NationStates Jolt Archive

Well something really unfortunate happened at my school. There was a car accident involving seven kids, and unfortunately two of them died. These kids were from my school and they were in my grade and I just feel like terrible right now for those families who lost the kids. I'm not just saying this because I want people to think I am, I really am feeling really depressed about it. I knew these kids somewhat and they were in my grade, and heavily into drugs. They were revealed to have been smoking pot in the car during the accident, and they fell off a road into a river. However, I just feel like I should do something about this, I really wasn't close to any of the kids, but I wish I could help with the families loss or something. I don't know what to do, and the real sad thing is the father of one of the victims doesn't believe his son was under the influence. I just can't imagine how much this family is probably going through right now? what do you think I should do?

Really I'm not lying about this incident cause I can provide a link to
you if you don't believe me.

Hmm... if you're not a senior yet and they do senior projects in your school perhaps do your project on creating some kind of drug/alcohol awareness program in your school. Or at least try and organize the PTA type organization to push the school board toward doing something of that type?

what do you think I should do?

Absinthe.

Rather than preaching drugs are bad, you should work on making people aware that while drugs aren't good, they aren't bad either. People have different experiences, but the key is responsible use as with alcohol and tobacco, which are both fully legal.

Your campaign should be based on the spread of relevant, neutral information about responsible use, meaning that if you use marijuana, you don't drive. The drug itself isn't bad. But when the hands of a driver, it's a dangerous thing like alcohol because it alters your perception of reality and changes your reflexive response time.

That is the best thing you can do; do not prevent people from doing it because it is simply "bad", prevent them from being irresponsible while using the drug.

Send the families a card and honestly state your feelings within it. It'll be appreciated.

to be honest ive given up the weed for several years now...but I drove lots in that time...and if anything it made me more aware of my surroundings...if these kids...tragic as it is...died in a car crash...then it would be unfair to blame it on drugs...it could have been any reason

what you should NOT do is try to convince a grieving father that his kid was a stoner. he'll deal with that later.

send the families a sympathy card, one for each child. and tomorrow ask the principal if you can help to organize a memorial service for them.

what you should NOT do is try to convince a grieving father that his kid was a stoner. he'll deal with that later.


Yeah I agree. Wouldnt help anything

to be honest ive given up the weed for several years now...but I drove lots in that time...and if anything it made me more aware of my surroundings...if these kids...tragic as it is...died in a car crash...then it would be unfair to blame it on drugs...it could have been any reason

Like you I haven't used any weed for several years (It is treated the same a crack here by the law, so not worth the risk). I have to disagree with you though on the absolutely purile claim that it did not negatively impact your ability to drive.

Driving under the influence of any drug is potentially lethal, and given the circumstances is highly likely to be a contributing factor to the death of these kids.

As Kryozerkia said, any campaign should be based on the awareness of what drugs do to your system and abilities whilst you are under their effects. It seems that Beekermanc was totally unaware of the real effects that hash has on a persons awareness and reaction times etc.

what do you think I should do?
Since it wasn't anything to do with you, go for the whole slightly-hollow sounding "sorry for your loss" thing that everyone does, that conveys what you're trying to get across in a minor way.

Obviously, though, the tragicomic answer would be large amounts of coke, to forget about it all.

to be honest ive given up the weed for several years now...but I drove lots in that time...and if anything it made me more aware of my surroundings...if these kids...tragic as it is...died in a car crash...then it would be unfair to blame it on drugs...it could have been any reason
Having taken weed quite a bit, I would disagree massively with you.

You can't safely drive stoned, you're usually far too chilled out, I've seen mates prang their cars into lamp-posts reversing up the kurb to their friends' houses under the influence.

Having taken weed quite a bit, I would disagree massively with you.

You can’t safely drive stoned, you’re usually far too chilled out, I’ve seen mates prang their cars into lamp-posts reversing up the kurb to their friends’ houses under the influence.
“Say you get in a car accident, and you’ve been smoking pot. You’re only going four miles an hour. Vroom... CRASH. Shit, we hit something. Forgot to open the garage door, man. We got to get the garage door open so Domino’s knows we’re home!”

It seems that Beekermanc was totally unaware of the real effects that hash has on a persons awareness and reaction times etc.

Im no scientist...im just stating from personal experience...when I was stoned I felt even more aware of my surroundings...and when driving I doubled my concentration levels for fear of making a mistake while stoned...therefore making me a much more cautious driver than I would otherwise be if I was straight...when im straight my driving can be rash to say the least...do you understand?

“Say you get in a car accident, and you’ve been smoking pot. You’re only going four miles an hour. Vroom... CRASH. Shit, we hit something. Forgot to open the garage door, man. We got to get the garage door open so Domino’s knows we’re home!”
lol yeah, quite.

Im no scientist...im just stating from personal experience...when I was stoned I felt even more aware of my surroundings...and when driving I doubled my concentration levels for fear of making a mistake while stoned...therefore making me a much more cautious driver than I would otherwise be if I was straight...when im straight my driving can be rash to say the least...do you understand?

I understand that to mean that no one, in their right mind, should ever enter a vehicle that you are in control of, is that right?

I understand that to mean that no one, in their right mind, should ever enter a vehicle that you are in control of, is that right?


in a nutshell.............yeah :p

Im no scientist...im just stating from personal experience...when I was stoned I felt even more aware of my surroundings...and when driving I doubled my concentration levels for fear of making a mistake while stoned...therefore making me a much more cautious driver than I would otherwise be if I was straight...when im straight my driving can be rash to say the least...do you understand?

I used to do the same, when I was somewhat younger and quite a bit dumber. In retrospect, the reason I drove in paranoia was because I knew I couldn't drive at full capacity. Driving under the influence is never safer than driving sober. Ever.

Rather than preaching drugs are bad, you should work on making people aware that while drugs aren't good, they aren't bad either. People have different experiences, but the key is responsible use as with alcohol and tobacco, which are both fully legal.

Your campaign should be based on the spread of relevant, neutral information about responsible use, meaning that if you use marijuana, you don't drive. The drug itself isn't bad. But when the hands of a driver, it's a dangerous thing like alcohol because it alters your perception of reality and changes your reflexive response time.

That is the best thing you can do; do not prevent people from doing it because it is simply "bad", prevent them from being irresponsible while using the drug.

Because deriving pleasure from the habitual ingesting of poison is a good thing, da?
I suppose Im one to talk though. What with the browsing NS and all.

Because deriving pleasure from the habitual ingesting of poison is a good thing, da?

Marijuana is not a poison.

Having taken weed quite a bit, I would disagree massively with you.

You can't safely drive stoned, you're usually far too chilled out, I've seen mates prang their cars into lamp-posts reversing up the kurb to their friends' houses under the influence.

Having taken weed quite a bit, I would disagree with you.

http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5450

Well something really unfortunate happened at my school. There was a car accident involving seven kids, and unfortunately two of them died. These kids were from my school and they were in my grade and I just feel like terrible right now for those families who lost the kids. I'm not just saying this because I want people to think I am, I really am feeling really depressed about it. I knew these kids somewhat and they were in my grade, and heavily into drugs. They were revealed to have been smoking pot in the car during the accident, and they fell off a road into a river. However, I just feel like I should do something about this, I really wasn't close to any of the kids, but I wish I could help with the families loss or something. I don't know what to do, and the real sad thing is the father of one of the victims doesn't believe his son was under the influence. I just can't imagine how much this family is probably going through right now? what do you think I should do?

Really I'm not lying about this incident cause I can provide a link to
you if you don't believe me.
DARWIN AWARDS! WHOOHOO! :D

Serves them right.

Yes, i'm mean.

Because deriving pleasure from the habitual ingesting of poison is a good thing, da?
Don't use that argument, ever. Ever. Calling a drug poisonous is ridiculous, especially THC with its LD50 so great as to be nearly impossible to kill yourself via overdose. It's technically true that everything is poisonous, pretty much - only the dosage defines the poison.

As for driving stoned, I really hate it. The argument that driving slower somehow makes stoned driving OK is flawed in the same way that driving slowly when a bit pissed is still illegal. It's still demonstrating impaired judgement that could make the difference in a situation requiring fast reactions.

Marijuana is not a poison.

Don't use that argument, ever. Ever. Calling a drug poisonous is ridiculous, especially THC with its LD50 so great as to be nearly impossible to kill yourself via overdose. It's technically true that everything is poisonous, pretty much - only the dosage defines the poison.

As for driving stoned, I really hate it. The argument that driving slower somehow makes stoned driving OK is flawed in the same way that driving slowly when a bit pissed is still illegal. It's still demonstrating impaired judgement that could make the difference in a situation requiring fast reactions.


I was actually directing that at the bit about cigarettes and alcahol. The former frequently contains poisons, and the latter IS a poison.

I was actually directing that at the bit about cigarettes and alcahol. The former frequently contains poisons, and the latter IS a poison.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, alcohol is literally toxic. It's good that people know that, but I do see the mistaken belief that other drugs work in the same way (killing brain cells to create a state of intoxication).

Oh, okay.

Yeah, alcohol is literally toxic. It's good that people know that, but I do see the mistaken belief that other drugs work in the same way (killing brain cells to create a state of intoxication).

Well, some other drugs are poisons as well. Meth, anybody? Not to mention what happens if you get bad cuts. The ol' "Well, its a white powder, so nobody'll notice, right?" arguement.
Not that legalization would help. Legalized MJ would probobly contain the same shit they put into cigarettes.

Don't use that argument, ever. Ever. Calling a drug poisonous is ridiculous, especially THC with its LD50 so great as to be nearly impossible to kill yourself via overdose. It's technically true that everything is poisonous, pretty much - only the dosage defines the poison.

As for driving stoned, I really hate it. The argument that driving slower somehow makes stoned driving OK is flawed in the same way that driving slowly when a bit pissed is still illegal. It's still demonstrating impaired judgement that could make the difference in a situation requiring fast reactions.

Then why are really old people allowed to drive?

Not that legalization would help. Legalized MJ would probobly contain the same shit they put into cigarettes.

Yeah, but you could grow your own. Good news for greenhouse builders.

to be honest ive given up the weed for several years now...but I drove lots in that time...and if anything it made me more aware of my surroundings...if these kids...tragic as it is...died in a car crash...then it would be unfair to blame it on drugs...it could have been any reason

Even you think it it makes you more aware of your surroundings, you cannot honestly deny that it doesn't alter your perception of reality.

I feel more aware right now, but I know it's because of the weed. However, everything, including time seems to either move very quickly, or in slow motion. The leaves on the trees below on the street have a stronger vibrant colour than they did a few minutes ago. No, the light didn't change, my perception of reality did.

Im no scientist...im just stating from personal experience...when I was stoned I felt even more aware of my surroundings...and when driving I doubled my concentration levels for fear of making a mistake while stoned...therefore making me a much more cautious driver than I would otherwise be if I was straight...when im straight my driving can be rash to say the least...do you understand?

You can easily use the same argument for driving while drunk, They can claim that they can be more cautious but despite what you may think, your brain's central control area is out of your control when you're intoxicated with any type of drug.

Yeah, but you could grow your own. Good news for greenhouse builders.

You can grow tobbacco on your own as well, but cheap (well...not so much anymore, but meh) tobbacco avalible commercialy means that not many do.

You can grow tobbacco on your own as well, but cheap (well...not so much anymore, but meh) tobbacco avalible commercialy means that not many do.

Then you have no-one to blame but yourself if you get sold crap baccy.

I've seen people drive fine while high. It's blown up out of proportion unless they were stoned out of their minds.

You can easily use the same argument for driving while drunk, They can claim that they can be more cautious but despite what you may think, your brain's central control area is out of your control when you're intoxicated with any type of drug.

Well no, because studies do not support that. And marijuana use is not "intoxication." Come on!

Then why are really old people allowed to drive?
Watch South Park and find out. I think the episode's called Grey Dawn. :p

Watch South Park and find out. I think the episode's called Grey Dawn. :p

Don't watch it mate...saw the first couple of series and that was enough for me...

It is a serious question. I have seen people (wrinklies) do some really REALLY stupid things...so...are we banning them from driving?

I was actually directing that at the bit about cigarettes and alcahol. The former frequently contains poisons, and the latter IS a poison.Oh, okay.

Yeah, alcohol is literally toxic. It's good that people know that, but I do see the mistaken belief that other drugs work in the same way (killing brain cells to create a state of intoxication).I still don't entirely agree with that. I think of poison and it conjures images of a toxic substance deliberately intended to cause harm. Alcohol doesn't kill brain cells in order to cause intoxication btw, it affects the effects of the neurotransmitters Serotonin, Dopamine and GABA by either inhibiting or increasing the effect of each depending on which neurotransmitter and their location in the brain. Their varying related pathways cause the memory loss, coordination trouble, euphoria etc. I would agree that cigarettes are poisonous, not because of the nicotine but rather the various carcinogens present in tobacco smoke.

Don't watch it mate...saw the first couple of series and that was enough for me...

It is a serious question. I have seen people (wrinklies) do some really REALLY stupid things...so...are we banning them from driving?
It's changed a lot since those first few series, often tackling current affairs in a frank yet candid manner. The episode made the point that, while old people often suffer from poorer reaction times and thus poorer driving, it's unfair to treat them as children and just outright ban them from driving. Recognising the increase in reaction times and making older people retake their test above 65 or something might help.