To think some people take drugs because it is fun?

[crunchymint]

There is the assumption that people take drugs because of mental health problems, or other problems. But plenty of people take drugs because it is fun. I am not advocating taking drugs. But sometimes it is as simple as that.

recreational, not reacional

I actully think my drugs are better for you than alcohol.

Firstly because many take less of a toll on your body overall compared to alcohol.

Secondly because drug taking (and im not talking addiction here, casual use) tends to happen in a very specific context.

So imagine its friday night, you take some ecstasy (you generally wont be touching much booze alongside it). Saturday you will come down, and then off you gp for a normal few weeks, until you next decide to take it.

The problem with alcohol is it seeps into everyday life because its socially acceptable. So you might get bladdered on the friday night but you will continue drinking endlessly - a few beers after work, 2 or 3 (or more) bottles of wine a week ("just to unwind"). I think thats probably a lot rougher on your health long term than say a monthly night with ecstasy or coke.

The exception would be glitzy professions where coke is commonplace daily.

I had a lot of fun taking drugs a long time ago.

Some friends didn’t though, developed additions and contributed to MH issues.

Christ many drugs not my drugs!!!!

addictions

YANBU
But I think people should take the dangers seriously. I developed a problem with speed in my early twenties... I wouldnt call it an addiction because it wasnt so much a need to do it.... it was more that I did not notice how it was effecting the rest of my life in particular my mental health. So in the end I did have to just stop doing it and I will never do it again. Other people say to me 'whats the problem if its just for fun once in a blue moon?' but I know that for me it was having a bad effect despite also being kind of fun....
The fun was not worth the effect.
I do think drugs are riskier than some people who have absolutely no problems with them can understand..... Its like alcoholism.... I dont really get how people can become alcoholics because I dont think I ever could, its just not my thing, I always stop after a few drinks... but for some people its just like this switch isnt it? And it isnt only people with mental health issues or whove had hard lives or whatever... it can be totally random people youd never expect... and they just become a slave to it.
I think that goes for all drugs. So you can just start taking something for fun and randomly and suddenly end up a complete slave to it.

Yes, that’s a good counter argument for my theory that it would be better if they were legal @vogue. Maybe it wouldn’t.

I do secretly think that world would be a better place if everybody did LSD once in their life....

Depends on your definition of fun, and that definition is often influenced by culture. If I took drugs, I imagine my body would probably like them as much as other people's bodies, but the idea of taking drugs is so repulsive to me. Add in the fear that addiction could take hold and that is one place I'll never go unless I'm ready for the grave. There is plenty of sober fun to be had in this world.

I hate drugs. But think the OP has a point.

Dd tells me she and a male friend are pretty well the only ones at her drama school who don't even smoke weed: ironically, both of them have made the choice to abstain because of pre-existing MH issues; they know they would be too vulnerable. An awful lot of her friends also take cocaine.

From what ds tells me, weed is also ubiquitous at the parties he attends in a working class urban area; most of his friends are apprentices or doing practical college courses.

In other words, two social worlds that are poles apart and difficult to believe that everybody involved has a tragic life and MH issues. Drugs are everywhere and for many people they are recreational. Doesn't make them any less dangerous, of course.

robot makes a good point.

One of the problems with illegal drugs is that you never know how you are going to react to them until you try them. I have taken a lot of illegal drugs, mainly without adverse effects. But speed had a horrific effect on me - made me suicidally depressed and very ill. But plenty of people I know were fine with it. Similarly with weed, which can have a very detrimental effect on some people's mental health, while others are untouched by it.

Obviously there is no packaging and official information that warns you of this so its Russian Roulette.

All the more reason for better, more intelligent drug education. If you assume that people are going to take drugs no matter what and that they are better armed with as much unbiased, scientific information as possible, instead of a hysterical, blanket requirement not to touch them, you have a chance of helping people make informed decisions about them.

@charlestonchaplin
Addiction isnt about the substance though. Addiction is created by your own weakness, which would exist with or without the addiction itself.
Basically if you're scared of addiction you're scared of yourself.

Both myself and DH have enjoyed on nights out to give extra "edge" to the evening. A lot of my friends also will have some with them if out socially. Can be fun sharing with a close friend albeit discretely.

I know a lot of people who take recreational party drugs - and I include myself in that. All professional people with reasonably conventional lifestyles (some with kids, most without) who do it because, yes, it's enjoyable.

But, everybody I know also makes a very clear distinction between party drugs and drugs like meth, heroin, crack etc which they'd never touch. I don't think people get involved with e.g. heroin for fun - I think they often get involved because a predatory dealer picks out vulnerable and troubled people to offer their first hit, knowing they're more likely to become hooked.

vogue that's not strictly true: there are different kinds of addiction.

Psychological addiction is fairly common for drugs like cocaine -- people feel they need it as a crutch at parties or to get through the day etc, but its not physically addictive.

Opiates, on the other hand, are very physically addictive, hence the withdrawal people go through when they stop taking them. Anyone can and will become physically addicted to opiates if they take enough of them over a certain period of time -- it doesn't matter how mentally strong you are, your body habituates and your brain chemistry adapts so you don't feel right without them.

Addiction is very complicated. I wouldn’t necessarily say it was your own weakness or, “if you’re scared of addiction, you’re scared of yourself”. I think that’s a little over simplistic and pejorative really. It’s a gamble. Nobody sets out to become an addict. I say the same about drinking alcohol btw, but drugs culture is a little different, because of the people you run into when you start taking drugs. You can be unfortunate and end up getting sucked in to a very drug focussed culture. That’s why I sometimes think legalistion would be a good thing.

True, i agree with pp that i distinguish between party drugs and "scary" drugs...

I totally agree, OP. I find it amusing when people hop in their armchairs to diagnose cokeheads or pillheads as filling a void in their lives.

I've known a fair few - they do it for fun.

Vogue
There is certainly a physical component to addiction. The whole point of drugs is the intense physical effects. There are also the habits and rituals which are also difficult to break for many people. If it makes you feel superior to see people who struggle with drug addiction as weak, go ahead. We all have weaknesses. I don't think a person who struggles with drugs or alcohol or nicotine is inferior because that is their particular struggle.

Addiction isn't the only problem with drugs. There are mental health issues and apparently random adverse reactions. And there is just no way of knowing from the outset if you will have a problem with any of these. You can decide to take the risk, especially if it is one of those drugs seen as lower risk, but no-one can know for sure that they won't run into trouble. I wouldn't want a person I love to take the risk.

But, everybody I know also makes a very clear distinction between party drugs and drugs like meth, heroin, crack etc which they'd never touch

I agree to an extent, BUT, having seen this irl, the problem is when having a bit of mdma on a night out becomes the norm. Then one day, woops, there’s no mdma available. Don’t fancy a night out without it. Shall we try this other drug instead? Plus I reckon many pills you can buy are laced with all sorts, including, (maybe?), “scary” drugs.

I’m not anti-drugs or at least not anti drug users, at all. As I say, I sometimes think I’d like to see them legalised. But it’s risky because of the lack of regulation, labelling etc and some of the dodgy people involved in making and selling.

I do secretly think that world would be a better place if everybody did LSD once in their life....

All depends on what you class as drugs? Alcohol? Tobacco? Something stronger?

I don’t have a problem with people talking non prescribed, recreational drugs at all.

Just wish the NHS would stop picking up the fall out from people who enjoy recreational drugs, things go wrong and someone else has to pick up the pieces

@FatherMacKenzie
Yes you can lose yourself trying to chase the happy high

Drugs are fun. Very fun.

Try telling that to the parents of the two young people who died this weekend at Mutiny.

I dont think it is psychological weakness that always leads to addiction and that is a dangerous thing to think. Anyone can get addicted to anything despite personal 'strength'.
Often its just to do with how you physically react to that drug.
Like I said im not an alcoholic and thats not because im 'less weak' than all alcoholics... its about how alcohol effects me.. as in it doesnt that much... I know a woman who is in recovery and she told me that the first ever time she had a drink it felt like she was flying and like she was an amazing person!