Is alcohol really a "soft drug?"

[Eukaryote]

People like to think of alchol as a "soft drug." Yesterday I was thinking though that maybe it should be classified as a hard drug. I know it's not as harmful as say, herion or cocaine. But bienge drinking too much at once can kill you, and there are certainly quite a few people with major addictions to it. And let's face it, drunk people are idiots. I don't drink that often but personally I act like a ****** when I'm drunk.

 

[Bigfoot3814]

Yes, it is.

 

[Yoda Power]

People like to think of alchol as a "soft drug." Yesterday I was thinking though that maybe it should be classified as a hard drug. I know it's not as harmful as say, herion or cocaine.

Which is why it is a soft drug, not a hard.

But bienge drinking too much at once can kill you, and there are certainly quite a few people with major addictions to it. And let's face it, drunk people are idiots. I don't drink that often but personally I act like a ****** when I'm drunk.

Just like any other drug, soft or hard.

 

[Gogf]

Who cares? It's not like "hard" and "soft" are especially significant distinctions.

We know what the drugs do. Why divide them into these categories in the first place?

 

[Bigfoot3814]

We know what the drugs do. Why divide them into these categories in the first place?

Because marijuana and crystal meth are not the same thing.

 

[Gogf]

Because marijuana and crystal meth are not the same thing.

So? What does that have to do with lopping all drugs into two categories?

 

[Bigfoot3814]

So? What does that have to do with lopping all drugs into two categories?

What, do you want a third one?

 

[Gogf]

What, do you want a third one?

No, I don't see what the point of having any is. They're not specific enough to tell us anything really meaningful, but they're just specific enough to be problematic.

 

[Eukaryote]

Just like any other drug, soft or hard.

The only soft drug I know much about is pot. I use it personally and know several other people who do so as well. Most of us agree that pot is about as addictive as coffee and there has never been a recorded incident of somebody dieing directly from pot. And although people are stupid when high, it's more of a "let's dance to the music and eat some hot dogs" kind of stupidity, where as drunk people have a "let's go streaking in the field and cat call anybody who sees us" kind of stupidity.

I'm not trying to make this whole discussion about pot, but when I think of the term "soft drug" I think pot. And since I beleive alcohol to be more addictive, risky, and behavior altering than weed, it makes me question whether or not alcohol is actually a hard drug.

 

[raketooy]

I think it is one of the worst drugs. Can't deny it's fun, though.

 

[Leonel]

I think what the difference between a soft and hard drug is that a cup of alcohol isn't going to kill you but a cup of heroin will melt your brain.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

The only soft drug I know much about is pot. I use it personally and know several other people who do so as well. Most of us agree that pot is about as addictive as coffee and there has never been a recorded incident of somebody dieing directly from pot. And although people are stupid when high, it's more of a "let's dance to the music and eat some hot dogs" kind of stupidity, where as drunk people have a "let's go streaking in the field and cat call anybody who sees us" kind of stupidity.

I'm not trying to make this whole discussion about pot, but when I think of the term "soft drug" I think pot. And since I beleive alcohol to be more addictive, risky, and behavior altering than weed, it makes me question whether or not alcohol is actually a hard drug.

don't say that (bolded) because coffee is physically addicting. marijuana isnt. period.

*waits for basketcase to start yelling at me*

 

[Narz]

It really depends on the person using it.

For example, I seem to not have a genetic weakness for it. I've had addictive problems with food, sex, gambling and many other things but I've almost always been able to handle my drink & say when.

Some people, not so much so. More people die from alcoholism than all other drugs combined. I'd say it probably also ruins more lives than all other drugs combined (refined sugar is up there also).

 

[Alpine Trooper]

The regulated sale of alcohol is evidence that the vast majority of society can use the "drug" responsibly and as far as I am concerned is further proof that if other drugs were regulated we would see a decrease in abuse, poverty, and crime. However, such a move would have to be followed by making it illegal to drive under the influence of any substance no matter what the intake. But people would abuse the right unless the penalties were extremely severe.

 

[Kozmos]

People like to think of alchol as a "soft drug." Yesterday I was thinking though that maybe it should be classified as a hard drug. I know it's not as harmful as say, herion or cocaine. But bienge drinking too much at once can kill you, and there are certainly quite a few people with major addictions to it. And let's face it, drunk people are idiots. I don't drink that often but personally I act like a ****** when I'm drunk.

Lets ban hamburgers then, too. They get people fat and let's face it fat people are annoying. I dont eat hamburgers that often, but personally I act like an annoying fat dude when I eat them.

 

[Speedo]

If we're honest with outselves alcohol is [in terms of its effects] one of the worst drugs that humanity plays around with. It's just acceptable because we've been enjoying it for thousands of years.

 

[Left]

You can have a beer with dinner but nobody casually shoots heroin.

 

[lovett]

I think what the difference between a soft and hard drug is that a cup of alcohol isn't going to kill you but a cup of heroin will melt your brain.

Sorry to disabuse you, but a cup of alcohol is probably going to kill you.

At 0.30% concentration in the blood alcohol tends to push somebody into a coma. The generally accepted LD50 is 0.40%. That is, 50% of the population will die when blood concentration reaches this level.

The average 70KG males will have between 5 and 6 litres of blood in his body. A lighter female obviously proportionately less. Assuming your an average male, I'll do the maths for you. If you have 200-250 ml of alcohol in your blood then your quite likely to be dead. Or quickly approaching that state.

So the question arises, just how big (or hopefully small) is this cup your using?

 

[salty mud]

Some of the behavior I've seen from people who've had to much alcohol suggest it is a drug, and not a particularly nice one. So therefore, I'll choose a soft drug.

 

[pau17]

I think what the difference between a soft and hard drug is that a cup of alcohol isn't going to kill you but a cup of heroin will melt your brain.

Well, a cup of pure ethanol would be pretty dangerous. "Alcohol" as people know it is usually very diluted, even in hard liquor it is only 40% of the mixture.