The Pentagon and Methamphetamine

[Berzerker]

Dateline did a recent episode on how the Pentagon administers methamphetamine to US troops in Afghanistan. Why? The US pilots who bombed Canadian soldiers were under the influence, in fact, they were given the drug by their superiors in accordance with the Pentagon's wishes. But this is nothing new, the military was giving meth to allied flyers during WWII as well because of the drug's effectiveness at warding off fatigue. Strange, methamphetamine is demonised by the media and government, yet the government is giving this very drug to the troops. But while the Dateline piece made sure to emphasis the effects of speed/meth and how it allegedly caused the mishap, Dateline mentioned only in passing that the US pilots were given information that no allied troops were on the ground in that area. Hmm...kind of important information if you ask me. But now these pilots are facing court martial proceedings? Why don't the heads of higher ups ever roll when these mistakes are made? It seems if the pilots were led to believe no allied troops were supposed to be there, they can't be held responsible for the bad information they were given...

[Graag]

Seems fair.

And now a short list of my favourite british drug-using historical figures:

Winston Churchill - Amphetamine by day, barbs at night.

Queen Victoria - Liked a toke.

Queen Elizabeth I - decreed that land owners with more than 60 acres must grow hemp or be fined 5 pounds

American:

Henry Ford - makes his motor cars out of hemp with hemp paint and hemp fuel. They are and run on hemp.

Jack F. Kennedy - liked a toke. Didn't mind coke, neither.

"I believe drugs did a lot of good for people. And if you don't belive me take go home take out all your albums and all your tapes and all your cd's and burn them. Because all those musicians who made all that great music.... reaaal high on drugs."

- Bill Hicks

[Anodyne]

Heh. You know, Churchill was also a nitrous whore

[Zylka]

I hope this doesn't serve as a want for legalized meth in you. Harsh, harsh drug when used frequently.

...and who said JFK did coke?

[Berzerker]

You can't see the hypocrisy of a government demonising the use of a drug - meth - it gives to it's troops?

[Lord_Davinator]

Originally posted by Graag


Queen Elizabeth I - decreed that land owners with more than 60 acres must grow hemp or be fined 5 pounds

was that actually a law?

[Graag]

Yup. Just because it was such a valuable crop.
I think Washington grew a lot too.

[Berzerker]

Washington did, in fact, he may have smoked it. According to his journals, he commented on having failed to produce a "female" crop by preventing cross-pollenization.

[Zylka]

Originally posted by Berzerker
You can't see the hypocrisy of a government demonising the use of a drug - meth - it gives to it's troops?

In a sense, I don't believe it - due to the nature of the drug. It will keep you awake, but in a bad way. Would they really need to administer this type of drug for a single flight mission? Or were they keeping pilots awake for several at a time (which I would doubt, given they have handfulls of experienced pilots for limited missions)

I mean, for a single 24 hour (at most) mission, a high dose of caffeine is sufficient and a lot more mentally stable than meth

[Berzerker]

In a sense, I don't believe it - due to the nature of the drug.

Don't believe what?

It will keep you awake, but in a bad way.

Have you ever used it? I have, it keeps you awake, period. This "bad way" only enters the picture when you keep using it without getting sleep. I've used it for several days at a time until even the drug could not overcome fatigue, so I slept. When you stay awake for several days, you CAN start having minor hallucinations (not pretty colors like with LSD, just seeing things out of the corner of the eye), but that isn't the drug, it's the lack of sleep.

Would they really need to administer this type of drug for a single flight mission?

Depends on the length of the mission, but the drug is very effective at warding off fatigue thereby retaining or even increasing alertness. We used to play foosball all night on speed so I know how effective it is at enhancing performance.

I mean, for a single 24 hour (at most) mission, a high dose of caffeine is sufficient and a lot more mentally stable than meth

Hardly, if that were true they'd be using caffeine. I used to drive for a living and caffeine just doesn't cut it. The problem is that flying or driving is such a mundane activity even if there are moments of "excitement" that the boredom and lack of physical activity is especially tiring for the mind.

[Swissy]

Originally posted by Lord_Davinator


was that actually a law?

The law was put in place to insure ample quanities of hemp for rope making. Hemp was strong and resisted water damage, perfect for use on sailing ships. At the time England was making their push into the naval power scene.

The US government paid farmers during WW2 to grow hemp, again for making rope.