Poll: Dextromethorphan (Robitussin) - Down the rabbit hole

[repeating integers]

Uh... no. Never tried drugs, will never do drugs, will be dead before I snort drugs.

That is all.

I'm pretty sure your avatar counts as LSD, though.

 

[Saulkar]

Because the physical effects of getting high/drunk for me are vastly greater than the psychological (completely negligent) I find nothing but displeasure under the influence of intoxicants(right term?).

I cannot say the same for other people so I will not judge you or others as long as you bring no harm to others around you.

 

[incal11]

honestly I just said it was sad that others didn't use drugs just to turn around and be equally as condescending right back at whatever guy it was that told me he thought it was sad that my happiest moment came from a drug. How is having the happiest moment of one's life sad in any regard?

I see, I'm not trying to be condescending, sorry if I give that impression. Actually what is uncomfortable to many non-drug users is that this sort of experience could be said to "devaluate" normal or natural happiness, which could then be deemed "unworthy" or "not enough". I certainly do not wish that for you, but beware that your relationship does not become all drugs and no love. It happened plenty of times to others, and it can happen to you. In my eyes, that and other assorted very serious and real risks associated to drugs cannot be compensated by any kind of good trip, ever.

Otherwise what you describe seems like a good usage of recreative drug. Shame it's not really the most widespread, it's still unsafe, and then why not just get a little drunk?
To each his own I guess, as far as simple amusement is concerned.

 

[Grant Stackhouse]

I remember when this was starting to become popular a few years ago. There were talks that the FDA was considering banning over-the-counter sales of cough syrup. Personally, I'm sick of having good things ruined for me, because some kids cared more about their personal happiness than about respecting the good-faith gesture that over-the-counter medicine is. If I get sick, which is very rare, then I rely on things like cough syrup to keep me on my feet and working. The last thing that I want is to have to pay for a doctor's visit, just so I can have some Robitussin prescribed to me.

If you aren't happy, then figure out why. Don't just force your brain to think it is happy. Evaluate your life and find the source of your unhappiness, then adjust things until the problem is fixed.

 

[King of Asgaard]

No thanks, I'm good; I want to keep the few brain cells I have remaining alive and well.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

One time I did cough medicine I listened to Phillip Glass and figured out the anti-life equation. The next morning I forgot it.

Some roads are not meant to be traveled by mortal men...

Reminds me of the time that I listened to classical music in pitch blackness for two hours all alone on DXM. I didn't believe time existed, I didn't believe the world existed outside my house, I didn't believe other people existed. I furthermore believed I was a being of pure consciousness.

It's that kind of bullshit is why it's not worth doing cough medicine. You start thinking you are a "being of manifest light" and all that crap it's like taking a dose spirituality and religion. Horrible and just as delusional.

Experiences like that are the reason for doing drugs. That experience can never be replicated sober, and it is temporary. If somebody walked around always believing that they were a being of pure consciousness, they would have a terrible and delusional life. On occasion though a little out of body experience here and there is amazing.

honestly I just said it was sad that others didn't use drugs just to turn around and be equally as condescending right back at whatever guy it was that told me he thought it was sad that my happiest moment came from a drug. How is having the happiest moment of one's life sad in any regard?

I see, I'm not trying to be condescending, sorry if I give that impression. Actually what is uncomfortable to many non-drug users is that this sort of experience could be said to "devaluate" normal or natural happiness, which could then be deemed "unworthy" or "not enough". I certainly do not wish that for you, but beware that your relationship does not become all drugs and no love. It happened plenty of times to others, and it can happen to you. In my eyes, that and other assorted very serious and real risks associated to drugs cannot be compensated by any kind of good trip, ever.

Otherwise what you describe seems like a good usage of recreative drug. Shame it's not really the most widespread, it's still unsafe, and then why not just get a little drunk?
To each his own I guess, as far as simple amusement is concerned.

There's not really any risk of our relationship becoming all drugs, no love. She actually gets onto me about the frequency of my cannabis use. Not the act itself, but the frequency does start to bother her when I get to heavy for a stretch. And as for it devaluing sobriety, I don't really see it. Hell, if I've been off the deep end with drugs for a stretch sobriety feels fresh and special to me for a few weeks. One time last summer break I was high for two weeks (not on DXM, that would be ridiculous) and when I finally came down I was amazed at the clarity with which I could see the world. Also just on a more hopeless romantic note, unless my girlfriend did something truly terrible to me I don't think I could stop loving her any time soon.

Everything is special in its own way.

It's an interesting comparison you draw with getting a little drunk because drinking an effective dose of Robitussin is about as bad for the body as getting extremely drunk, which is something that I used to do far too often. I could never see myself using DXM as often as I used to drink though. It leaves the mind too drained to be fun in excessive amounts. I know one guy who used to be a daily user of it, but then again at the same time he was a cocaine dealer back then, so he had his own issues to be sorted out I suppose. As long as nobody gets hurt, just good business I guess, but even to me that seems a little out there.

Anyway, sorry I interpreted the "sad" bit as condescending. I have a tendency to do that. It's been getting better recently, mostly because my girlfriend gives me a more generally positive outlook on the world, but it stills shows through.

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

Coming from a family and a group of friends that have od'd on every available drug under the sun I will say no. I never will do drugs. I don't need my feelings "enhanced" by any means and I will always keep as clear a mind as possible. Drugs have their uses but outside of medicine to help a sick person I see no need for them. People who take them are weak. Anyone that relies on them are pathetic.

Also helps that drugs don't have good effects on me cuz my brain chemistry is whacked.

I have been under severe fevers before in which I hallucinated to hell and back. Horrible, horrible hallucinations.

 

[chadachada123]

Everything tangible about an emotion is a chemical reaction.

You misuse tangible, but I see what you mean. However an artificially induced emotion (be it by any drug, including simple alcohol), no matter how intense, sounds shallow to me. It's feeling for the feeling itself, and not for any other reason you may associate with it afterward.

You should not feel sorry for those who won't feel as happy as you were. Most of us are quite satisfied with normal happiness, not to mention keeping our objectivity and mental health in the best conditions possible.

I don't know, I really don't think that this is much of a functional difference between the 'fake' emotions produced by a drug and fake emotions produced from, say, watching a scary movie or otherwise tricking your mind into pumping dopamine, etc into your brain. This is especially true for the euphoria felt from masturbation.

Besides, in many uses, it isn't the drug itself that causes emotion. It just heightens the emotions otherwise felt.

Playing Black Ops while really drunk can be extremely fun, especially with friends. That isn't to say that you NEED to be drunk to have fun, of course not, just that being drunk can put a new spin on things, a "new" kind of fun.

The same applies for playing Rock Band while drunk or (especially) high from THC.

This isn't even necessarily a contradiction to your post. I guess I'm just throwing my own thoughts out there.

 

[chadachada123]

People who take them are weak.

Not weak. Just bored.

Edit: I should probably include some justification. I don't think that drug use is a sign of weakness at all. Excessive use and abuse, absolutely, but recreational use? Some of the greatest thinkers in the world, like the late Carl Sagan, all used various drugs themselves for a variety of reasons, some of them citing their use as influences in their thinking.

That doesn't sound like weakness to me.

Nor does the artist or the musician who have been inspired while on various chemicals.

I feel like you're being extremely hyperbolic, and hope it was unintentional. Alternately, I'd like an explanation as to why I'm "weak."

 

[incal11]

There's not really any risk of our relationship becoming all drugs, no love. She actually gets onto me about the frequency of my cannabis use. Not the act itself, but the frequency does start to bother her when I get to heavy for a stretch. And as for it devaluing sobriety, I don't really see it. Hell, if I've been off the deep end with drugs for a stretch sobriety feels fresh and special to me for a few weeks. One time last summer break I was high for two weeks (not on DXM, that would be ridiculous) and when I finally came down I was amazed at the clarity with which I could see the world. Also just on a more hopeless romantic note, unless my girlfriend did something truly terrible to me I don't think I could stop loving her any time soon.

You're lucky then that your girlfriend isn't as much into drugs and is responsible enough for two. I wasn't suggesting that you get really drunk, only a little bit, but that was just a though.
The brain can develop a resistance to the effects of many drugs in a way that will only make you want more, even with less and less positive results. It's good if you can still see the merits of sobriety, that means that for now at least you are not dangerously addicted.

I don't know, I really don't think that this is much of a functional difference between the 'fake' emotions produced by a drug and fake emotions produced from, say, watching a scary movie or otherwise tricking your mind into pumping dopamine, etc into your brain. This is especially true for the euphoria felt from masturbation.

No, an emotion produced or enhanced by a drug is "fake" in the sense that the normal functions of the brain have been deregulated at least temporarily. This does not happen naturally, save for the most traumatic experiences. That's why it is irresponsible to preach that doing drugs is "as good as masturbating" for example. It's actually healthy to masturbate, it is certainly not healthy to mess with your brain's chemistry. Sure you can compare the intensity of both kind of experiences, but one will remain superior on account of being healthy even if it may not be as "intense".
That said I don't think taking drugs just for recreation is bad. But don't forget the risks, and don't trivialize them or pretend they do not exist. Especially when talking someone into it.

On a more philosophical level I guess how you value emotions depend on whether you want your life longer (or at least healthier) and potentially richer, or just more intense. Some artists were very creative thanks to drugs, too often they also died very young. We can ask ourselves what else they could have done if they had had more time, even while being sober.
Also on whether you prefer your thoughts clear and grounded in reality (at least a reality that can be easily described to other sober people), or if you prefer them all swirly, strange and colorful.

 

[beastro]

It's a little sad that the happiest moments of your life have come from abusing prescription drugs. I'm guessing the 1 yes vote so far is from OP.

And no, I have no plans to intoxicate myself for recreation. Have fun in your rabbit hole.

Everything tangible about an emotion is a chemical reaction. The specific circumstance that made up the happiest moment of my life was laying in the dark with just me and my girlfriend holding onto each other, lying in my bed, while on DXM. A lot of the chemicals in my brain at that moment were produced by the situation of being there with her in that setting. Another significant portion came from the fact that DXM chemically enhances happiness.

If somebody is a drug user, it is most likely that their happiest moment was on a drug. Drugs are chemicals which effect your brain chemistry. If people use the drug, it is likely one that effects it in a way to produce happiness as people will not pay good money for something which they don't like.

All of your emotions that you cherish so much are just chemical reactions in your brain. That is literally all that they are if we are talking at all scientifically. It's sad to me that you will never experience the feelings of euphoria which are simply not possible without intoxicants.

I am certain that at no point in your life will you feel as close to another human being as I did with my girlfriend, in the dark with minor hallucinations setting in, getting within inches of her so I could make out her face, and holding onto her as my anchor to reality. I'm not certain of that because I think our love is one that can never be replicated. No. I'm certain of that because my brain chemistry was unnaturally altered in such a way that it created an emotional response far more intense than one the human body can naturally produce.

In short, of course my happiest moment came from a drug.

Also, Robitussin is over the counter, just as a point of information. As I explained, it's recreational use is legal. Recreational use of prescriptions is a felony.

Keep justifying to enable your use~

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

snip

Keep justifying to enable your use~

Good one liner. How about address arguments rather than regurgitate sayings they taught you at your local D.A.R.E. meeting?

 

[Lono Shrugged]

snipity

I have felt that out of body "Holy shit we are all the same being of infinite love" and I dismiss it and just get on with enjoying being messed up for it's own sake. It's a chemical reaction. I have been like that when I was at a happy place in my life and like that when I was at a very bad patch. Both times I felt like the world was amazing and that I was a prince of the universe even when I knew things were fucked in my life. It's a pretty selfish attitude and that combined with the fact that my fellow enablers were buying into that shit I decided to lay off it realising it's basically another form of the human mind trying to sense-make the universe the same way religion does. To me a guy who did acid and SWEARS he knows we are beings of supreme crunchiness is the same as some wild eyed religious nut saying jesus told him to wear red socks. If you ever break up with your girlfriend and do drugs you will realise that the "love" you feel when you are stoned is just a way that the chemical buzz manifests itself. It's totally dishonest and does not represent your true feelings at your core. Trust me on this one. Drugs lie to you about the world, sometimes it's a good thing, more often than not it's not worth it.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

snipity

I have felt that out of body "Holy shit we are all the same being of infinite love" and I dismiss it and just get on with enjoying being messed up for it's own sake. It's a chemical reaction. I have been like that when I was at a happy place in my life and like that when I was at a very bad patch. Both times I felt like the world was amazing and that I was a prince of the universe even when I knew things were fucked in my life. It's a pretty selfish attitude and that combined with the fact that my fellow enablers were buying into that shit I decided to lay off it realising it's basically another form of the human mind trying to sense-make the universe the same way religion does. To me a guy who did acid and SWEARS he knows we are beings of supreme crunchiness is the same as some wild eyed religious nut saying jesus told him to wear red socks. If you ever break up with your girlfriend and do drugs you will realise that the "love" you feel when you are stoned is just a way that the chemical buzz manifests itself. It's totally dishonest and does not represent your true feelings at your core. Trust me on this one. Drugs lie to you about the world, sometimes it's a good thing, more often than not it's not worth it.

I know it's not real at a logical level the whole time, but I enjoy being able to believe such optimistic things about the world as I do on powerful drugs on occasion. It's the closest I get to being very religious, which is nice in timed doses. I wouldn't want to constantly be having spiritual revelations or even inclinations, but on occasion it's pretty cool.

 

[beastro]

snip

Keep justifying to enable your use~

Good one liner. How about address arguments rather than regurgitate sayings they taught you at your local D.A.R.E. meeting?

Naw, sorry.

I've already been through this with my cousin and his weed use that got out of hand.

Just make sure you get your wake up call before your liver becomes too damaged.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

snip

Keep justifying to enable your use~

Good one liner. How about address arguments rather than regurgitate sayings they taught you at your local D.A.R.E. meeting?

Naw, sorry.

I've already been through this with my cousin and his weed use that got out of hand.

Just make sure you get your wake up call before your liver becomes too damaged.

Don't make snide remarks if you don't have the content to back it up. Condescendingly dismissing several paragraphs with a cliche then refusing to back it up is just a bit silly.

 

[beastro]

Don't make snide remarks if you don't have the content to back it up. Condescendingly dismissing several paragraphs with a cliche then refusing to back it up is just a bit silly.

Now why'd I do that when we both know nothing but hard experience will convince you otherwise?

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

snipity

I have felt that out of body "Holy shit we are all the same being of infinite love" and I dismiss it and just get on with enjoying being messed up for it's own sake. It's a chemical reaction. I have been like that when I was at a happy place in my life and like that when I was at a very bad patch. Both times I felt like the world was amazing and that I was a prince of the universe even when I knew things were fucked in my life. It's a pretty selfish attitude and that combined with the fact that my fellow enablers were buying into that shit I decided to lay off it realising it's basically another form of the human mind trying to sense-make the universe the same way religion does. To me a guy who did acid and SWEARS he knows we are beings of supreme crunchiness is the same as some wild eyed religious nut saying jesus told him to wear red socks. If you ever break up with your girlfriend and do drugs you will realise that the "love" you feel when you are stoned is just a way that the chemical buzz manifests itself. It's totally dishonest and does not represent your true feelings at your core. Trust me on this one. Drugs lie to you about the world, sometimes it's a good thing, more often than not it's not worth it.

Isn't this saying that the way you see the world on drugs isn't less "real" than how you see it off them? It's just that the only reference point we have is how most of us do see "the world", which is off drugs. There is no "the world" outside of that.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I will stick to alcohol man, drugs seem a little extreme

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

Don't make snide remarks if you don't have the content to back it up. Condescendingly dismissing several paragraphs with a cliche then refusing to back it up is just a bit silly.

Now why'd I do that when we both know nothing but hard experience will convince you otherwise?

Why make the remark in the first place when we both know it will lead to nothing but unnecessary contention?

I will stick to alcohol man, drugs seem a little extreme

Alcohol is a drug. It is actually a fairly hard drug. Even among illegal drugs there are several that are safer than alcohol.

Physical damage it is right up there with recreational Robitussin use. Granted, the high from alcohol is not as strong.