorry about your friend. I didn’t mean to sound like an ass. This is the first case I’ve heard of where someone’s died of doing something stupid while tripping on mushrooms, but the story checks out. > [@](#): > > We know more now about that young man found dead in Williston Tuesday. State police say he was 20-year-old Brian Atherton of Shelburne. Police say Atherton was riding around with friends Monday night, when he apparently stripped naked and took off running. His body was found in a field off Route 2-A. No word on cause of death…Police are waiting for a toxicology report – which would determine if Atherton was using drugs or alcohol. That was on February 10th so the toxicology report should be in by now, and if the news didn’t release it, I’m sure it’s because the family asked them not to. Again, I’m sorry, and I hope people learn something from this. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![quadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@quadell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quadell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/37 "2000-03-23T20:06:00Z")
SwimmingRiddles, I’m sorry about your friend. I didn’t mean to sound like an ass. This is the first case I’ve heard of where someone’s died of doing something stupid while tripping on mushrooms, but the story checks out. > [@](#): > > We know more now about that young man found dead in Williston Tuesday. State police say he was 20-year-old Brian Atherton of Shelburne. Police say Atherton was riding around with friends Monday night, when he apparently stripped naked and took off running. His body was found in a field off Route 2-A. No word on cause of death…Police are waiting for a toxicology report – which would determine if Atherton was using drugs or alcohol. That was on February 10th so the toxicology report should be in by now, and if the news didn’t release it, I’m sure it’s because the family asked them not to. Again, I’m sorry, and I hope people learn something from this. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![quadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@quadell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quadell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/38 "2000-03-23T20:09:00Z")
SwimmingRiddles, I’m sorry about your friend. I didn’t mean to sound like an ass. This is the first case I’ve heard of where someone’s died of doing something stupid while tripping on mushrooms, but the story checks out. > [@](#): > > We know more now about that young man found dead in Williston Tuesday. State police say he was 20-year-old Brian Atherton of Shelburne. Police say Atherton was riding around with friends Monday night, when he apparently stripped naked and took off running. His body was found in a field off Route 2-A. No word on cause of death…Police are waiting for a toxicology report – which would determine if Atherton was using drugs or alcohol. That was on February 10th so the toxicology report should be in by now, and if the news didn’t release it, I’m sure it’s because the family asked them not to. Again, I’m sorry, and I hope people learn something from this. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![quadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@quadell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quadell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/39 "2000-03-23T20:12:00Z")
SwimmingRiddles, I’m sorry about your friend. I didn’t mean to sound like an ass. This is the first case I’ve heard of where someone’s died of doing something stupid while tripping on mushrooms, but the story checks out. > [@](#): > > We know more now about that young man found dead in Williston Tuesday. State police say he was 20-year-old Brian Atherton of Shelburne. Police say Atherton was riding around with friends Monday night, when he apparently stripped naked and took off running. His body was found in a field off Route 2-A. No word on cause of death…Police are waiting for a toxicology report – which would determine if Atherton was using drugs or alcohol. That was on February 10th so the toxicology report should be in by now, and if the news didn’t release it, I’m sure it’s because the family asked them not to. Again, I’m sorry, and I hope people learn something from this. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![quadell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9bd4f/32.png) [@quadell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quadell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124/40 "2000-03-23T20:24:00Z")
SwimmingRiddles, I’m sorry about your friend. I didn’t mean to sound like an ass. This is the first case I’ve heard of where someone’s died of doing something stupid while tripping on mushrooms, but the story checks out. > [@](#): > > We know more now about that young man found dead in Williston Tuesday. State police say he was 20-year-old Brian Atherton of Shelburne. Police say Atherton was riding around with friends Monday night, when he apparently stripped naked and took off running. His body was found in a field off Route 2-A. No word on cause of death…Police are waiting for a toxicology report – which would determine if Atherton was using drugs or alcohol. That was on February 10th so the toxicology report should be in by now, and if the news didn’t release it, I’m sure it’s because the family asked them not to. Again, I’m sorry, and I hope people learn something from this. Your Quadell [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs/15124.md?page=3)