https://t.co/SnTGG4KpMO (https://t.co/SnTGG4KpMO)
Probably a big can of worms.
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 12:06:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
Yeah that'd be a common occurrence in an awful lot of places now unfortunately. That shite absolutely ruins lives but has become completely normalised, something genuinely needs to change.
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Is it the job of the GAA to do it though?
Quote from: imtommygunn on November 29, 2022, 12:16:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Is it the job of the GAA to do it though?
Absolutely not although I do think the GAA as a whole should be making an effort to do something. In fairness most clubs I know of do at least try to educate young people on the dangers etc. It's a huge societal problem.
Its not just cocaine that will be looked at though...
Steroids I'd imagine is part and parcel of kids trying to baulk up and other drugs being used to enhance performances
The rate of players claiming to have asthma will rise though as well :D
Quote from: imtommygunn on November 29, 2022, 12:16:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Is it the job of the GAA to do it though?
It's not their job but whose is it?
The resources are not there for the police/gardai to deal with it and the country is flooded with it.
It's near more acceptable now to use cocaine than to go out for a smoke.
There was a bunch of suicides in an area in Cavan the last few years and everyone was putting in down to mental health and lockdowns but when the surface was scratched there was a drug problem and one of the lads who was doing the supplying was a highly though off member of the GAA team and former county player.
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on November 29, 2022, 12:26:43 PM
Its not just cocaine that will be looked at though...
Steroids I'd imagine is part and parcel of kids trying to baulk up and other drugs being used to enhance performances
The rate of players claiming to have asthma will rise though as well :D
Yeah the steroid thing is getting completely normalised as well, maybe not so much in GAA circles but definitely in general gym culture, although you do see plenty of lads opening up about their own negative experiences of steroids, physically and mentally.
Quote from: Cavan19 on November 29, 2022, 12:31:17 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on November 29, 2022, 12:16:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Is it the job of the GAA to do it though?
It's not their job but whose is it?
The resources are not there for the police/gardai to deal with it and the country is flooded with it.
It's near more acceptable now to use cocaine than to go out for a smoke.
There was a bunch of suicides in an area in Cavan the last few years and everyone was putting in down to mental health and lockdowns but when the surface was scratched there was a drug problem and one of the lads who was doing the supplying was a highly though off member of the GAA team and former county player.
where abouts was this in Cavan? I ever knew this
Quote from: Truth hurts on November 29, 2022, 01:00:58 PM
Quote from: Cavan19 on November 29, 2022, 12:31:17 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on November 29, 2022, 12:16:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Is it the job of the GAA to do it though?
It's not their job but whose is it?
The resources are not there for the police/gardai to deal with it and the country is flooded with it.
It's near more acceptable now to use cocaine than to go out for a smoke.
There was a bunch of suicides in an area in Cavan the last few years and everyone was putting in down to mental health and lockdowns but when the surface was scratched there was a drug problem and one of the lads who was doing the supplying was a highly though off member of the GAA team and former county player.
where abouts was this in Cavan? I ever knew this
Maybe a good idea to take that one to pm lads? Better to not be posting any details of that kind of thing imo
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 01:09:18 PM
Quote from: Truth hurts on November 29, 2022, 01:00:58 PM
Quote from: Cavan19 on November 29, 2022, 12:31:17 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on November 29, 2022, 12:16:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Is it the job of the GAA to do it though?
It's not their job but whose is it?
The resources are not there for the police/gardai to deal with it and the country is flooded with it.
It's near more acceptable now to use cocaine than to go out for a smoke.
There was a bunch of suicides in an area in Cavan the last few years and everyone was putting in down to mental health and lockdowns but when the surface was scratched there was a drug problem and one of the lads who was doing the supplying was a highly though off member of the GAA team and former county player.
where abouts was this in Cavan? I ever knew this
Maybe a good idea to take that one to pm lads? Better to not be posting any details of that kind of thing imo
Could be a bunch of boarders heading down for a piss in those toilets!
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 12:06:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
I'm always amazed by the amount of people needing a shite on a night out. Queue is bigger for the cubicle than the urinal.
Alcohol is a much bigger problem than cocaine will ever be
Quote from: befair on November 29, 2022, 01:45:20 PM
Alcohol is a much bigger problem than cocaine will ever be
completely disagree. Alcohol will do you little or no harm in moderation.
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:12:14 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 12:06:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
Yeah that'd be a common occurrence in an awful lot of places now unfortunately. That shite absolutely ruins lives but has become completely normalised, something genuinely needs to change.
Jeez oh, mad how unfazed they were doing this in front of a randomer. I didn't think it would be a common occurrence.
With it being such a big societal problem, it would be interesting to see if every club gaa player in Ireland was tested, what % would be flagged up.
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 01:53:00 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:12:14 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 12:06:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
Yeah that'd be a common occurrence in an awful lot of places now unfortunately. That shite absolutely ruins lives but has become completely normalised, something genuinely needs to change.
Jeez oh, mad how unfazed they were doing this in front of a randomer. I didn't think it would be a common occurrence.
With it being such a big societal problem, it would be interesting to see if every club gaa player in Ireland was tested, what % would be flagged up.
in cocaine circa 70%
Quote from: Truth hurts on November 29, 2022, 02:03:50 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 01:53:00 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:12:14 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 12:06:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
Yeah that'd be a common occurrence in an awful lot of places now unfortunately. That shite absolutely ruins lives but has become completely normalised, something genuinely needs to change.
Jeez oh, mad how unfazed they were doing this in front of a randomer. I didn't think it would be a common occurrence.
With it being such a big societal problem, it would be interesting to see if every club gaa player in Ireland was tested, what % would be flagged up.
in cocaine circa 70%
your saying percent of gaa players are on coke
New development in recent years is how some rural areas seem to have overtaken urban with the use of drugs-cocaine especially
Quote from: Truth hurts on November 29, 2022, 02:03:50 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 01:53:00 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:12:14 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 12:06:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
Yeah that'd be a common occurrence in an awful lot of places now unfortunately. That shite absolutely ruins lives but has become completely normalised, something genuinely needs to change.
Jeez oh, mad how unfazed they were doing this in front of a randomer. I didn't think it would be a common occurrence.
With it being such a big societal problem, it would be interesting to see if every club gaa player in Ireland was tested, what % would be flagged up.
in cocaine circa 70%
you are saying 70 percent of gaa players are on coke.
Quote from: Eire90 on November 29, 2022, 02:09:25 PM
Quote from: Truth hurts on November 29, 2022, 02:03:50 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 01:53:00 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:12:14 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 12:06:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
Yeah that'd be a common occurrence in an awful lot of places now unfortunately. That shite absolutely ruins lives but has become completely normalised, something genuinely needs to change.
Jeez oh, mad how unfazed they were doing this in front of a randomer. I didn't think it would be a common occurrence.
With it being such a big societal problem, it would be interesting to see if every club gaa player in Ireland was tested, what % would be flagged up.
in cocaine circa 70%
you are saying 70 percent of gaa players are on coke.
18-30 years olds in society in Ireland I would hazard a guess of that amount so would GAA players be any different. Taking coke is like get a bottle of buckfast for young lads
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 12:06:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
I must lead a very sheltered life as I've never ever been offered cocaine ever, but even if I was at some point in the future I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole, and I've certainly never seen anything like the scenario above. I guess my kids when they are older will do well to avoid exposure to it and I'd like to think they wouldn't touch it either but with peer pressure you never know.
i know its really gotten bad i would have thought maybe 50 percent of gaa might be on 70 percent does seem that outrageous tho i can see where you coming from.
Quote from: Eire90 on November 29, 2022, 02:09:25 PM
Quote from: Truth hurts on November 29, 2022, 02:03:50 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 01:53:00 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:12:14 PM
Quote from: toby47 on November 29, 2022, 12:06:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Yeah, it's mental at the minute. I walked into the toilet of a pub about a month ago and 4 fella's (early 20's) were standing dipping keys into a bag (i assume cocaine) and sniffing it. Not in cubicles, right beside the urinals me and one other fella was using. I was in utter shock, obviously in shock at seeing ones do it, but also at the carefree nature, they never batted an eye lid at me walking past them doing it. 2 free cubicles and they just decided to do it in the middle of the toilets for everyone to see.
Yeah that'd be a common occurrence in an awful lot of places now unfortunately. That shite absolutely ruins lives but has become completely normalised, something genuinely needs to change.
Jeez oh, mad how unfazed they were doing this in front of a randomer. I didn't think it would be a common occurrence.
With it being such a big societal problem, it would be interesting to see if every club gaa player in Ireland was tested, what % would be flagged up.
in cocaine circa 70%
you are saying 70 percent of gaa players are on coke.
Wouldn't say he's far wrong unfortunately. It's been said on here before and I've actually heard young lads saying it myself that they'd rather take coke on a saturday because you'll not have a hangover and be fit to train Sunday morning
Don't see how drug testing of club players would work, where would you draw the line? anyone playing, so after a junior b game which is recreational they could test? or just div 1/ Senior Championship.
I think getting into the whole recreational aspect of drugs isnt really the place of the GAA, a lot of lads take cocaine recreationally, doesn't automatically lead to a drug problem for them, likewise lads having a drink doesn't lead to a drink problem.
I think you'd actually see a bigger drop off in playing numbers of lads 18-25 if there was drug testing, more to do with the shame they'd feel at home if they did fail a test.
As someone said, the concerning thing is how normalised its become, lads I know literally cant go for 1-2 pints without thinking about cocaine, though these lads wouldn't be into sport.
as a society we need to look at it, but banning young lads from football for testing positive for a recreational drug isnt the way in my opinion
is taking a drug that makes your heart beat faster and can cause heart problems not dangerous to be going training the morning after would it not be better to wait a few days if you have to do it.
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on November 29, 2022, 02:09:04 PM
New development in recent years is how some rural areas seem to have overtaken urban with the use of drugs-cocaine especially
That's been my experience. You would be shocked by how much talk of it I've heard in rural Tyrone. Its becoming mainstream.
Quote from: RedHand88 on November 29, 2022, 02:52:53 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on November 29, 2022, 02:09:04 PM
New development in recent years is how some rural areas seem to have overtaken urban with the use of drugs-cocaine especially
That's been my experience. You would be shocked by how much talk of it I've heard in rural Tyrone. Its becoming mainstream.
Yeah completely normalised, as handy and probably cheaper than drinking all night. Madness
Its time drug testing was implemented on sites in the South, same as across the water.
Quote from: pbat on November 29, 2022, 03:06:43 PM
Its time drug testing was implemented on sites in the South, same as across the water.
Already happens on certain sites along with alcohol testing.
Never seen it happen on a site in Dublin, it was every two months when I work in London. Every time we raise it with the company we are told the unions will block us if we try to go down that road.
Quote from: pbat on November 29, 2022, 03:12:07 PM
Never seen it happen on a site in Dublin, it was every two months when I work in London. Every time we raise it with the company we are told the unions will block us if we try to go down that road.
Know for a fact it happens on some sites because know of lads who got the road for positive tests.
Quote from: Eire90 on November 29, 2022, 02:46:30 PM
is taking a drug that makes your heart beat faster and can cause heart problems not dangerous to be going training the morning after would it not be better to wait a few days if you have to do it.
that's what i would have thought as well plus you don't know what it's been cut with.
at least with alcohol you know what you are getting.
To be fair, for me locally it's the GAA lads are the few that wouldn't touch the Cocaine etc..well a couple probably have tried it etc but the majority would be dead against it
Jeez I know it's becoming very popular in society but 50-70% of 18-30 year old's is surely far too high? No way is 1 in every 1 people regularly using cocaine?
What would coke cost ye for a night? I've heard the line 'it's far cheaper than alcohol' over & over again, but never heard a figure mentioned?
Quote from: harryR on November 29, 2022, 03:42:33 PM
To be fair, for me locally it's the GAA lads are the few that wouldn't touch the Cocaine etc..well a couple probably have tried it etc but the majority would be dead against it
Yeah same with me. A lot of clubs would have plenty of lads fond of it though.
The gaa is an amateur sport, that people play for free, and you want to introduce testing for recreational drugs and then I assume ban players if they test positive and have everyone know that they take them. Few of you boys would need to get a life.
Don't be kidding yourselves me, cocaine is in every GAA club in Ireland, being used in GAA Club bars too. This is Ireland 2020s unfortunately.
Quote from: 03,05,08 on November 29, 2022, 04:35:15 PM
The gaa is an amateur sport, that people play for free, and you want to introduce testing for recreational drugs and then I assume ban players if they test positive and have everyone know that they take them. Few of you boys would need to get a life.
Don't take them then? Anyway I think the initial article was more focused on steroids/ped's.
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 01:49:21 PM
Quote from: befair on November 29, 2022, 01:45:20 PM
Alcohol is a much bigger problem than cocaine will ever be
completely disagree. Alcohol will do you little or no harm in moderation.
So will coke.
wlll managers be tested too
Most people that take coke take it with alcohol some do it so they dont get too drunk and can drink all night
hypothetical what if some lad or lass got spike
Gaa can't enforce drug testing for a amateur organisation with no paid. Even at county level I found it strange they signed up for the Irish drug testing programme to allow gaa players to get funding. What you do for the power lifter smoked to the gills who plays football at the weekend for the. Craic. I love to do a drugs test in my gym to see what the hell half them are on, put a well built Gaelic footballer or rubgy player to shame. Any young lad I talking to who filled out very noticed over the year, all are on creatine at the mininium, baacs, protein power. The big conditioned lads who bench over 180kg, Squat 260+ and deadlift 280+, all well beyond 90% of Gaelic footballers are capable of.
Quote from: general_lee on November 29, 2022, 05:10:03 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 01:49:21 PM
Quote from: befair on November 29, 2022, 01:45:20 PM
Alcohol is a much bigger problem than cocaine will ever be
completely disagree. Alcohol will do you little or no harm in moderation.
So will coke.
Visit any casualty dept on a w/e night; for eevry drug problem there will be 100 alcohol problems. It's reckoned that 1 in 6 people in Ireland is miserable because of alcohol, either a problem themselves or someone close to them
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on November 29, 2022, 06:29:24 PM
Gaa can't enforce drug testing for a amateur organisation with no paid. Even at county level I found it strange they signed up for the Irish drug testing programme to allow gaa players to get funding. What you do for the power lifter smoked to the gills who plays football at the weekend for the. Craic. I love to do a drugs test in my gym to see what the hell half them are on, put a well built Gaelic footballer or rubgy player to shame. Any young lad I talking to who filled out very noticed over the year, all are on creatine at the mininium, baacs, protein power. The big conditioned lads who bench over 180kg, Squat 260+ and deadlift 280+, all well beyond 90% of Gaelic footballers are capable of.
nothing wrong with protein powder or creatine in fact most footballers or anyone looking to keep in shape will take them. Bccas are proven to be shite and a waste of money
Quote from: Truth hurts on November 29, 2022, 01:00:58 PM
Quote from: Cavan19 on November 29, 2022, 12:31:17 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on November 29, 2022, 12:16:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Is it the job of the GAA to do it though?
It's not their job but whose is it?
The resources are not there for the police/gardai to deal with it and the country is flooded with it.
It's near more acceptable now to use cocaine than to go out for a smoke.
There was a bunch of suicides in an area in Cavan the last few years and everyone was putting in down to mental health and lockdowns but when the surface was scratched there was a drug problem and one of the lads who was doing the supplying was a highly though off member of the GAA team and former county player.
where abouts was this in Cavan? I ever knew this
Massive problems in Cavan with drugs which are no doubt related to the sucides. There's heroin in towns you would never thought of and that's from the Anglo Celt paper.
To say it's nothing to do with the Gaa is wrong. It's only right we step in and help if there's a problem, or better still get to the young ones before they even get a chance to try them.
Agreed redzone. Massive dangers from drugs are faced by young people and we as individuals and the gaa as a whole need to be doing all we can to protect them, I know a lot of work is going on to combat not only drug addiction but gambling which is a huge one as well, quite a few high profile gaa players were hit by that one, McConville and McCarron probably the 2 best known. Lad from Westmeath who's name escapes me has spoke openly about his drug addiction and how it nearly killed him.
Think we need to be getting through to lads/lassies from 15/16 right through to early 20's.
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 09:57:27 PM
Agreed redzone. Massive dangers from drugs are faced by young people and we as individuals and the gaa as a whole need to be doing all we can to protect them, I know a lot of work is going on to combat not only drug addiction but gambling which is a huge one as well, quite a few high profile gaa players were hit by that one, McConville and McCarron probably the 2 best known. Lad from Westmeath who's name escapes me has spoke openly about his drug addiction and how it nearly killed him.
Think we need to be getting through to lads/lassies from 15/16 right through to early 20's.
Luke Loughlin is the fella. A real rags to riches type of story. Won the Tailtean Cup with Westmeath and now playing a starring role with his club in the Leinster Club. I have read a bit about him over the last while and it was a pretty scary path he was going down before getting himself straightened out.
Kids or young adults will nearly all try it at some stage, that's life, allowing it to be the norm will be the problem, testing at clubs will not stop people trying it either, will probably stop lads playing in fairness.
Work with them and educate, it's not going away so its about making sure there is support when needed
My daughter works in a Belfast bar/club whatever place in Belfast, its as common among staff as customers.
To be fair it was 30+ years ago when we headed into town, and a generation before that were taking other pills, the troubles in fairness reduced things in comparison to maybe Dublin or London but lets not kid ourselves our dads probably delved into things at a time
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on November 30, 2022, 08:49:06 AM
Kids or young adults will nearly all try it at some stage, that's life, allowing it to be the norm will be the problem, testing at clubs will not stop people trying it either, will probably stop lads playing in fairness.
Work with them and educate, it's not going away so its about making sure there is support when needed
My daughter works in a Belfast bar/club whatever place in Belfast, its as common among staff as customers.
To be fair it was 30+ years ago when we headed into town, and a generation before that were taking other pills, the troubles in fairness reduced things in comparison to maybe Dublin or London but lets not kid ourselves our dads probably delved into things at a time
It wouldn't have been as totally normalised as now, personally never tried it myself, know lads that took stuff once and then said nope not for me, know others who took it for a while but wised up and straightened themselves out, then also a few that would be the sort would take it every week multiple nights.
Something that's not been mentioned yet is the attraction having a bag of stuff can have in terms of attracting women, plenty of young girls as bad or worse than the lads for it.
Quote from: square_ball on November 30, 2022, 08:26:24 AM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 09:57:27 PM
Agreed redzone. Massive dangers from drugs are faced by young people and we as individuals and the gaa as a whole need to be doing all we can to protect them, I know a lot of work is going on to combat not only drug addiction but gambling which is a huge one as well, quite a few high profile gaa players were hit by that one, McConville and McCarron probably the 2 best known. Lad from Westmeath who's name escapes me has spoke openly about his drug addiction and how it nearly killed him.
Think we need to be getting through to lads/lassies from 15/16 right through to early 20's.
Luke Loughlin is the fella. A real rags to riches type of story. Won the Tailtean Cup with Westmeath and now playing a starring role with his club in the Leinster Club. I have read a bit about him over the last while and it was a pretty scary path he was going down before getting himself straightened out.
Yeah thats the lad. Seems a decent fella too, fair play to him for getting sorted out. I'd say he could tell a few stories that'd scare young ones away from that path alright.
I suppose I am coming to the end of my career and I have seen it seep in from the start to, how it is in fact normalized now.
One guy 15 years ago within our team was known for taking cocaine, it was an open secret. Multiple players threatened to walk away unless he was told by management to go. Last season, we got beat, went on the drink, and a fair few of the players (50% plus) were away off to the toilets of the pub to enjoy themselves.
With the younger ones (that is the boys in their late teens, early twenties) attitudes (and I am going off my experience within my own club here), introducing drug policies may discourage them from playing altogether, if they run the risk of their family finding out etc.
I think we have to look maybe more at the positive side of this from a GAA perspective and actually be a little proud.
Think of what our small towns and villages would be like without the positive influence of the GAA. The positive focus this gives to our young people, the lessons and the life skills being involved in any capacity gives them. People accuse the GAA of being money oriented and bemoan the public funding that goes into the GAA North and South, but take that structure away from our local areas and how much would the governments need to pay to get a tiny percentage of the social return?
Of course as an organisation we can do our bit to help the awareness and education about drugs, but by having our young people in positive life affirming social environments we are already doing more than we are given the credit for.
I don't ever see testing coming into the clubs side of things, but we as members will continue to do our bit in our local clubs for our young ones and try to help them when and where we can.
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
Quote from: trailer on November 30, 2022, 12:31:16 PM
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
Should we not try to help people? Be it with education or in a lot of cases a kick up the hole to wise them up?
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 30, 2022, 12:34:38 PM
Quote from: trailer on November 30, 2022, 12:31:16 PM
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
Should we not try to help people? Be it with education or in a lot of cases a kick up the hole to wise them up?
Yes absolutely. The point I am making rather clumsily is that drugs isn't the whole problem.
This would be entirely illegal. There are no contracts and the reason the county players are tested is because they get grants from the Olympics fund.
Also all this talk of 'helping' players. You don't do that by publically banning them for smoking a joint
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 30, 2022, 12:34:38 PM
Quote from: trailer on November 30, 2022, 12:31:16 PM
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
Should we not try to help people? Be it with education or in a lot of cases a kick up the hole to wise them up?
a kick in the hole from the mamager in private or a public kick in the hole that employers can see?
Quote from: befair on November 29, 2022, 06:59:21 PM
Quote from: general_lee on November 29, 2022, 05:10:03 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 01:49:21 PM
Quote from: befair on November 29, 2022, 01:45:20 PM
Alcohol is a much bigger problem than cocaine will ever be
completely disagree. Alcohol will do you little or no harm in moderation.
So will coke.
Visit any casualty dept on a w/e night; for eevry drug problem there will be 100 alcohol problems. It's reckoned that 1 in 6 people in Ireland is miserable because of alcohol, either a problem themselves or someone close to them
Alcohol is of course the worst drug. Even in small doses some people can't hack it. You're absolutely right, every weekend some **** will be carted off to hospital due to the effects of alcohol.
Quote from: general_lee on November 29, 2022, 05:10:03 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 01:49:21 PM
Quote from: befair on November 29, 2022, 01:45:20 PM
Alcohol is a much bigger problem than cocaine will ever be
completely disagree. Alcohol will do you little or no harm in moderation.
So will coke.
Depends on what it is mixed with.
Quote from: Truth hurts on November 29, 2022, 01:00:58 PM
Quote from: Cavan19 on November 29, 2022, 12:31:17 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on November 29, 2022, 12:16:19 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on November 29, 2022, 12:01:56 PM
Cocaine is a massive societal problem in the UK and Ireland at the minute. Something needs done.
Is it the job of the GAA to do it though?
It's not their job but whose is it?
The resources are not there for the police/gardai to deal with it and the country is flooded with it.
It's near more acceptable now to use cocaine than to go out for a smoke.
There was a bunch of suicides in an area in Cavan the last few years and everyone was putting in down to mental health and lockdowns but when the surface was scratched there was a drug problem and one of the lads who was doing the supplying was a highly though off member of the GAA team and former county player.
where abouts was this in Cavan? I ever knew this
I'd prefer not to say it wasn't anything that made news but was well known in the area.
On the percentage of lads on it our lads were out one night recently and going by the amount of carry on in jacks i'd say that 12 out of the starting 15 are at it.
Quote from: trailer on November 30, 2022, 12:31:16 PM
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
That is an absolutely ridiculous post.
Quote from: RandyDupree on November 30, 2022, 01:18:52 PM
Quote from: trailer on November 30, 2022, 12:31:16 PM
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
That is an absolutely ridiculous post.
from a ridiculous poster
Quote from: RandyDupree on November 30, 2022, 01:18:52 PM
Quote from: trailer on November 30, 2022, 12:31:16 PM
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
That is an absolutely ridiculous post.
Not entirely ridiculous, just a bit generalised. SOME people who have these addictions are genetically predisposed to some addiction, it could be stamp collecting as much as drugs etc.
Quote from: shawshank on November 30, 2022, 02:55:54 PM
Quote from: RandyDupree on November 30, 2022, 01:18:52 PM
Quote from: trailer on November 30, 2022, 12:31:16 PM
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
That is an absolutely ridiculous post.
Not entirely ridiculous, just a bit generalised. SOME people who have these addictions are genetically predisposed to some addiction, it could be stamp collecting as much as drugs etc.
And I would expect a manager/club if they saw this behaviour to offer help. I wouldn't expect a public expulsion from the entire GAA to be that help.
Don't live in Ireland, but you do hear that it is becoming more common.
Now I drink my fair share and maybe more but,
Biggest thing I don't understand;
Do any of these young people care about the potential long-term effects on their organs. Heart especially.
How do the users at local level trust what they are putting into their bodies.
How do they trust their source and that dealers source.
How long before a bad or contaminated batch that is mixed with (Fentanyl) or some other poison kills or incapacitates three or four people at one time.
The amount of unintended overdoses in the US and the suffering from it is terrible.
Not an expert and maybe they are completely different drugs, but the outcome is scary nonetheless.
Finally, why dont the Gardai open up a confidential hotline to out the dealers at local level, it would be a starting point.
Quote from: joemamas on November 30, 2022, 06:31:51 PM
Don't live in Ireland, but you do hear that it is becoming more common.
Now I drink my fair share and maybe more but,
Biggest thing I don't understand;
Do any of these young people care about the potential long-term effects on their organs. Heart especially.
How do the users at local level trust what they are putting into their bodies.
How do they trust their source and that dealers source.
How long before a bad or contaminated batch that is mixed with (Fentanyl) or some other poison kills or incapacitates three or four people at one time.
The amount of unintended overdoses in the US and the suffering from it is terrible.
Not an expert and maybe they are completely different drugs, but the outcome is scary nonetheless.
Finally, why dont the Gardai open up a confidential hotline to out the dealers at local level, it would be a starting point.
The Gardai do.
Fentanyl is heroin, very different story.
A major reason for the rise in cocaine use is the exorbitant price of hooch.
Quote from: Baile Brigín 2 on November 30, 2022, 06:46:50 PM
Quote from: joemamas on November 30, 2022, 06:31:51 PM
Don't live in Ireland, but you do hear that it is becoming more common.
Now I drink my fair share and maybe more but,
Biggest thing I don't understand;
Do any of these young people care about the potential long-term effects on their organs. Heart especially.
How do the users at local level trust what they are putting into their bodies.
How do they trust their source and that dealers source.
How long before a bad or contaminated batch that is mixed with (Fentanyl) or some other poison kills or incapacitates three or four people at one time.
The amount of unintended overdoses in the US and the suffering from it is terrible.
Not an expert and maybe they are completely different drugs, but the outcome is scary nonetheless.
Finally, why dont the Gardai open up a confidential hotline to out the dealers at local level, it would be a starting point.
The Gardai do.
Fentanyl is heroin, very different story.
A major reason for the rise in cocaine use is the exorbitant price of hooch.
Fairly common knowledge in the north who the dealers are, majority of whom are police informants.
Quote from: RandyDupree on November 30, 2022, 01:18:52 PM
Quote from: trailer on November 30, 2022, 12:31:16 PM
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
That is an absolutely ridiculous post.
It's absolutely isn't.
Quote from: tonto1888 on November 30, 2022, 01:38:23 PM
Quote from: RandyDupree on November 30, 2022, 01:18:52 PM
Quote from: trailer on November 30, 2022, 12:31:16 PM
If you are going to ruin your life you will. No matter if it is drugs, alcohol, gambling. In many cases that person was destined to be a f**king disaster. If it wasn't drugs it would be alcohol or gambling or something else. Eradicating drugs isn't the answer nor is it the whole problem.
That is an absolutely ridiculous post.
from a ridiculous poster
I hate yourself highly as well.
*rate
LOL!
Lots of dealers are seen as pillars of the community types upstanding citizens types some theorys out their about the gaa and coke too.
Sliding badly off topic, however very noticeable the number of people openly snoking dope while driving. Every bit as bad as drink driving but very few convictions.
It's definitely more open in Belfast these days. How do you conclude people are doing it more openly when driving?
Quote from: imtommygunn on December 01, 2022, 07:51:41 AM
It's definitely more open in Belfast these days. How do you conclude people are doing it more openly when driving?
Maybe he can smell it from parked cars. I've noticed this myself.
Quote from: Eire90 on November 30, 2022, 08:24:50 PM
Lots of dealers are seen as pillars of the community types upstanding citizens types some theorys out their about the gaa and coke too.
Thats another scary thing, it used to be 'scumbags' dealing, now it's what you'd have called real decent people.
Is there another thread / forum whereby the contributors to this thread are egging each other to see who can deliver the most outlandish and sweeping statement? Surely this delirium above cannot be organic?
I remember when playing years ago I'd to go to the house of a boy who played ~15 years previous. He informed me that it was no wonder we weren't doing well with all the drugs the team were taking. I'm from a small rural community where I knew pretty much everyone and you had max a couple who "dabbled". I know drugs are a problem however I can't help but feel there is a lot, and I mean a lot, of exaggeration goes on about the scale of the problem.
I feel the GAA goes over and above in educating and it's a great thing but the testing is a step too far IMO.
Quote from: RedHand88 on December 01, 2022, 08:13:50 AM
Quote from: imtommygunn on December 01, 2022, 07:51:41 AM
It's definitely more open in Belfast these days. How do you conclude people are doing it more openly when driving?
Maybe he can smell it from parked cars. I've noticed this myself.
Yeah noticed this myself a good bit. Daft
Quote from: Eire90 on November 30, 2022, 08:24:50 PM
Lots of dealers are seen as pillars of the community types upstanding citizens types some theorys out their about the gaa and coke too.
drug dealer = pillar of the community... say what?
Quote from: Armagh18 on December 01, 2022, 09:08:14 AM
Quote from: RedHand88 on December 01, 2022, 08:13:50 AM
Quote from: imtommygunn on December 01, 2022, 07:51:41 AM
It's definitely more open in Belfast these days. How do you conclude people are doing it more openly when driving?
Maybe he can smell it from parked cars. I've noticed this myself.
Yeah noticed this myself a good bit. Daft
Ormeau park riddled with weed - I'd run through it a lot. Definitely getting more open in the streets too.
Quote from: imtommygunn on December 01, 2022, 09:18:26 AM
Quote from: Armagh18 on December 01, 2022, 09:08:14 AM
Quote from: RedHand88 on December 01, 2022, 08:13:50 AM
Quote from: imtommygunn on December 01, 2022, 07:51:41 AM
It's definitely more open in Belfast these days. How do you conclude people are doing it more openly when driving?
Maybe he can smell it from parked cars. I've noticed this myself.
Yeah noticed this myself a good bit. Daft
Ormeau park riddled with weed - I'd run through it a lot. Definitely getting more open in the streets too.
The smell of weed walking through Downpatrick in pungent
There are a lot of people who can control weed and just do recreational smoking of it. Then there are others who it a stepping stone for and then there are others who do so much of it that it makes them paranoid as hell.
The question is what you want the outcome to be here... If a player smokes a small bit of weed are they going to get banned? outed as a drug user / abuser? It's a slippery slope I would say.
Also I would say a point in that article is interesting... "heightened aggression" which hints at the fact there is an assumption this is due to drug abuse. Is there really heightened aggression in the game these days?
Quote from: Truth hurts on December 01, 2022, 09:09:21 AM
Quote from: Eire90 on November 30, 2022, 08:24:50 PM
Lots of dealers are seen as pillars of the community types upstanding citizens types some theorys out their about the gaa and coke too.
drug dealer = pillar of the community... say what?
sure women have c*cks these days. It's the twilight zone!
At the club level, this could only be introduced for performance-enhancing drugs. We couldn't include recreational since doing so would alienate a lot of our own people.
Quote from: Truth hurts on December 01, 2022, 09:49:33 AM
At the club level, this could only be introduced for performance-enhancing drugs. We couldn't include recreational since doing so would alienate a lot of our own people.
Maybe Clubs could supply the lads with their favourite drugs.
Could be a good earner....
Quote from: Truth hurts on December 01, 2022, 09:09:21 AM
Quote from: Eire90 on November 30, 2022, 08:24:50 PM
Lots of dealers are seen as pillars of the community types upstanding citizens types some theorys out their about the gaa and coke too.
drug dealer = pillar of the community... say what?
Don't think thats what he's saying, think he means people who seem to be really decent pillar of the community types are actually drug dealers behind it as well
Why should it apply at club level, there no funding involved,
Quote from: RedHand88 on December 01, 2022, 08:13:50 AM
Quote from: imtommygunn on December 01, 2022, 07:51:41 AM
It's definitely more open in Belfast these days. How do you conclude people are doing it more openly when driving?
Maybe he can smell it from parked cars. I've noticed this myself.
Yes parked cars and also cars queued up in traffic. Windows down smoking away, you can't miss the smell. They shouldn't be in control of a vehicle.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on December 01, 2022, 08:21:01 PM
Why should it apply at club level, there no funding involved,
I wouldn't fancy going up against someone off his nut on coke or someone pumped full of steroids, would you?
Quote from: Armagh18 on December 01, 2022, 11:30:44 PM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on December 01, 2022, 08:21:01 PM
Why should it apply at club level, there no funding involved,
I wouldn't fancy going up against someone off his nut on coke or someone pumped full of steroids, would you?
There's been plenty of lads on steroids in the GAA, going back decades. But the reality is that the game moves too quickly for an out and out power lifter to be any use. So it tends to be a focused use of steroids.
There's been plenty of lads played GAA when coked up too. You'd never actually know the difference in the vast majority of people (unless you know them well), apart from an overactive jaw and them talking too much. From what I've observed coke is a bit like alcohol: some people get paranoid and aggressive, but most just get more confident. When they mix up drink and coke things get more obvious as they're simultaneously going in different directions.
——
Anyhow. Is it not enough that our Association provides the facilities, structures and means for young adults to avoid the trappings of drugs? Can it really also be our responsibility to police and govern our communities too?
I don't think so.
I'm a capable administrator. I'm a passable coach. But I'm not a social worker, and never will I be. If a lad's natural tendencies and upbringing means are they are more interested in getting off their tits than playing sport, then it's not on me to try to correct their course .f**k that for a game of darts.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on December 03, 2022, 12:50:12 AM
I played a game half drunk one time, where do you stop, was in the pub 11-1pm with a game at half three, had a stormer of a first half, destroyed in the 2nd, lol.
posting a lot safer for everyone.
Played first soccer/groundball game today in a while. In the club bar afterwards (other teams) I couldn't believe the amount of lads sneaking into the toilets and at times just passing keys to each other while having a pint and watching the football. Maybe alot more of a problem than I thought as wouldn't be something from where I live really
Quote from: Truth hurts on December 01, 2022, 09:19:46 AM
Quote from: imtommygunn on December 01, 2022, 09:18:26 AM
Quote from: Armagh18 on December 01, 2022, 09:08:14 AM
Quote from: RedHand88 on December 01, 2022, 08:13:50 AM
Quote from: imtommygunn on December 01, 2022, 07:51:41 AM
It's definitely more open in Belfast these days. How do you conclude people are doing it more openly when driving?
Maybe he can smell it from parked cars. I've noticed this myself.
Yeah noticed this myself a good bit. Daft
Ormeau park riddled with weed - I'd run through it a lot. Definitely getting more open in the streets too.
The smell of weed walking through Downpatrick in pungent
That's dog shite you're smelling ;)