What happens if you keep drinking and taking recreational drugs into your 50s?

[FortunesFave]

I'm really curious about it....I'm in my late 40s and gave up all that when I was about 19 or 20. Part of the rave culture I certainly did experiment but got it together and went to Uni late...I've never been very into drinking so only have an occasional glass of champagne or a cider with a pub lunch now.

However it's become clear that a lot of our friends who we've had for years are still doing it and for the past 15 years since kids, DH and I have slowly stopped going to their 'dos' when they get off their faces....we used to go and just drink but they'd all be taking MDMA and coke...all perfectly functional during the week by the way...holding down good careers etc. and we found it uncomfortable.

Lately it's got a bit fake and we don't really fit in any more because we barely drink and they still get off their heads at parties. We have other ways of meeting up with them but then they're talking about this weekend or that weekend where they took whatever...and we don't have that to share...not that we want it but the friendships are running their course.

If, like me, you were born in the 70s you'll know that our parents didn't do this sort of thing into their adulthood....so what's going to happen to Generation X as we age? Will the ones who've never stopped just suddenly die of heart attacks young? It's worrying me a bit as some of my friends I really love...but they're still getting faceless and that can't be good when you're 50 plus!

We may not have had many people doing MDMA into their old age, but we certainly have had people drinking heavily and eating unhealthily, and yes they are more likely to have health issues and die younger. Coke is also bad for your heart so that may exacerbate any conditions there, and mixed with alcohol is especially bad.

MDMA I would think is more likely to cause brain chemistry issues than be bad for your physical health. But it's rarely pure.

Having said that, it's probably better for your health to take coke / MDMA once in a while on a big weekend than it is to drink a lot of alcohol regularly.

Not a lot happens - generally if you've been recreationally using drugs without issue for most of your life, that is hardly likely to change. Just as the majority of people can have a few too many drinks at a party without becoming raging alcoholics so can they smoke a bit of weed, do a few lines of coke, take some MDMA etc... without spiralling into full on addiction. The health issues can be unexpected purely because drugs are illegal and you have no idea what might be in them - if they were properly regulated I doubt you'd see anymore issues than you do in alcohol use.

Keith Richards has said something like he's still here because he can afford top-quality drugs and top quality medical care.

Most of the older rock stars who were known to take drugs and are still alive are because they cleaned up.

However, they were probably taking more often than just some weekends. I guess if they're otherwise fit and healthy and don't get a bad batch then they will just carry on until something happens, the same way some people drink at weekends. There are risks with getting totally blotto, rather than us a couple of glasses, but a lot of people won't change until the hangovers are too unbearable, or a stroke or heart attack or other major medical event forces the point. So with alcohol, I would expect similar patterns for other drugs.

My parents did. One still is. The other died (drugs).

Well, if they're anything like the old ravers of my acquaintance, they die suddenly of heart attacks. If they're lucky.

If, like me, you were born in the 70s you'll know that our parents didn't do this sort of thing into their adulthood...

I became a parent in the 70s and I can assure you that you’re mistaken! Some of my friends never stopped using recreational drugs and continue to do so well into their 60s. This age group is also a very large consumer of alcohol.

Im planning to start in my retirement as i didnt do it when young.

I don’t know about the effects of drugs, but I have noticed that people drink insane amounts of alcohol when they are taking mdma and coke. So if that’s happening regularly it can’t be good.

From what I've seen , you end up being the oldest person of a group which consists mainly of people young enough to be your children. That and poor health.

Neither are a good look.

you look like a complete knob.

It’s like anything in excess it starts to erode different parts of you life and the wheels fall off the wagon one by one if there are no accommodations or checks and balances along the way.

Often it starts with relationships / marriages / family breakdown, money issues, job loss or career stall ..... accompanied by MH issues depression and anxiety - all of these negativity impact the DC in these relationships (no different from having an alcoholic parent). And in your example it’s eroding your friendship.

IME the health issues come way down the line after most of the other stuff has happened unless of course someone adapts and many do. I have experienced 3 deaths in this age group in the last 18 months heart attacks, suicide but all had a significant daily habit of lots of drugs and alcohol - and by then had already lost their careers, homes and marriages/families.

Being the oldest raver in a group of 20-30+ yr younger is never a great look.

Oh god I did a lot of recreational drugs in my 20s but the idea of doing any now sends my anxiety through the roof , I don't think I could relax into it now! I'd be constantly checking the heart rate on my garmin watch 👵🏼.

@Amelia666

Being the oldest raver in a group of 20-30+ yr younger is never a great look.

That’s not what’s happening though. OP’s mate’s are socialising with their peers. So are mine.

Dunno, my neighbour still lives like a raving teenager and I don't know how he's still alive. He looks rough but he's functioning (just about).

Coke can have a long term effect on some people’s arteries - a consultant once described it as ‘like a scouring pad’. But it would be interesting to compare the effects of recreational drugs with, say, obesity and poor diet for long term health.

You become exceedingly dull. And I know someone who did far too many drugs (even after having kids) and died of a brain hemorrhage - no idea if they were connected but he'd certainly been hard on his body since we were 16/17, into his 40s.

Some people will be absolutely fine, some will not.

Mh problems, brain damage and you look about 20 years older than you actually are. And actually have quite a sad life as your friends move on to other stages of their lives, you're not a good bet as a partner etc etc

I mean, maybe some people pull it off, but the ones I know are really a pathetic mess.

I know a couple in their 50’s that do a lot of recreational partying with mdma and Coke etc, they both look really well and you g got their ages. They do however exercise and eat well

You become an even bigger dick & rarely age well.

@Thecatsawinner

I know a couple in their 50’s that do a lot of recreational partying with mdma and Coke etc, they both look really well and you g got their ages. They do however exercise and eat well

Yes, me too.

Very healthy lifestyles otherwise. Not over weight, exercise and eat extremely well. Coke is apparently not as harmful as smoking, alcohol or being obese.

I think it is a 'holistic' view of drugs/lifestyle Take drugs but eat healthily, be obese but smoke. I'd rather take drugs.

I was born in the 70's and most of my friends are wealthy now. They take coke occasionally, drink nice wine, eat fabulous food and go the the gym and are looking great. It all depends...

DH and I stopped in our late 20s. We have a friend in his mid 50s who still does lots of Coke, some ketamine, probably more. I feel sorry for him. It's very boring to hear about.

Partner and I are occasional users into our 50s. We are fit, active eat healthily and drink less than government guidelines. We've been taking illegal drugs for a long time, about once every two months in recent years. I don't notice any ill effects, although I guess you don't until they appear. We enjoy it a lot and don't plan to stop. I put it into the same category in my life as skiing, and to be honest I'm much more likely to suffer death or serious injury on account of my skiing 😆

I think there's a lot to be said for the view that drugs are wasted on the young. I never used at all in my twenties, I found life quite exciting and fulfilling enough without them. It's nice to be able to recapture your youthful exuberance occasionally (depending what you take!).

@NewPanDrawer, we are probably friends in RL!

Seriously though, some people I know in a certain industry are absolutely super healthy, they just do reacreational coke. Why not?

They really won't be dropping down dead any time soon.

A homeless man under a bridge not eating properly and taking that zombie drug thing is a different matter altogether than your friends that like to have a blow out. If you feel uncomfortable just don't go!

People have different tastes and ideas on how to unwind. No one is better than the other. (As long as you are functional, healthy, happy and DC's aren't involved, obviously)

Interesting thread. Long time drug use definitely changes your brain connections over time. So I’m going to guess in all likelihood they’re going to plough straight into Alzheimer’s or dementia much younger that their counterparts.