Drugs/Alcohol

[CW2]

Parents/Students: there are many cases over the last 100+ years involving alcohol and military school students. Some tragic, most end with discipline, maybe extra duty, kind of a 'time out' if you aren't following me.
Cases involving drug use, possession or sale end way worse. Almost always separation from school, and a black mark on your reputation for the next 65 years, give or take. Former classmates reading an obituary will remember how what's-his-name got kicked out for drugs decades ago. And with Facebook, Instagram and other social media tools...........that stuff will follow you even in the civilian world.
Recommendation: if drugs and poor choices ar probable for you, please stay away from military/service schools........and give more deserving students a chance.
My son graduated from US Merchant Marine Academy, and I was a lowly ARMY aviator.

 

[99Gold]

Parents/Students: there are many cases over the last 100+ years involving alcohol and military school students. Some tragic, most end with discipline, maybe extra duty, kind of a 'time out' if you aren't following me.
Cases involving drug use, possession or sale end way worse. Almost always separation from school, and a black mark on your reputation for the next 65 years, give or take. Former classmates reading an obituary will remember how what's-his-name got kicked out for drugs decades ago. And with Facebook, Instagram and other social media tools...........that stuff will follow you even in the civilian world.
Recommendation: if drugs and poor choices ar probable for you, please stay away from military/service schools........and give more deserving students a chance.
My son graduated from US Merchant Marine Academy, and I was a lowly ARMY aviator.

We just had this discussion with our boys. Not that I'm condoning alcohol abuse (including under-age drinking) but, golly, consider the consequences of drug use.

 

[CW2]

We just had this discussion with our boys. Not that I'm condoning alcohol abuse (including under-age drinking) but, golly, consider the consequences of drug use.

My son had a minor incident very early at academy. It was handled by his company (midshipman) and discipline was in-house. Could have been a whole lot worse. Yes 100% under age drinking is still wrong. I was an expert at it, maybe that made it easier to abstain when threat of punishment was daunting. But DRUGS...........I wouldn't tolerate anyone who did it. And I didn't know anybody smoking weed, doing lines, or popping pills when I was in training or flying.

 

[Day-Tripper]

Parents/Students: there are many cases over the last 100+ years involving alcohol and military school students. Some tragic, most end with discipline, maybe extra duty, kind of a 'time out' if you aren't following me.
Cases involving drug use, possession or sale end way worse. Almost always separation from school, and a black mark on your reputation for the next 65 years, give or take. Former classmates reading an obituary will remember how what's-his-name got kicked out for drugs decades ago. And with Facebook, Instagram and other social media tools...........that stuff will follow you even in the civilian world.
Recommendation: if drugs and poor choices ar probable for you, please stay away from military/service schools........and give more deserving students a chance.
My son graduated from US Merchant Marine Academy, and I was a lowly ARMY aviator.

Kids don't think a lot about what their lives will be like 10, 20 or 50 years from now.

But I told mine if you use something ONCE and it could kill you (such as a fetanyl-laced anything), better to avoid that thing. Immediate consequences, not when they're in their 50s.

 

[Day-Tripper]

We just had this discussion with our boys. Not that I'm condoning alcohol abuse (including under-age drinking) but, golly, consider the consequences of drug use.

At least you can be reasonably certain a can of beer won't be laced with opioids.

 

[StPaulDad]

Say what you will about Anheiser-Busch, but their quality control has done that.

I just sent my 4C back to the CGA campus this morning. We read about that OD situation yesterday and the first thing she said was "Man we are going to be in for some serious drug talks this week. All the academies are going to react to this." Not a bad thing from this parent's perspective.

 

[99Gold]

Kids don't think a lot about what their lives will be like 10, 20 or 50 years from now.

But I told mine if you use something ONCE and it could kill you (such as a fetanyl-laced anything), better to avoid that thing. Immediate consequences, not when they're in their 50s.

At least you can be reasonably certain a can of beer won't be laced with opioids.

Exactly how our conversation went. We've often talked about how drugs can kill you THE FIRST TIME and the recent news was an unfortunate example of that.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

My son had a minor incident very early at academy. It was handled by his company (midshipman) and discipline was in-house. Could have been a whole lot worse. Yes 100% under age drinking is still wrong. I was an expert at it, maybe that made it easier to abstain when threat of punishment was daunting. But DRUGS...........I wouldn't tolerate anyone who did it. And I didn't know anybody smoking weed, doing lines, or popping pills when I was in training or flying.

So you indulged in and tolerated among others, the major substance being abused , that has caused our military the most problems, the most domestic assaults, the most accidental deaths, without doubt the most health and criminal problems far worse than illegal drugs ?

And you were an expert at this abuse?

Amd talk about a gateway drug that leads to so many bad decisions including sexual assault and illegal drug use nothing is as bad as booze.

My goodness we have spent billions on the bad impact caused from booze. And how many 100000s of lives lost from our AD and former AD?

 

[Day-Tripper]

So you indulged in and tolerated among others, the major substance being abused , that has caused our military the most problems, the most domestic assaults, the most accidental deaths, without doubt the most health and criminal problems far worse than illegal drugs ?

And you were an expert at this abuse?

Amd talk about a gateway drug that leads to so many bad decisions including sexual assault and illegal drug use nothing is as bad as booze.

My goodness we have spent billions on the bad impact caused from booze. And how many 100000s of lives lost from our AD and former AD?

Alcohol abuse is certainly is a terrible cost to society. But as American history (and elsewhere) the idea of prohibition never works and can often makes things worse. Al Capone would attest to that. Probably Elliot Ness too.

I still think it's safer for 18 year olds to be able to drink beer legally, say in a bar or pub, where at least there's some rules and decorum, than drinking hard liquor smuggled into a private home or a barracks.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

Alcohol abuse is certainly is a terrible cost to society. But as American history (and elsewhere) the idea of prohibition never works and can often makes things worse. Al Capone would attest to that. Probably Elliot Ness too.

I still think it's safer for 18 year olds to be able to drink beer legally, say in a bar or pub, where at least there's some rules and decorum, than drinking hard liquor smuggled into a private home or a barracks.

“Prohibition never works and can often make things worse”

You my friend have just summed up the decades long US War on Drugs.

 

[NJROTC-CC]

Alcohol abuse is certainly is a terrible cost to society. But as American history (and elsewhere) the idea of prohibition never works and can often makes things worse. Al Capone would attest to that. Probably Elliot Ness too.

I still think it's safer for 18 year olds to be able to drink beer legally, say in a bar or pub, where at least there's some rules and decorum, than drinking hard liquor smuggled into a private home or a barracks.

It’s hard to tell DS, who turned 18 today, not to drink, when it was legal for me when I was 18. And, there are so many worse things than a few beers. But illegal is illegal and I have to tell him no. It will be easier to warn him about Fentanyl.

 

[Day-Tripper]

“Prohibition never works and can often make things worse”

You my friend have just summed up the decades long US War on Drugs.

Sadly, yes. Billions spent and the results? Lacking. Alternative solutions? I'm not sure I have any. The Portugal experiment, favored by libertarians, might be worth looking into. Legalized pot at the national level? Maybe. At least it would take the lacing with fetanyl issue out of the equation (like repealing Prohibition stopped people going blind from drinking bad bathtub gin). Treat chronic pain with marijuana? Perhaps. Better than opioids, either legal or illegal, in most situtions (cancer patients excepted.)

But prohibition just doesn't work. That I'm sure of. After spening hundreds of billions, incarerating millions (over the last 50 years), ever increasing prison penalties, dedicating huge amounts of law enforcement, DAs, courts, prison costs, probation officers, drug testing, etc. are we any less of a drug-addled society than in 1970, when President Nixon launched his "war"? Are drugs more, or less, expensive?

Though much ridiculed, I think Nancy Reagan's simply "Just say no (to drugs)" campaign was a pretty cheap and somewhat effective program. Better (or as good as) than hiring 10,000 DEA agents, more cops more judges, more prison guards, more prisons, etc.

Back to prohibition. I remember reading that there was a huge backlog in waiting lists to become a federal prohibition agent in the 1920s. Not beacuse so many young American men (and agents were men back then) wanted to enforce anti-drinking laws. No, because they knew they could make 20 times their official salary in taking bribes. Every week a paper bag filled with cash . And, of course, not pay taxes on that graft. Same with most state and local cops in the 1920s-1930s.

By 1932 (last full year of prohibition) cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, Miami, Los Angeles, et al no longer had "speakeasies". Why? Complete and total lack of enforcing the prohibition law had become so overwhelming that no one bothered to even hide it anymore. It had become a joke.

 

[Day-Tripper]

It’s hard to tell DS, who turned 18 today, not to drink, when it was legal for me when I was 18. And, there are so many worse things than a few beers. But illegal is illegal and I have to tell him no. It will be easier to warn him about Fentanyl.

I never told my DSs not to drink, at least from when they 16 and older, but drew a stark line when it came to driving or getting into a car when the driver had been drinking, but to call his mom or I, regardless of the time of night, and we'd drive them (and their friends) home safely. It worked (I think).

 

[Don't Give Up the Ship]

I used leadership by example principles to demonstrate responsible and ethical behavior. with my two sons. It worked in business, the Navy and with my two sons. I see too many parents leading by poor example: "do as I say-not as I do."

 

[NJROTC-CC]

I used leadership by example principles to demonstrate responsible and ethical behavior. with my two sons. It worked in business, the Navy and with my two sons. I see too many parents leading by poor example: "do as I say-not as I do."

I don’t smoke, rarely drink and my sons have never seen me intoxicated. My Dad was the same way. He didn’t even drink coffee. But when I hit college, I tried just about everything at least once. Leading by example is important, but it is no guarantee.

Remember back in the 60s when they told us that if you smoked marijuana one time it would lead to heroin? We knew that was BS. But the truth is it can ruin a military career.

As far as alcohol, I will tell DS that it is illegal for him to drink if he’s under 21 and that a criminal record will hurt him even if the one or two beers won’t. But as @Day-Tripper said: The most important thing is to avoid drinking and driving.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

“Just say no”

The true story is a better example of what not to do.

The anti drug abuse bumper sticker plan put forth by a drug addict. The classic example of ,do not do as I do , but do as I say.

Or it’s one kind of a substance abuser looking down at other types of substance abusers. Elitism among addicts?

Nancy is a classic example of addiction. And that might be her best example of how difficult and easy addiction can become.

 

[justdoit19]

“Just say no”

The true story is a better example of what not to do.

The anti drug abuse bumper sticker plan put forth by a drug addict. The classic example of ,do not do as I do , but do as I say.

Or it’s one kind of a substance abuser looking down at other types of substance abusers. Elitism among addicts?

Nancy is a classic example of addiction. And that might be her best example of how difficult and easy addiction can become.

Or, it’s trying to improve oneself. Use your own struggles, and the empathy you have, that only one who has been there has, to help others. Just bc your an addict doesn’t mean you can’t try and help yourself and others.

What an unnecessary, mean spirited post.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

Or, it’s trying to improve oneself. Use your own struggles, and the empathy you have, that only one who has been there has, to help others. Just bc your an addict doesn’t mean you can’t try and help yourself and others.

What an unnecessary, mean spirited post.

It’s an honest post. It was a dumb anti drug approach this—— just say no.

Addiction impacts all of society. And all parts of society. It’s a major public health issue. Hiding addiction is not the way to deal with addiction. Dealing with it openly and honestly is by far the best way to go.

sort of a me too moment for drugs

we have had several First Lady addicts. They should be seen no different than any other addict. Part of a larger public health issue. Their addictions should be learning opportunities not hidden among the tall weeds and forgotten..

 

[CW2]

So you indulged in and tolerated among others, the major substance being abused , that has caused our military the most problems, the most domestic assaults, the most accidental deaths, without doubt the most health and criminal problems far worse than illegal drugs ?

And you were an expert at this abuse?

Amd talk about a gateway drug that leads to so many bad decisions including sexual assault and illegal drug use nothing is as bad as booze.

My goodness we have spent billions on the bad impact caused from booze. And how many 100000s of lives lost from our AD and former AD?

“Prohibition never works and can often make things worse”

You my friend have just summed up the decades long US War on Drugs.

Drugs...........it's just different. You can lump alcohol together with drugs, but you know you will be wrong. Officers call at the 'O' Club........way different than doing lines, smoking weed. And today, that **** can have deadly things laced in it. My expertise at underage drinking came from growing up in a European culture where mild drinking wasn't a big deal. Pills, powders, needles, smoking......was considered diabolical and criminal. As an old, arthritic, multi-joint replaced, daily chronic pain, PT doing, never-give-up type.......I have discovered the benefits of medical marijuana. But never considered doing anything illegal when the government was paying me.

 

[usna1985]

There are several reasons that most people view alcohol differently than drugs.

Most people drink alcohol responsibly. Having one drink typically doesn't cause immediate problems. Even getting drunk (which most adults have at some point in their lives) doesn't usually lead to lifetime addiction or cause life-threatening health problems for the average consumer.

Putting aside MJ (don't want to wade into that debate), it's kind of hard to use cocaine, heroin, meth, opioids or fentanyl "responsibly" (outside of a legitimate medical setting, for certain opiates). One-time use can cause immediate and irreparable harm to the user. One time use can lead to severe addiction. That's the reason "just say no" probably is the best policy, even if it's hard to "enforce."