I want drug users, smokers, alcoholics to explain this to me (seriously)

[CrafterMan]

I drink and smoke. I'm 21. I've always been in a high pressure job, not stressful, but I rarely took breaks.

So I was high on caffeine and cigarettes at work and when I got home I got drunk hah.

I'm terrible.

-JB

 

[Capt. Crankypants]

Try, just TRY getting drunk with a few good friends at a LAN party or something one night. It's a great social way to spend some good time with your friends. Make sure you have plenty of munchables nearby too. Chips, party pies, sausage rolls, and lots of them. You get hungry when you drink.

I'm almost exactly like you. I will NOT smoke, and I will NOT do drugs, and I very rarely drink. Only been drunk 3 or so times.

Captcha: The Ternando!

 

[Void Droid]

I smoke once in a while because I enjoy it, in the same way someone would enjoy tomatos or eggs (I hate the taste of them), so it's a taste thing for me but I understand why others wouldn't like it which is why I make an effort not to cover them in it (my friend has asthma so when I'm smoking I move to whatever side the wind isn't blowing etc).

I drink because I enjoy drinking, hell it's 9:02am and I'm having a pint of Jelen right now, I rarely get drunk though, don't enjoy the experience, once it stops being fun or I feel I've had enough I stop.

I wouldn't even say it's for the social side of it, many times I have went to a bar with friends and drank only water, I do each, at the time, because it's something I'll enjoy in that moment, simple as that really.

 

[Kris015]

I drink bacause it's fun and I live in Denmark.
Seriously though, I don't drink very often (like 1-2 times every 2-3 weeks), but when I do it's because it's fun and it helps me socialize with people i wouldn't normally socialize with.

I don't get smoking though.. I really, REALLY don't get it.

 

[AzzA-D]

I began smoking weed at the age of 15(ish), after finding some of my step dads secret stash (with some porno - lol). After a night out camping, drinking and smoking weed and tobacco, I began smoking tobacco to bring about "some" of the relaxation I got from smoking weed.

After my Year 11 exams (I guess the end of high school for the US) my step dads plants were done drying, so I smoked weed daily with my mates through out the summer, stealing about an 8th a day (I mustve cost him alot, because as I have now learnt, he didnt actually smoke it, he sold it to his dealer friend).

I went to 6th Form (college) and smoked weed and cigarettes on a daily basis throughout. Thankfully I had enough common sense to lay off the weed during revision period or I almost definitely wouldnt have gotten into University. After my 6th Form exams (which I somehow passed) I took a gap year, getting a very stressful job with a telesales company for TalkTalk (who do terrible broadband - dont go with them).

The stress of this job, combined with the weed I was smoking at the time, and the weed I had been smoking for what was 4/5 years almost daily, and some bad genes (my uncle is a paranoid schitzophrenic) sent me on a downward spiral. I became paranoid of everyone, I thought I was being spied on by my parents, my friends were "definitely" involved and it was DEFINITELY not the weed causing this.

I tell you what, hearing every horrible thing youve ever done told to you in your parents voice, things they shouldnt know about, inside of your head is terrifying. Every time you have ever thought "I shouldnt have done that" or "why didnt I do that", and the voices of your parents are in your head saying "what a fucking idiot", "little piece of shit, cant even do ..." - Its horrible, and I genuinely with all my heart believed that they were actually doing it aswell.

I confronted my parents, and walked out a few times after telling them they were assholes for spying on me. They were actually very supportive, and this whole event helped me grow closer to them both. After getting a psychiatrist, and coming to some personal conclusions, I decided to stop smoking weed - and I did cold turkey. I also walked out on my job, which helped my stress levels immensely.

After quitting weed, my tobacco intake went up alot, but the paranoia went away mostly. I say mostly, because sometimes I still hear something faint (like another inner monologue, but less crazy sounding), but I now have the mindset to deal with it.

Now, Im 21 - I have just completed my first year of Games Technology at Uni (got a first and 5 2:1s) and am happier than Ive ever been in my life.

Thats my weed and tobacco story. I basically got screwed. I have learnt a hell of a lot about myself, and while I am at Uni, the guys I used to smoke weed with are sat in what is practically a squat, getting fucked on heavy drugs every night without a care in the world. I was lucky enough to get screwed by weed, and got out of that lifestyle.

To answer your other question, I smoke tobacco because it relaxes me. I had some anger issues before I started smoking, and either because of weed or tobacco they have stopped. Smoking also passes the time quite well. I feel that as long as I am happy that is what matters, and if something dangerous like smoking is what helps me be a nicer better person to those around me, then so be it.

I used to smoke weed, because there was nothing else to do. Nothing else was quite as interesting as a smoke up with my friends. I guess I was addicted to weed (as much as you can be psychologically addicted to something), and I was constantly trying to get back that first high, the feeling of complete contentment - nothing matters in the world, its just you and your friends on this huge planet, and nothing but you and them matter.

I very rarely drink. I dont enjoy getting drunk, I dont really enjoy the taste that much, and I hate the feeling the next day from getting drunk (which I do because I am a lightweight).

Many of the things people seem to do are socially related. I can say that smoking is a very social habit, as is smoking weed and drinking. Obviously there are exceptions to this, but generally I think alot of habits such as what drugs you use, whether you smoke, what clubs you go to drink at, come down to what your friends or your clique or your group or whatever like to do.

Despite this, I dont have a problem with people smoking weed around me, or doing any drugs around me. They can do what they want, as long as they dont try and push them on me.

If you have read this far then many many cookies for you! I apologise for the wall of text.

I only hope that you dont have to go through what I have, and if you have or are or will, then I hope all goes well for you.

 

[Wilko316]

I don't smoke cigarettes, I don't really get drunk unless the occasion really calls for it, but I do like getting high.
I tried cannabis once after a band practice, I'd always said that I'd like to try it to see what it was like and honestly I feel in love with the feeling.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't over use it, it's not like I get high everyday and I don't do it in excessive amounts in short periods of time. I went into doing it with moderation in mind and it's certainly paid off, I thoroughly enjoy what it feels like and the kind of person it turns me into; a funny, insightful, intellectual being (more so than what I am already ) and I do it enough to be that person, but without the risk of any harm ... at all.
Average I'll do it, once a week, if that.

 

[Oilerfan92]

I ocassionaly go drinking because... It makes me feel good for one night. I don't have a shit life, but it's pretty dull, and I have a hard time getting genuenky happy and excited over things, so screw it, timento artificially alter my mood. I'm happy for a night, and the majority of my behavior is ignored because I'm a weird person IRL, so outside of slurred speech, swaying, and physical appearance its hard to see any major differences.

I doubt I'll ever do drugs though, atleast nothing heavier than pot. I've seen and read sow a tuff that those heavy drugs can do. No way.

TLR it's fun.

 

[derelict]

I smoke occasionally, and I certainly drink; these things are simply enjoyable in and of themselves. If you are doing them for any other reason then you may have an addiction or some other problem.

I am certain you can equate that with things in your own life.

Have you ever eaten cheese pizza? Drunk soda? Stayed on a couch all day instead of exercising and getting fresh air?

We are all just human after all. It isn't easy to put away immediate gratification for long term gain: especially when you are young.

This is proper, but there's also a very strong undercurrent of peer pressure involved with pretty well all people that start smoking and most starting drinking.

Then there's some things like E and Weed that have well documented euphoric effects and very few negative side effects. Those wouldn't really fit the criteria of the OP though, not being particularly harmful.

 

[Magicman10893]

There are many different points of view for anything. While you see it as stupid because it is harmful to your body, they see the fun and feeling of drinking or smoking or whatever to be worth the risk. Some people see mixed martial arts as a terrible sport that is basically human cock-fighting, but others see martial arts as a respectful sport that requires determination, discipline and respect and worth the increased risk of serious injury to do something you enjoy. Another example would be driving fast. As the son of a man that owns a brand new 2010 Camaro SS with the V8 engine, going from 40 to 90 in like 4 seconds is exhilarating, but others see it is horribly irresponsible because of the risk of getting pulled over for speeding, or worse, getting into an accident that would seriously injure you or kill you.

 

[cuppajoe1687]

I'm 21 years old (just about 22 at this point), I've never once smoked or done drugs, I barely ever drink and have never been drunk. I don't want to criticize those who partake in those activities and if you come into this topic expecting to do that, please go elsewhere.

I just want to know why you chose to do it. It's widely known now that the benefits of those things are temporary but they could ruin your lives fairly easily. It just seems like there is absolutely no good reason for doing drugs, or smoking, or drinking in excess. I know some people are addicted, and that sucks because that's tough for anyone to overcome. Some I know are self-destructive; they know it's bad but they do it anyway apparently because they just don't care.

But I know I can't truly know why because I've never experienced it myself, so I want to understand. Please, if you want to, give me your honest reasons for doing what you do so I can understand where you're coming from even if I don't agree with it.

wow, I'm a new escapist member and it feels like a lot of my posts have been about this.

I'm a fully recovered former drug addict, and I can tell you right now that I used to have the exact same mindset as you do right now. Even so, I ended up addicted to both dilaudid and cocaine (I used to mix the two in a syringe and mainline them). Eventually I quit when I realized that you don't have ANY friends in the drug world, and that I had turned into the same sack of shit that all my drug using friends were. I was lucky in the sense that I quit pretty early, but the recovery process has been a long two, almost three, years.

Why people do the dangerous or hard drugs usually arrives out of some need that is not being fulfilled. Either there is a lack of excitement in their life, or they need some sort of validation from peers, hell sometimes it's something like wanting desperately to have some sort of story they can tell in their later years. The reasons are infinite and can always be boiled down to not getting validation, love, joy or victory out of life. The failure to achieve these needs can lead to drug addiction, and the shame that one feels as a result of these failures is what keeps you hooked. When I became hooked on the needle I had already experimented with it a couple of times. I didn't become hooked until after I got cheated on, lost two best friends and got kicked out of college. I immediately started shooting more and more to avoid the problem. I'm not gonna sugar coat it, injecting dilaudid and cocaine feels fucking GOOD (better than orgasm IMO but not as special or important) and I had lot's of fun and sex while I was doing it, I got laid more when I was a junkie than I ever did when I was sober (and not with junkie girls either, just dumb girls I'd meet randomly). That ended soon though as the opiates eventually killed my sex drive and slowly annihilated my life and I made increasingly poor decisions (most of which I won't go into). Eventually I let one of my junkie friends, a guy named David, who got kicked out of his house stay with me. After a few months he ended up stealing $1500 from me and took off to denver. I immediately flew into a violent rage, destroyed some of my furniture, completely swore off the needle and moved back in with my parents (who have been very supportive). I started acting again which had always been my passion and moved on. I'm now living in New York going to Acting school and life has never been better. I still get pissed off when I think about David ( while writing this I clenched my fists recalling the theft) but it ultimately was the best thing that could happen. And wow, this basically turned into me telling my life story, haha.

I can tell you right now that even I didn't know exactly why I did them at the time, most people don't because we're always in denial if we're that deep into an addiction. Now I can say that it was a refusal to own up to my failures, combined with not getting the love and validation that all humans need (also not seeing it when it was right in front of me i.e. my parents). When people don't have love or joy in their lives, they end up doing drastic, horrible things to themselves. That's why people become addicted to drugs, they may start out of a sense of fun and/or experimentation, but it's ultimately because their lives are not fulfilling. watch Requiem for a Dream someday, terribly depressing but fantastic movie that expresses what I'm saying much better than I can with my clumsy writing. I want you to understand though, that we are all vulnerable to it. Any failure or tragedy or sense of emptiness can lead to depression and anxiety that would make us do things that we would think unimaginable; and I'm not just talking about drugs.

I still drink and smoke pot every now and then as I enjoy the social aspect of it along with it being fun and harmless enough. I even once or twice a year do mushrooms or LSD as sometimes they can be one of the most profound, beautiful, joyful and (if you're with friends) loving experiences you'll ever have. every now and then I'm brought to tears by the experience. Trippy stuff is not perfectly harmless however; I had a friend once jump out of a ten-story window while on mushrooms so be careful with that as well. Preferably do it close to ground where you can't kill yourself. It's still worth it though, it helped me deal with my post-recovery depression. Just make sure to be around friends you trust, and maybe have a sitter if you've never done it before.

Anyways, I apologize for my poor grammar, but I hope that sheds some light for you on some of the more subtle and deeper parts of addiction. I also hope it answers your question somehow...if at all. As far as drinking, smoking, and tripping goes, always be careful and give yourself a day to recover before you have to go to work.

Give yourself a week if you're tripping ;-)

 

[StonedMonkey]

I like the way you approached it and didn't just call us d bags like most people lol. I'll tell you the main reason i, and probably a lot of people smoke or drink something, it's like..a search for a new experience and a new way of perceiving things, when i drink alcohol no matter how little it is, i think a lot more positively, im happier, i just can't be in a bad mood when i drink. If i want to be creative, if i want to think outside the box, i smoke pot, yeah it makes you think silly, but it's a good way of thinking, you think about things in a way you just can't sober.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

TLR
I could give a never ending diatribe on the matter, but it would be lacking in the eloquence needed. I yield to the wisdom of the man.

I hate it when people ask this question.

Because I enjoy it. Nothing more, nothing less. The same as I enjoy playing guitar or playing video games.

There. Is that so hard? And now some Bill Hicks

And to top it off, allow me to hit the proverbial home-run! (TY for the Hicks, guys!)

 

[ChadSexington]

I smoke cigarettes because I like the taste and the feeling of smoking, it's also a great way to socialize, it's very easy to bond with people you don't like or wouldn't usually talk to over a cigarette.

I drink because I enjoy it, it's just fun there's not really any other reason.

I smoke pot (I'm on a break now but whatever) because it opens your mind to new perspectives and it makes you analyze things and really think. Provided you get a sativa strain that is. Music sounds better, food tastes better, movies seem better, everything just seems better. It's difficult to convey the feeling.

There are other drugs I want to try, acid and mescaline.

There are negatives to all these things but it is relatively easy to stay in control if you're sensible and being inebriated can be pretty fantastic lol

 

[Latinidiot]

I enjoy drinking, no reason needed to justify it other than I enjoy it. Oh, and once you drink too much, you've stopped enjoying it.
Smoking is bloody expensive, so I don't do that.
Pot is fun, and NOT TO BE COMBINED WITH DRINKING.
I don't touch the other drugs. It's mostly fear of them, I guess, but LSD sundered Syd Barrets mind, and I don't plan on letting the same happen to me. Heroin and the other stuff might turn you into Gollem, so I stear clear of them.

 

[cuppajoe1687]

I began smoking weed at the age of 15(ish), after finding some of my step dads secret stash (with some porno - lol). After a night out camping, drinking and smoking weed and tobacco, I began smoking tobacco to bring about "some" of the relaxation I got from smoking weed.

After my Year 11 exams (I guess the end of high school for the US) my step dads plants were done drying, so I smoked weed daily with my mates through out the summer, stealing about an 8th a day (I mustve cost him alot, because as I have now learnt, he didnt actually smoke it, he sold it to his dealer friend).

I went to 6th Form (college) and smoked weed and cigarettes on a daily basis throughout. Thankfully I had enough common sense to lay off the weed during revision period or I almost definitely wouldnt have gotten into University. After my 6th Form exams (which I somehow passed) I took a gap year, getting a very stressful job with a telesales company for TalkTalk (who do terrible broadband - dont go with them).

The stress of this job, combined with the weed I was smoking at the time, and the weed I had been smoking for what was 4/5 years almost daily, and some bad genes (my uncle is a paranoid schitzophrenic) sent me on a downward spiral. I became paranoid of everyone, I thought I was being spied on by my parents, my friends were "definitely" involved and it was DEFINITELY not the weed causing this.

I tell you what, hearing every horrible thing youve ever done told to you in your parents voice, things they shouldnt know about, inside of your head is terrifying. Every time you have ever thought "I shouldnt have done that" or "why didnt I do that", and the voices of your parents are in your head saying "what a fucking idiot", "little piece of shit, cant even do ..." - Its horrible, and I genuinely with all my heart believed that they were actually doing it aswell.

I confronted my parents, and walked out a few times after telling them they were assholes for spying on me. They were actually very supportive, and this whole event helped me grow closer to them both. After getting a psychiatrist, and coming to some personal conclusions, I decided to stop smoking weed - and I did cold turkey. I also walked out on my job, which helped my stress levels immensely.

After quitting weed, my tobacco intake went up alot, but the paranoia went away mostly. I say mostly, because sometimes I still hear something faint (like another inner monologue, but less crazy sounding), but I now have the mindset to deal with it.

Now, Im 21 - I have just completed my first year of Games Technology at Uni (got a first and 5 2:1s) and am happier than Ive ever been in my life.

Thats my weed and tobacco story. I basically got screwed. I have learnt a hell of a lot about myself, and while I am at Uni, the guys I used to smoke weed with are sat in what is practically a squat, getting fucked on heavy drugs every night without a care in the world. I was lucky enough to get screwed by weed, and got out of that lifestyle.

To answer your other question, I smoke tobacco because it relaxes me. I had some anger issues before I started smoking, and either because of weed or tobacco they have stopped. Smoking also passes the time quite well. I feel that as long as I am happy that is what matters, and if something dangerous like smoking is what helps me be a nicer better person to those around me, then so be it.

I used to smoke weed, because there was nothing else to do. Nothing else was quite as interesting as a smoke up with my friends. I guess I was addicted to weed (as much as you can be psychologically addicted to something), and I was constantly trying to get back that first high, the feeling of complete contentment - nothing matters in the world, its just you and your friends on this huge planet, and nothing but you and them matter.

I very rarely drink. I dont enjoy getting drunk, I dont really enjoy the taste that much, and I hate the feeling the next day from getting drunk (which I do because I am a lightweight).

Many of the things people seem to do are socially related. I can say that smoking is a very social habit, as is smoking weed and drinking. Obviously there are exceptions to this, but generally I think alot of habits such as what drugs you use, whether you smoke, what clubs you go to drink at, come down to what your friends or your clique or your group or whatever like to do.

Despite this, I dont have a problem with people smoking weed around me, or doing any drugs around me. They can do what they want, as long as they dont try and push them on me.

If you have read this far then many many cookies for you! I apologise for the wall of text.

I only hope that you dont have to go through what I have, and if you have or are or will, then I hope all goes well for you.

That's interesting, on a rare occasion if I smoke too much hash I have a similar paraniod experience, except instead of my parents yelling at me it's myself. I once had an experience where I literally was hallucinating a song called "He's the most pathetic guy in the world" some joke thing that I would do, but I was singing it to myself. Paranoia is a *****.

 

[surg3n]

I don't drink often, probably only once a month - but I smoke a shedload of weed. I love the stuff, and it saddens me when people make assumptions about it. The problem is that I, or probably anyone who smokes weed, can't explain why without it sounding like an advert.
I don't partake in harder drugs, and I never smoke around children, I used to drink a lot, like I'd get hammered 2 nights a week minimum. I don't like my job enough that I could do it with nothing to look forward to at the weekend.
Everyone I know needs some sort of stress relief, if I'm not smoking then before long I'll be drinking, and personally I think that smoking weed is the lesser of 2 evils. People get in way too much trouble when drinking, the worst that tends to happen when smoking is that you watch some terrible movie, play RockBand badly, and laugh your ass off.

I say, if you want to get to know someone, smoke a joint with them - I wouldn't want people to judge me on what I'm like when drunk... when I'm stoned I'll make you cry with laughter, then I'll toast some waffles. Like I said, it's tough to talk about weed without it sounding like an advert. I'm in the Bill Hicks camp, never lost a job or a friend because of weed.
Most people shouldn't smoke it, for one thing it's expensive, and I don't know many people lucky enough to have that much disposable income, that they can basically set fire to it. I probably spend more on weed, than I do on rent. It's not good for your lungs, it smells and people can smell it on you, even if you can't.

 

[ACman]

snip

Okay: Drug by Drug. And why I used them. And why I stopped.

MDMA: Curiosity Partying, the onlything you can really do when using ecstasy. Got sick of comedowns.

POT: Curiosity then for watching TV and giggling. Stopped because I started getting paranoid while high.

Ketamine: Only used it the once out of curiosity.

Cocaine: Curiosity. And it is a really good drug for shit talking all night. Never really had a pattern of regular use because its too expensive.

Amphetamine: Staying awake. Not a huge fan but some times you've gotta be awake for 50 hours.

Booze: Who hasn't ever had a drink? Still drink the odd beer or glass of wine with food or friends. Ex-Alcoholic but I seem to have kicked that since I left the hospitality industry.

So yeah. I guess the main reason I tried drugs is curiosity. And if I liked the effect then I continued. Wouldn't say I was addicted to anything. I understand why cocaine is addictive because it is moreish pretty much off the bat.

Did it ruin my life? No.

Was it a waste of time and money? Yes.

Will I consume these substances in the future? No probably not. I have better more important things to do with my time. Maybe when I'm eighty or something I'll start on the opium and the hallucinogens but drug taking as a past-time just has too much frustration and fucking around associated with it.

 

[rmb1983]

I'm 21 years old (just about 22 at this point), I've never once smoked or done drugs, I barely ever drink and have never been drunk. I don't want to criticize those who partake in those activities and if you come into this topic expecting to do that, please go elsewhere.

I just want to know why you chose to do it. It's widely known now that the benefits of those things are temporary but they could ruin your lives fairly easily. It just seems like there is absolutely no good reason for doing drugs, or smoking, or drinking in excess. I know some people are addicted, and that sucks because that's tough for anyone to overcome. Some I know are self-destructive; they know it's bad but they do it anyway apparently because they just don't care.

But I know I can't truly know why because I've never experienced it myself, so I want to understand. Please, if you want to, give me your honest reasons for doing what you do so I can understand where you're coming from even if I don't agree with it.

Honestly, and I'm not trying to defend anything here, but the phrase "Don't knock it until you try it." comes to mind.

That being said, I am a smoker, do not partake in any drugs (although I gave a handful of the less-potent ones a try as a teenager), and drink socially.
Smoking is a fickle little topic. Once you're considered a smoker, at said point, you've actually become addicted, so it's really not much of a choice, anymore. I chose to try and "be cool" when I was 12, and before I knew it, I had become a smoker. I've shown throughout the years that I have the capability to quit, but I simply have no desire to. As I've said quite a few times, once I have what I deign to be a reason (kids, or something to that extent), I'll do so.
Drugs, on the other hand, are a simpler sell. I tried, as I mentioned, some fairly weaker substances that one might consider "Gateway Drugs" when I was a teenager, and was a little leery about anything beyond that. A few friends eventually progressed to harder drugs, and after seeing said substances destroy lives, despite how much I and others attempted to help, I made the decision to never touch any again.
Alcohol, well...it's all about moderation. "Alcoholic" is such a negative connotation; you can have a single beer on Sunday, once per week, and you're effectively an alcoholic because it's a regular ritual. It does become an issue if it gets you into constant trouble or creates grief for family, friends and generally just anyone you encounter. I enjoy my social drinking, and getting loaded once in a while, but I don't cause problems whether I'm sober or too drunk to walk a straight line. I've stumbled before, but that's about the point in time you have to make the decision not to drink to excess.
As I've told people in life: "I don't need alcohol to enhance my life; I simply use it to do so."

 

[CarlMin]

Is it only me or do users on this forum have some sort of common anti-sentiment against those who drink and smoke?

 

[Creator002]

I can't smoke (more on this later) and I've never tried drugs (so I can't say anything about this), but I drink. Not often, but when I do, I drink a lot. I don't think I've ever been drunk, despite drinking large quantities in a small amount of time, but the reason I do it is because I like the taste of alcohol. No other reason.
The reason I can't smoke is because if I even smell cigarette smoke for more than a minute or so, I can get really, REALLY sick. Like vomiting sick. I don't hate smokers, but I definitely hate the smokes themselves.