[Ma Facon]

To answer your original question is to be narrow minded for the question should include everyone not just chefs. The only drugs that should ever be allowed in any workplace is prescribed drugs used as prescribed and your supervisor should be aware of the fact that an employee is under direction of a physician. Illegal drug users need help If it be pot or heroin or whatever that includes alcohol. Your relationships with fellow workers should be on a professional level that concerns the mission/direction of the establishment. Any unauthorised use of drugs should be brought to the attention of your supervisor relative or not. If you care about yourself and your working enviroment created by co=workers tou will do the right thing and help clean upo the mess/abuse. Your never a rat, You will rise above that negative way of thinking when you participate in a forward and honest direction in your work enviroment.

[Ma Facon]

To answer your original question is to be narrow minded for the question should include everyone not just chefs. The only drugs that should ever be allowed in any workplace is prescribed drugs used as prescribed and your supervisor should be aware of the fact that an employee is under direction of a physician. Illegal drug users need help If it be pot or heroin or whatever that includes alcohol. Your relationships with fellow workers should be on a professional level that concerns the mission/direction of the establishment. Any unauthorised use of drugs should be brought to the attention of your supervisor relative or not. If you care about yourself and your working enviroment created by co-workers tou will do the right thing and help clean upo the mess/abuse. Your never a rat, You will rise above that negative way of thinking when you participate in a forward and honest direction in your work enviroment.

[Ma Facon]

Mods, Delete the double post. Thank You

[Blade55440]

I've noticed that most people in the culinary business have SOME kind of vice... be it smoking, drinking, some form (or combo) of drugs, etc...

When I move onto opening my place, I won't mind if somebody uses... as long as it doesn't interfere with their work and they don't do it on my time or on the grounds. What they do on their own time is just that... their own business.

If they begin to drop the ball because of it though, out they go.

[Ma Facon]

Blade, I view your opinion as a time bomb, Drug use off site will affect performance in a negative way. What people do on there own time is nobody's business but there own, But it will effect there work performance sooner or later. For a human being to be at there best is to be sober and balanced in there life. A person will always fall short of there positive goals when under the influence. Ask any serious recovering addict.

[shahar]

wait a minute. Don't most of us work in an establishment that makes most of it's money selling a legal but potent drug. One that's involved in accidents, violence and most of addictions.

But just like alcohol certain drugs can be used and abused. Namely weed, cocaine, some party drugs, occasional acid use etc. Yes they do cause damage, but so does living in a big city or engaging in sports(I had more people miss work for out of work sport injuries than anything else. Yes they can be abused, and should probably be avoided, especially by those with an addictive personality. And yes some drugs should definetly be avoided completely - narcotics, crack, soap operas.


So basically its none of my biz. I would never condone illegal activity, but I can't get into my staff life. As long as no one comes stoned or with a hangover. As long as no illegal activity is done on premise. I give my staff the benefit of the doubt that they can handle their $#!†.
If anything change, if anyone's can't perform to my needs, it's 86 time.

[foodpump]

Kind of agree with Ma facon. Throughout the years I've seen my share of dealers hanging outside the employee entrance, seen my share of the consequences of not having enough money to buy drugs, seen otherwise intelligent people destroy their lives.
Like I said before, it's been my observation that people on the heavier stuff: coke, heroin, crack, usually go down. They never stay the same, and never, ever up. This is not a very pretty thing to see. It's the rare and strong person-with a lot of outside help-- who can beat this sitution, and go back up.

[panini]

fp
you're right. addiction is an illness. I only feel sympathy for someone who is addicted. It takes professional help to cure.
I also think the high rate of use in this industry is not accurate. the perception of use, leads to making it ok to come into high, and it's accepted.
Other industries just don't accept it, therefore most addicts hide it until the crash. This is only my opinion. I just don't really see that much use in the mature kitchens anymore.

[Ma Facon]

Sure addiction is an illness that is brought upon ones self, No use = no addiction, So use becomes abuse and with abuse comes the consequence of, dying, hospitalization, being crippled physically and/or mentally and not to mention all the people one takes down on the way plus all the other negative effects that go with it. People that call recreational use acceptable are simply enabling future addicts. Even if you use once you are scarred for life [ you'll never forget it right? ] So why cloud a otherwise perfectly good mind/body in the first place? For recreation? How ridiculous. Take up a constructive hobby, Sport, etc... anything to avoid taking drugs. God bless all that need help and to all that help God Bless you.

[chefATL]

I don't know many here, but I'm going to open myself up....... I was one of those that alcohol and drugs nearly destroyed. I got my sh*t together, got help and went on to a very successful career as a chef in some of Atlanta's finest restaurants. It can be overcome, but you have to be willing to help yourself.

[Ma Facon]

chefATL, Good for you, Then you know what I mean right?

[Pete]

Ma Facon, I do agree with a number of your points, but I also disagree with with some.

People that call recreational use acceptable are simply enabling future addicts. Even if you use once you are scarred for life [ you'll never forget it right? ] So why cloud a otherwise perfectly good mind/body in the first place? For recreation?

Do you not drink alcohol at all? Alcohol is a recreational drug and not everyone who drinks turns into an alcoholic. Nicotine is a drug, and so is caffine. All these drugs have consequences to some degree or other. Ok, so some of the illegal drugs are more dangerous than caffine. But nicotine is one of the hardest drugs to quit. I have even heard it said that it is harder to quit than heroine. Plus look at what it does to a body. And alcohol. Look at all the misery this drug causes. The only major difference is that these drugs are legal. And why are they legal and other drugs are not? Not neccessarily because they have been found to be safer. Many drugs were made illegal because of politics. It is no coincidence that when cocaine was made illegal it was at a time when it was a favored drug of African Americans, or that when marijuana was made illegal it was a favored drug of Mexicans. And why are alcohol and nicotine still legal? Because these are big money lobbists. They use their money to keep their drugs legal, convincing the public it is their god-given right to consume these drugs, even though study after study show that they are as dangerous or even more so than many of the "illegal" drugs. I find the line drawn between legal and illegal drugs to be totally arbitrary, based more on politics than on. scientific facts.

[Ma Facon]

Drugs are drugs. Put the politics and laws on the side. It is a decision one makes to use or not, It doesn't matter what kind of drug it is, Legal or not.

[Pete]

So again, I am assuming, that since you are so vehemently opposed to drugs you do not drink.

[Ma Facon]

Water, Pure cherryjuice, pure blueberry juice, Orange/pineapple etc... And I love just about all vegetable juices. I love coffee but I don't like the effects. I will have a glass of fine wine with dinner [ The view taken when I drink this wine is it is a food with my meal not alcohol for a buzz ].