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firmbeliever · Oct 8, 2007, 07:04 AM

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17760130/
Research recently published in the medical journal The Lancet rates the most dangerous drugs (starting with the worst) as follows:

1. Heroin
2. Cocaine
3. Barbiturates
4. Street methadone
5. Alcohol
6. Ketamine
7. Benzodiazepines
8. Amphetamine
9. Tobacco
10. Buprenorphine
11. Cannabis
12. Solvents
13. 4-MTA
14. LSD
15. Methylphenidate
16. Anabolic steroids
17. GHB
18. Ecstasy
19. Alkyl nitrates
20. Khat
-----------------------------------

startover22 · Oct 8, 2007, 07:22 AM

Number 1, 2, 5, 9, 14, & 18... wow, Those are the only ones I know about... or have heard of... and I think # 8 is what they make Meth out of...
Surprisd to see tobacco as #9...

firmbeliever · Oct 8, 2007, 07:28 AM

Me too,
I thought tobacco was number 1.

But start that is no reason for you not to quit!;)

excon · Oct 8, 2007, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by firmbeliever

Research recently published in the medical journal The Lancet rates the most dangerous drugs (starting with the worst) as follows:

Hello firm:

Hmmm, I would have thought this journal would have its act together, but apparently NOT.

I have no idea how they classify dangerous drugs, but I classify them according to how many people they kill each year. According to MY calculations, tobacco would be the worst with around 350,000 deaths a year in this country alone - followed by alcohol which kills another 150,000 or so every year.

The above drugs kill 100 times as many people as do all the illegal drugs put together. Marijuana (cannabis) NEVER killed anybody.

But, what do I know? The Lancet is a respected medical journal and I'm an exconvict.

excon

startover22 · Oct 8, 2007, 07:59 AM

Ok, I just wrote a big ole spill on this whole thing, got way off subject and then deleted it. I agree with excon... and just for the record, just cause you are an excon doesn't mean a damn thing... I mean honestly they didn't take your brain out while you were there... that is obvious with previous answers! And I have come to appreciate a lot of your thoughts and advice!.
That being said... I will say that I know what canabis is... just never put two and two together. I say legalize pot and screw the alcohol... I can live without both... but if someone is going to do a lot of either, it out of be POT! I don't smoke it anymore... but I know many who do... I really would much rather see them smoke, than drink alcohol...

EDIT::::::::::::::::
On another note... the other drugs... well, this world would be a whole lot nicer without them all as far as I am concerned. I honestly think they are not is the right order for the most dangerous. The really need to rethink it!

bushg · Oct 8, 2007, 08:13 AM

The above drugs kill 100 times as many people as do all the illegal drugs put together. Marijuana (cannabis) NEVER killed anybody.
excon, I do read you defending it a lot.I don't know a whole lot about this drug/herb. Other than My brother-in-law's made a living growing it, They fertilized it with bat poopie. Now they found God and stopped growing it. I smoked some while in High school, it was plentiful where I was raised a lot of mj farmers around. The stuff never rocked my world so I figured why bother.
I've been told if you smoke mj you can't get a organ transplant if you need it, the doc's say with a weak immune system there is a fungus that grows on your lungs from smoking mj and that it will take over your lungs and kill you. Also we were told in H.S. that it destroys brain cells. If this is true then it is harmful, also if it wasn't then why the laws against it. Not that all laws make sense or are neccessary( in my opinion). I reallly can't see how it could be much better for you than tobacco (also in my opinion should be illegal).

startover22 · Oct 8, 2007, 08:20 AM

I also notice my kids coming home from school... putting pot in the same catergory as crack... that really gets on my nerves. If tobacco was illegal, I wouldn't smoke, if alcohol was illeagal, I wouldn't drink... for the most part... (living in Alaska) it was legal when I smoked so, I guess I wasn't breaking the law. I am not going to say that anyone of these drugs are good for you, on the other hand some are far worse than others... some may even go to say that doing one leads to another, so yes they are not good.

excon · Oct 8, 2007, 08:23 AM

Hello again, bushg:

I don't make up my numbers, or my facts. That would make me as bad as the propagandists. You can check me out at Drug Facts.

If you're interested in HOW pot came to be illegal, check out this video. It's 22 minutes long, but it'll educate you. Fire one up while you watch.

The Marijuana Conspiracy

excon

N0help4u · Oct 8, 2007, 09:00 AM

Of course also there is the crime statistics to consider as well.
I know a lot of crack addicts and pill heads that will steal their grandmothers medicine and not give a single thought that she needs her medicine or could die. I don't see weed smokers shooting anybody or breaking in houses to steal to support their weed habit for the most part.

As far as pot vs beer. I know a lot of people that ask "Don't you think it better they smoke pot than drink beer?" Trying to justify their weed BUT I reply "How can you ask isn't it better they smoke weed when they DO both anyway?"

But what do I know I never did any drugs BUT I do live in the middle of it~ ALL around me!

KBC · Oct 8, 2007, 08:02 PM

That list might be from a creditable outfit,but its only stats,no way could they come up with a clear, concise list of the worst drugs,In who's opinion would it be based on?

I(unfortunately) Have Done 10 of 20 on that list in my past.Not bragging,Just stating my sources.

Would my list be like theirs,NOPE

Does this make mine wrong,NOPE

As Firm stated"ME,TOO I THOUGHT TOBACCO WAS NUMBER 1"

Are we being propagandized by another "reputable,scientific"outfit,does this fit an agenda?

I can't answer that,I just don't feel the numbers are what the REAL world live in,just their world.

Yes, I am ranting,hungry,angry,lonely, tired.

But I do like this topic!

More later,
Ken

firmbeliever · Oct 13, 2007, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by KBC

That list might be from a creditable outfit,but its only stats,no way could they come up with a clear, concise list of the worst drugs,In who's opinion would it be based on?
I(unfortunately) Have Done 10 of 20 on that list in my past.Not bragging,Just stating my sources.
Would my list be like theirs,NOPE
Does this make mine wrong,NOPE
As Firm stated"ME,TOO I THOUGHT TOBACCO WAS NUMBER 1"
Are we being propagandized by another "reputable,scientific"outfit,does this fit an agenda?
I can't answer that,I just don't feel the numbers are what the REAL world live in,just their world.
Yes, I am ranting,hungry,angry,lonely, tired.
But I do like this topic!
More later,
Ken

It is not about bragging,it is your experience and you are stating facts of your life.

I agree this list has the possibility of being "propagandized" as you put it.

I have met heroin addicts who had used for 30 years or so and were fighting to get a life.
I have met one who had gotten AIDs while using.Many others who had been out on the streets and from what I gathered(which was in 2000),Heroin was the worst drug in their community and the hardest to get rid off.

From my experience in my community,tobacco,heroin,cannabis,solvents and mixture of painkillers etc seems to be the most common.
I have heard of ecstasy and alcohol being used by few,but these seem to be rare compared to the others.

Ken,
Rant all you like.:)

RustyFairmount · Oct 14, 2007, 09:41 AM

The study is flawed, plain and simple. Common sense and simple observation when reading the daily newspaper are enough to prove that. The study was based on so-called "expert" opinions, not scientific facts. The list even seems to contradict an excerpt from the story.

Tobacco causes 40 percent of all hospital illnesses, while alcohol is blamed for more than half of all visits to hospital emergency rooms. The substances also harm society in other ways, damaging families and occupying police services.

If alcohol alone is blamed for more than half of all visits to emergency rooms, it is the most dangerous substance! It is legal. It is everywhere. People crash their cars, injuring or killing people every day because of their alcohol use. Tobacco is also legal, widely used, and is directly connected to certain cancers, birth defects, and heart disease. Alcohol and tobacco are also the 2 most "popular" gateway drugs. I learned how to smoke pot because smoking was easy. Other drugs were taken while drunk.

Why don't we see groups like Mothers Against Ketomine Driving? Or police setting up Ecstasy driving checkpoints? BECAUSE ALCOLHOL AND TOBACCO ARE THE 2 BIGGEST DRUG THREATS TO OUR SOCIETY.

templelane · Oct 14, 2007, 03:04 PM

No one has considered the implications drug buying has on organised crime. By giving drug dealers money you are also giving arms dealers and human traffickers money. Heroin purchase supports corrupt governments in places like Afghanistan. I think there is more danger to drugs than just to the user and immediate people.

The stuff was based on scientific fact, maybe they weighted the importance of each figure differently to how you would have wanted but there was still facts involved.

Also another point that has been missed is yes there are more deaths due to alcohol and smoking but there are also more users. I bet if you factor in population of users vs deaths then you will see why Heroin is more dangerous. Imagine if everyone who drank took heroin or cocaine instead. Our countries would be in an even worse state than they are already.

Originally Posted by RustyFairmount

Why don't we see groups like Mothers Against Ketomine Driving?

Do you know what Ketamine is? Not having a go but imagining someone on Ketamine driving made me laugh! Where I am there are police campaigns against any kind of intoxicated driving.

firmbeliever · Oct 14, 2007, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by templelane

Also another point that has been missed is yes there are more deaths due to alcohol and smoking but there are also more users. I bet if you factor in population of users vs deaths then you will see why Heroin is more dangerous. Imagine if everyone who drank took heroin or cocaine instead. Our countries would be in an even worse state than they are already.

I agree with this,because alcohol is not that easily available in my community,but Heroin pushers are around every other corner.
Hence more abuse heroin and cannabis than any other drug.
Tobaccco is also common,but as it is not as profitable as heroin, and due to this there are less people pushing that.

alexis_2009_detroit · Oct 14, 2007, 05:09 PM

I tried to overdose on heroin once. I was rushed to the emergency room just in time they said when I woke up. I was so depressed. Family friends boyfriend ex boyfriend now though. I was stupid for doing that though I know now. But now I'm always cutting myself. I'm like "killing myself slowly".

excon · Oct 14, 2007, 05:13 PM

Hello alexis:

I'm sorry for you. Get help.

However, your problem has nothing to do with this discussion. Maybe you should post your problems on the health board.

excon

startover22 · Oct 15, 2007, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by alexis_2009_detroit

i tried to overdose on heroin once. i was rushed to the emergency room just in time they said when i woke up. i was so depressed. family friends boyfriend ex boyfriend now though. i was stupid for doin that though i know now. but now im always cutting myself. im like "killing myself slowly".

YouTube - Tracy Chapman crossroad
I really want you to be safe sweet... and I encourage you to talk about it to someone you love... Hugs to you, and if there is anything else we can do...

Sanjay Persad · Oct 20, 2007, 05:36 PM

I don't think that listing is accurate. The dosages used affects the safety of the product. Anabolic steroids are way too low on the list, it should be higher up.

CaptainRich · Oct 20, 2007, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by firmbeliever

Tobaccco is also common,but as it is not as profitable as heroin, and due to this there are less people pushing that.

Greater risk = greater profits.
If earmuffs and mittens were illegal, the prices would go up.

Dr D · Oct 20, 2007, 07:23 PM

I may be wrong, but I believe that study based their ranking on the incremental dose required to go from "usage' to death of the user, and not to the impact of the particular drug on society. From my observation, I would conclude that meth is the worst of the lot, because it is relatively cheap, and will turn your brain to mush long before you run out of money to buy more. With cocaine, most people experience financial ruin before it kills them. Reefer Madness is a no brainer (even though it does not agree with my system) - legalize it, and quit wasting the resources of law enforcement. I have yet to hear of anyone beating their spouse/GF to death after smoking a joint.