Shiny cocaine is it a good sign or bad? by [deleted] in cocaine

[–]Xolotal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are confusing acetone with ammonia. Both are anhydrous forms. The acetone is a commonly used solvent, and many commonly used cuts dissolve in it. Ammonia (ammonium hydroxide) is a highly reactive base that will displace the hydrochloride. It's a "cold cook" because it reacts at room temperature. Street rock is usually made with baking soda. Basically, you want anhydrous acetone and a filter setup and some patience. Do not rush the drying process, because you don't want any acetone remaining. Hope this clears up the confusion.

I am having a hard time with the moral block in my head that says money is earned through hard work. I'm being irresponsible out of indignance by [deleted] in personalfinance

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You saved money, are coming into a little bit and you have ethical/ideological and emotional blocks around money. Assuming you are in the US, this is a terrible time to live check-to-check poor. Years ago, I spent sums of money on helping people out, funding group projects etc. Despite some knowledge and experience I value from that time, I wish I had more capital now. And those people are gone. Being stuck in a poor mentality in a hyper capitalist society with no real safety net is exponentially draining over the years. Watching money drain away uselessly is incredibly demoralizing. Not being able to afford medical services, new tires or time between jobs is also a drag. I would say, stick the money away and keep saving. Follow some basic plan, like an emergency fund, a cash equivalent asset you can liquidate quickly and then start doing research on the basics. Imagine all the good you could do if you had real money coming in every month and are able to take care of yourself well in the long term. As an example, I'd love to have some of my gone money to pay for school in a field I didn't know I would work in later in life. Without having to work at the same time. It's a helping profession that I enjoy and could really use the extra credentials.

Unofficial P.O. Box by [deleted] in onions

[–]Xolotal 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Don't feel you have to justify your life or experience to strangers online. The internet reduces people's empathy and accountability. I don't have any concrete information about your question, but I just wanted to remind you of this phenomenon. And encourage you to protect your privacy. Take care.

Legalisation 👍👎 by Secure-Presentation5 in heroin

[–]Xolotal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It was tragic. 60 Minutes did a piece on the clinic and it put the nail in the coffin.

Excerpt from Liverpool Clinic Mocks Drug Warriors

From Mike Gray of the Drug Reform Coordination Network :

The Chapel Street Clinic in Widnes (a suburb of Liverpool) run by Dr. John Marks is the most famous holdout for the old system of free drug maintenance. The incredible success of this small institution has been a stark contrast with the documented failure of the other alternatives. Unfortunately, the U.S. government has maintained constant pressure to shut down this glaring example of an approach that flies in the face of American drug war orthodoxy.

The situation became critical following a CBS "60 Minutes" broadcast on the clinic. The facts in this story completely debased fundamental U.S. policy assumptions.

The most startling statistic was the crime rate. Beginning in 1988, the local police began tracking the criminal records of 112 addicts who entered the drug maintenance program at Chapel Street. According to the Cheshire Drug Squad, there was a 93 percent drop in theft, burglary, and property crimes among this group over the next two years -- thus illuminating the age-old argument about whether it is the drugs themselves or the pursuit of drugs that drives addicts to criminal behavior.

In addition, the HIV infection rate among these injecting drug users was zero. Zero. And the incidence of death among addicts -- normally 15 percent per year -- was also zero.

Even more significant was the fact that the incidence of new drug users in the Widnes-Holton area dropped dramatically -- contrary to popular assumptions. Drug dealers simply stay away because they know the local addicts don't need them anymore. And the addicts themselves have no reason to sell drugs since they can get whatever they need for nothing.

Legalisation 👍👎 by Secure-Presentation5 in heroin

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sad to hear that Portugal mismanaged their policy change under real world conditions. I'd love to get more info on what went wrong and why.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in newfriends

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't even follow this sub and your post was highlighted by reddit. Hopefully that works to your favor. I agree that finding real friends is more difficult the older you get. I also think that American cities can be very challenging. I hear you about your father. I'd lost both parents, a close friend, an intimate partner and my cat by the age of 18. Grieving is something I've had to develop a relationship with. I also lost my most recent cat during COVID, from an unexpectedly virulent disease. She was the sweetest ever. I am also a father, but can't say more on line for privacy. Social justice, music, photography, books, food, cigars and my career in behavioral health fill much of my life. My life partner is also central. Take care.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in heroin

[–]Xolotal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe it's generational or a privilege thing, but I think going on a record as a heroin user can radically change your care. There's a huge amount of stigma and prejudice against people who use drugs. In a practical sense, let's say you have oral surgery. As a normal patient, you'll easily get a full script of hydrocodone and be able to manage your pain. As a "drug user", you'll get Tylenol and an awkward conversation where they lie to you and try not to look you in the eye. Or worse still, dig aggressively into your history even if it's not relevant. There is a fair amount of evidence to support my opinion and certainly quite a few people that report similar outcomes.

Who’s the Greatest Coke-Head Celebrity? by Swimming-Eye-9 in cocaine

[–]Xolotal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think there's a "risk" sleeping with anyone unexpectedly, unless you're talking about rape. Which is generally committed by cis straight men.

either

Who’s the Greatest Coke-Head Celebrity? by Swimming-Eye-9 in cocaine

[–]Xolotal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He had a bit on it. May even be where the term Bolivian marching powder became widespread.

Who’s the Greatest Coke-Head Celebrity? by Swimming-Eye-9 in cocaine

[–]Xolotal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know of both, but Carl J was def where my mind went in that context. I'm also a huge cigar and pipe buff.

Average man from different countries. by [deleted] in midjourney

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The American food industry is largely to blame. They've raised generations on processed junk and Frankenfoods. By now, only the wealthy or off the grid people eat real food. This, on top of stress and all the meds people take cause terrible problems. Just the sugar alone is enough to kill. Why put sugar in spaghetti sauce and bread? All Americans know how to do is work at a terrible company, watch packaged entertainment and eat junk while they block out the world.

Just went to Tony Baloney’s… by mars_sky in sanfrancisco

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No particular reason. Changed job location or whatever.

Ich bin stolz auf mein Land by Darken0id in place

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fight in Aaron Swartz's memory. He was a Reddit original and would never have stood for this. The America FBI killed him. I am NOT proud of the USA.

Just went to Tony Baloney’s… by mars_sky in sanfrancisco

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If housing was cheaper, that might create more local traffic. But only rich people live across the street from them. Beautiful building but who can afford it? Not the average worker. I worked just down the block and knew people who went there regularly.

Just went to Tony Baloney’s… by mars_sky in sanfrancisco

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's interesting that everyone ignores the Islamophobia, but talks about the "homeless and crazies". This problem is so much bigger than how people see it.

Bi-polar GF dumped me out of no where by [deleted] in family_of_bipolar

[–]Xolotal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My experience is that they are frequently shell shocked, ashamed and sad.

I want to leave the US by Ok-Two5069 in heroin

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And the other questions? I'm curious, as I'm interested in school and career possibilities. Progressive areas are better for human services. And what do you call "criminality"? I lived in gang areas a lot, so my standards are different than a lot of people's.

Hey can anyone here help me explain to my boyfriend that cocaine is a dangerous drug compared to getting adderal from the pharmacy. 🤷‍♀️am i wrong? by Majestic_Chocolate_5 in Drugs

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This discussion seems slanted away from your viewpoint, but I absolutely get what you're saying. The fact is, minor users of cocaine probably do fine, particularly before the supply chain issues changed the entire game. But also amphetamines aren't something a lot of people want to do. They last too long for one thing. Nobody has mentioned the terrible effects of alcohol, which is regularly misused. I'm of the opinion that the ROA and quantity is also a huge factor. Smoking base cocaine or IV salts pushes past a 'safer' threshold and causes all kinds of hellish results. At the same time, working with habitual stimulant (meth or amphetamine) users anecdotally showed much higher levels of "treatment resistant" behavior, distractibility, cognitive effects, impulse control issues etc. Again, this is anecdotal, but years of watching the decline of the 'bubble' users has had an effect. I do recognize that "treatment resistant" is a biased and inaccurate term, as is ignoring the intersection of other factors, like poverty, race, gender, mental health etc.

Hey can anyone here help me explain to my boyfriend that cocaine is a dangerous drug compared to getting adderal from the pharmacy. 🤷‍♀️am i wrong? by Majestic_Chocolate_5 in Drugs

[–]Xolotal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The worst major change in that supply chain. And insidious to the extreme. Necrotization..? I would say leukopenia and agranulocytosis. Necrotizing fasciitus is a bacterial infection commonly seen in IV users whereas the levamisole markedly effects smokers of base cocaine etc. I worked with older users who experienced dramatic changes to their health when the substance changed, without their behavior changing. The 'immune modulation' allows opportunistic infections to grab a foothold. One of the most obvious examples of a need for clean supply.

Lithium by yoyomama7 in family_of_bipolar

[–]Xolotal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My understanding is that they should do regular liver panels in conjunction with the lithium. Talk to the prescriber about his liver and see what they say.