[Lauren]

I've never used drugs in my life and as far as I can see I probably never will.
Of course I'm a hypocrite, my main reason is health issues with drugs - but then I'm an alcohol drinker. However, drugs can become very addictive and are against the law in any case. It's not just drugs that are the underlying problem here, either - because drug use/abuse can lead to many other problems - such as losing touch with reality, turning to the criminal side of things to get your 'fix'.

Drugs were once something to take if you were "cool" but I feel they have taken yet another loop in recent years to the point where they are no longer seen as being 'cool' (Contrary to all Pete Doherty idolisers). I know a few people at my college who take drugs at some of the party's I attend and people generally seem to keep well away from them, or speak bad about them. It does get to the point where the drug users get so involved in the drug that they don't care about other people perspectives and genuinely don't see wrong in what they are doing.

Some drugs are classed as "safer" than others but the desirability factor of most drugs is that it feeds an addiction - and so the drug is not safe because it starts an addiction which as I have already said, can lead to other forms of self harm. (Thats how I see drug abuse, blatant self harm).

Of course some drugs can be given on prescription and personally I am all for this but in small amounts. There have been cases where people claim cannabis on the NHS to help alleviate pains in crippling illnesses, and then many become hooked and abuse cannabis - thats why I feel the NHS should keep tighter restrictions on who should receive such prescriptions and how much they should be for.

As for drug users I don't think much of them. If someone is willing to take drugs and destroy their health with something that is against the law - then that is completely up to them - and as long as they don't hurt others (Which it can lead to, many people hurting family members by being distant).

I feel kids are educated well on drugs these days. With it coming into the public eye with cases where teenagers have died from OD's etc - I, personally, had many lessons on drugs in school to the point where it become tedious. So I don't think the problem is with education - but probably with role models (Many of them rock stars) glorifying drug use.