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Do you use recreational drugs? (not including alcohol)

JustVJustV Community Manager Posts: 5,577 Part of The Furniture
edited July 2022 in Drink & Drugs
Interested in whether this is something you folks are into. We used to see a lot more drugs chatter here but it's died down over the years, and not sure whether it's because less people are into it or it's just being discussed less. Feel free to comment with more info if you like - no judgement. :)

Oh and for the purposes of this, alcohol isn't included (even though it is a recreational drug).

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Do you use recreational drugs? (not including alcohol) 31 votes

Yes, often
16% 5 votes
Yes, sometimes
16% 5 votes
No, never
67% 21 votes

Comments

  • AislingDMAislingDM Moderator Posts: 1,666 Extreme Poster
    Really great poll, Mike!! I reckon even if people aren't as into it anymore we can all stand to learn a bit more about how recreational drugs can be used safely because we never know which friends or family members might need our support <3
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  • JustVJustV Community Manager Posts: 5,577 Part of The Furniture
    For sure @AislingDM - knowledge is power, right? :)

    I'm pretty sure there is data out there about how people our age are using less drugs, drinking less, and smoking less than previous generations. I wonder why...
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  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 109 The Mix Convert
    i dont actually know how to class myself, because its something i do but so rarely. eg someone who only drinks at christmas or weddings might not class themelves as a drinker.

    perhaps users of drugs use them less often and so they dont feel they can categorise themselves as a user outright, perhaps because of prices or because other means of hits eg video games, vaping, porn, tv shows you can finish in one sitting etc are more available now than during the 90s and 00s.

    the amount of antidepressants precribed has gone up over the last few years, maybe whilst there are still drugs being used recreationally there are fewer drugs being used medicinally or as coping mechanisms. i wonder if youve found recreational drug users have fewer issues with drugs than people who use them to cope?

    as Aisling and Mike say, education and understanding is never a bad thing!
  • JustVJustV Community Manager Posts: 5,577 Part of The Furniture
    I think this is a really interesting take @Owl. You might be right that it's easy to get those pleasure hits in other ways, for less money, and with less risk. I did read somewhere that our generations are more health conscious than previous ones, but not sure how accurate that is. 🤔
    i wonder if youve found recreational drug users have fewer issues with drugs than people who use them to cope?
    Not sure on this, but would be an interesting thing to research! Intuitively I want to say that's probably true, but that's not backed up by anything concrete...
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  • Past UserPast User Definition of a mental mess and a certified lost cause :) Posts: 0 Just got here
    edited July 2022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 109 The Mix Convert
    I think now that "legal" highs are illegal, a recreational drug is any drug that you take that isn't medicinal.

    They're not all illegal, technically things like alcohol and caffeine and nicotine are recreational drugs, and some things are legal to use for yourself but illegal to make or to supply to others.

    This page explains the drug classes, but its government so take it with a pinch of lockdown partying and hiring perverts
    https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-possession-dealing
  • independent_independent_ Community Champion Posts: 9,015 Supreme Poster
    I have tried a tiny bit of weed with my friends, but I wouldn't say I take drugs. However I am a smoker so I am by no means an angel haha!
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • JustVJustV Community Manager Posts: 5,577 Part of The Furniture
    edited September 18
    Past User wrote: »
    What is classed as a recreational drug?

    I dont take any drugs and never have, but I'm curious to what is classed under it.
    Owl wrote: »
    I think now that "legal" highs are illegal, a recreational drug is any drug that you take that isn't medicinal.

    They're not all illegal, technically things like alcohol and caffeine and nicotine are recreational drugs, and some things are legal to use for yourself but illegal to make or to supply to others.

    This page explains the drug classes, but its government so take it with a pinch of lockdown partying and hiring perverts
    https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-possession-dealing
    Ha! Basically this. :) In my head I was thinking basically anything you'd take to have a good time / enjoy yourself (rather than something you take because you have to, like medicine).
    independent_ wrote: »
    I have tried a tiny bit of weed with my friends, but I wouldn't say I take drugs. However I am a smoker so I am by no means an angel haha!
    Do you mind me asking how you found trying weed, @independent_? :)
    Post edited by TheMix on
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  • independent_independent_ Community Champion Posts: 9,015 Supreme Poster
    edited July 2022
    @Mike no worries at all. It was fun just for the experience, but I wouldn’t like to use it regularly because I’m generally very anti illegal drugs (for myself, others can do what they like)

    But bloody hell nicotine is the hardest to quit. I’m having surgery on Monday and I’ve got to quit smoking cigarettes until it’s over, I’m still vaping but for a legal drug the cigs are hard to kick!
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • JustVJustV Community Manager Posts: 5,577 Part of The Furniture
    edited July 2022
    That makes a lot of sense @independent_. :) Not to turn this into 20 questions, but do you mind if I ask why you're anti-illegal drugs? Is it because of the illegality or something else?

    The people I know who have taken other recreational drugs say a similar thing about nicotine. I also have relatives who have genuinely tried really hard to quit smoking, but have never managed it long-term. Seems like the one people struggle with the most.

    Rooting for you, and I hope the surgery goes smoothly!
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    All behaviour is a need trying to be met.
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  • independent_independent_ Community Champion Posts: 9,015 Supreme Poster
    @Mike I guess just because Iknow people who are or have been addicted to them and it takes over their lives. It’s awful for them, I get it though it’s an addiction and, being a smoker, I can understand how easily addiction can happen. Just seems worse with things that alter your mind to that extent and take over like some drugs do.

    Thank you, it’s a minor operation so should be ok :)
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • JustVJustV Community Manager Posts: 5,577 Part of The Furniture
    Makes sense given your experience @independent_. I can relate a bit to this - people close to me have had a really rough time with drink and drugs, and sometimes I wonder if that's why I haven't really ventured into that stuff. Thank you for sharing. :)
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    All behaviour is a need trying to be met.
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  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 2 Newbie
    independent_ wrote: »
    @Mike I guess just because Iknow people who are or have been addicted to them and it takes over their lives. It’s awful for them, I get it though it’s an addiction and, being a smoker, I can understand how easily addiction can happen. Just seems worse with things that alter your mind to that extent and take over like some drugs do.

    Thank you, it’s a minor operation so should be ok :)

    I know this was from a year ago…but I find it really interesting…the perceptions about legal and illegal drugs and society’s attitudes to them.

    I kinda think you answered Mike’s question as an “addict” too which I think is really helpful to be so aware. So many people, including scholars and politicians etc, agree that nicotine is highly addictive and tbh it would not be legalised today if it were a new product. It’s a terrible plant and after the crops are harvested the ground is useless for anything else for a long time.


  • Former MemberFormer Member We prefer the masquerade~ >:3 Posts: 85 Budding Regular
    I only use drugs to improve my mental health. And this is one reason why meeting up with so-called friends disturbs me: I don't want to become addicted. 😰
  • SkiveSkive Posts: 15,287 Skive's The Limit
    I’ll never fall out of love with MDMA, LSD and GHB, though as I’ve got folder I’ve had to seriously reduce my use. Firstly im a father and don’t have the down time to either get high, or recover that I need, and secondly the ability to recover from a sesh is soo much longer.
    Weekender Offender 
  • JustVJustV Community Manager Posts: 5,577 Part of The Furniture
    edited October 2023
    Skive wrote: »
    I’ll never fall out of love with MDMA, LSD and GHB, though as I’ve got folder I’ve had to seriously reduce my use. Firstly im a father and don’t have the down time to either get high, or recover that I need, and secondly the ability to recover from a sesh is soo much longer.
    @Skive sounds sensible to me! Do you mind me asking often you use now?
    Jimette wrote: »
    I only use drugs to improve my mental health. And this is one reason why meeting up with so-called friends disturbs me: I don't want to become addicted. 😰
    @Jimette do you mind me asking what drugs you use?

    That peer pressure to do more can be really powerful too and it's good to be wary of addiction as a possibility. :) Also you say 'so-called friends' - do they do drugs in a way that you don't like?
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    All behaviour is a need trying to be met.
    The truth resists simplicity.
  • SkiveSkive Posts: 15,287 Skive's The Limit
    JustV wrote: »
    @Skive sounds sensible to me! Do you mind me asking often you use now?

    Hard to say but no more than once every couple of months. Mostly MDMA, though have done some mushies recently. And microdots back in the summer.

    I tend to stay well away from coke. I only ever use it as a tool to sober up when I’ve drunk too much, which itself is quite rare.

    The only drug that has negatively impacted my life or mental health is cannabis and haven’t smoked that for 20 years.

    Weekender Offender 
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 54 Boards Initiate
    I used to take cannabis in different forms. Smoking it . Eating it. But my friend got sectioned recently due to a mental health relapse.
    This now puts me off as I get bad symptoms too. Especially paranoia.

    A few months ago I used to snort cocaine. Don’t worry I’m not telling you this because I want to look cool. In fact it’s the opposite, it made me a mess. I was financially, mentally and physically struggling. One time I had a panic attack because I had a lot in one go. Paramedics came and my heart was racing like crazy. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

    All I’m going to say is don’t do drugs. Try to get a natural high from exercise and meditation.
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