The term recreational drugs refers to the use of various drugs, and it explores their origins, criminalization, and mechanisms. Some of these are legal, such as alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. On the other hand, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance, and some people advocate its use for pain relief.
Stimulants have been used to treat ADHD, but their use was restricted and led to the development of various designer drugs, such as ecstasy. Cocaine and heroin are considered harder drugs that have more risks to users and society. Despite the strict drug laws in Western countries, some regions are now decriminalizing or even legalizing marijuana (1).
They imply that drugs can be fun and safe. However, they are dangerous and can alter our perception of reality, which can lead to our inability to reason properly. Drugs also create physical and psychological dependence, which enslave us. There are many legitimate recreational activities that can be conducted, such as music, art, and exercise(2).
The use of recreational drugs is often defined as the use of various psychoactive substances to enhance one’s perception or pleasure. These substances can also alter one’s emotions or perceptions. When a psychoactive substance enters a user’s body, it creates an effect that lingers.
There are three main types of recreational drugs: depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens. Stimulants are drugs that can stimulate a person’s sense of alertness and energy. Hallucinogenics are substances that can cause users to experience a perceptual distortion.
Although recreational drug use is generally considered to be a socially acceptable behavior, heavy use of some substances is regarded as a stigmatized behavior. Many people also use prescription and controlled substances such as opioids and benzodiazepines.
Among the recreational drugs commonly used are caffeine, which is found in various beverages, such as coffee, tea, and chocolate; alcohol, which is usually found in wine, beer, and spirits; and nicotine, which is usually found in electronic cigarettes and tobacco. Some of the other controlled substances that are commonly used include hashish and cannabis.
In most countries, possessing or using controlled substances is considered unlawful. These include drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine. In 2015, it was reported that about 5% of the world’s adults, aged 15 to 65, had used controlled substances at least once.
Why are recreational drugs used?
There are many theories about the causes of recreational drug use. Some of these include genetics, personality type, sex, age, and instant gratification. Other theories include a sense of belonging to a group, a history of trauma, a lack of social support, and socioeconomic factors. There has not been a consensus on a single cause.
Experts usually use the biopsychosocial model to study the causes of recreational drug use. Although various factors can influence an individual’s drug use, they are not mutually exclusive. For instance, a person’s genetics can affect their drug use. Social factors can also play a role in the availability and exposure of illicit substances.
According to Martin Plant, an addiction researcher, many people who start using recreational drugs develop a self-redefinition before they use. They tend to associate their use with a certain lifestyle, which is characterized by belonging to a certain subculture.
According to Plant, there are many positive reasons people who use drugs become part of the culture of addiction. The main reason is that it provides them with a sense of belonging and pleasure. He also stated that the use of drugs helps people feel better about themselves.
Some other reasons why people use recreational drugs;
- Their friends are doing it, and they don’t want to feel left out, or not cool.
- They enjoy the effects.
- Pressure from friends.
- Some believe the drugs make them happy
- They may feel drugs give them new experiences or perspectives.
- They make them feel more relaxed, or more confident when relating to others.
- They may feel drugs help them forget their worries or problems.
- They want to be rebellious.
- Experimenting with the effects of taking the drugs in different conditions
Evolutional Motives
According to anthropologists, humans may have evolved to resist the harmful effects of plant toxins. The ability to use chemical compounds to treat certain conditions could have led to an evolutionary advantage.
The use of psychoactive substances during the prehistoric era was believed to have been beneficial, as it allowed humans to imitate neurotransmitters. Various factors, such as the genetics of the hepatic enzymes, have led to speculations that humans and plants have evolved a co-evolutionary relationship.
Some facts about recreational drugs
For women and men, taking recreational drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy can reduce their chances of having a baby. These substances can also cause infertility and reproductive problems.
Taking recreational drugs can also affect a woman’s reproductive health. Some of these substances can cause fertility problems or affect the eggs and sperm. In addition, they can pass into the mother’s bloodstream, which can lead to health problems for the baby (3).
The rise of recreational drug use has led to the development of various neuropsychiatric conditions. These include disorders of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. In some cases, patients who use illicit substances, such as methamphetamines, experience a mild agitation.
Due to the increasing prevalence of these conditions, it has been known that chronic use of illicit substances can lead to psychiatric and neurological sequelae. This is why it is important that clinicians are constantly monitoring the development of new psychoactive substances.
Every year, the UK government publishes statistics on the use of recreational drugs. The data collected during the year ending in March 2020 are the most recent. They are not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic because the reporting period is only a few days before the lockdown.
Around 9.4% of adults aged 16 to 59 took drugs in the past year. This figure rises to 21% when compared to the ages of 16 to 24 and drops to 1% when compared to the ages of 60-74. 2.1% of those who are 16 to 59 use drugs more than once a month, while 4.3% of those aged 16 to 24 use illicit substances. On the other hand, 3.4% of those aged 16 to 59 and 7.4% of those aged 16-24 use only class A drugs.
Some Known Issues with using recreational drugs
Human immunodeficiency virus and other infectious diseases can be passed on to others through blood-borne infections. This can be done through sharing needles or getting injured by them.
The use of recreational drugs can lead to addiction. Individuals can become dependent on these substances for a long time.
The cost of recreational drugs is very high. Getting high on these substances can lead to crime. Individuals who are addicted to them often cannot stop.
People who use recreational drugs often behave in a different way. This can lead to problems with their relationships and could even result in them losing their job.
In addition to these, recreational drugs can also cause individuals to develop unusual behavior. They can also contribute to the development of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. Each year, thousands of people are admitted to hospital due to drug-related issues.
One of the most common reasons why people overdose is because they don’t know what they’re taking. In addition to this, fights and accidents can also occur after using illicit drugs.
Using drugs can also result in unwanted sexual intercourse. It can lead to infections and pregnancy (4).
Responsible recreational drug use
The concept of responsible drug use refers to the idea that people can use substances recreationally or otherwise with minimal or no negative effects on their lives. According to supporters of this philosophy, there are many prominent intellectuals and artists who have used drugs without causing significant adverse effects. However, responsible drug use can become problematic once the substance significantly affects the user’s daily life.
According to the principles of responsible drug use, users should refrain from using substances at the same time as other activities that are dangerous, such as operating machinery or driving. This concept is also used in harm-reduction policies. Although the concept of harm-reduction policies was popularized during the 1980s, they started during the 1970s counter-culture. During this period, cartoons depicting the consequences of drug use were distributed to users.
One of the main issues with the illegal use of drugs is that it can cause economic and social consequences for the users. For instance, if the drugs are produced and distributed properly, they can reduce the risks of overdoses. Harm reduction policies aim to minimize the harm caused by the use of various substances, such as alcohol and tobacco.
Injecting drugs intravenously can also reduce the risks of harm to both the users and the community. Doing so can be done through the use of safe injection techniques and the proper disposal of needles and syringes.
Most Common Recreational Drugs
Amyl Nitrates
Also known as liquid gold, poppers, kix
These are usually in a bottle that’s been “swung” and can be inhaled through a cigarette. They provide a quick high that comes and go very quickly. With some users they believe to make sex better
They can cause chemical burns all over one’s nose or mouth. They can also make one feel weak or sick, and they can cause fires if used carelessly.
Amfetamines
Also known as dexies, sulph, speed
Powder form of amfetamines are commonly sold. They can be swallowed, injected, or rubbed into one’s gum.
Amfetamines are used to boost one’s energy levels and keep one working for longer. They can also help one feel more positive.
These substances can make one feel anxious, overly nervous, or even have a strange sense of reality. In some cases, they can trigger a mental disorder that involves people losing contact with reality.
Cocaine
Also known as sniff, blow, coke, crack, white, toot, beak, pebbles
Cocaine comes in different forms: powder, freebase, or crack. Cocaine is usually sniffled out and is produced through a nose. Freebase and crack are smoked through a tube or pipe. All of these can then be turned into a liquid.
It makes people feel alert and super-confident. It also reduces their hunger pangs. After a big high, users tend to follow a “come-down” or “low.”
When people feel confident, they tend to do dangerous things. It can damage the inside of one’s nose, and it can cause heart attacks and high blood pressure. It can also lead to mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. It can cause users to become very addictive, and it can lead to death in an overdose.
Cannabis
Also known as marijuana, puff, grass, dope, pot, skunk, hashish, weed
It can be smoked, rolled up, or mixed with tobacco. This substance is referred to as a joint or spliff. It can also be mixed with alcohol or food.
It can make users relaxed and happy. It can change the way people hear or see things
It can make users feel anxious or panicky. It can also make them feel like they are being paranoid. Driving under the influence of marijuana can result in an accident. It can make users’ brains work slower, which can prevent them from remembering or concentrating. It can make people infertile if they are trying to have a child.
MDMA
Also known as ecstasy, E, dolphins, crystal, superman, pills, pingers, mandy, mitsubishis, brownies
They are usually swallowed as a pill
It can make you feel full of energy and high. It can also make you feel like you are in love with the people around you. It can help you maintain a positive mood throughout the night. Most people use this drug during a night out.
Due to the nature of ecstasy pills, their effects can be unpredictable. After taking it, you might feel low and have memory problems, depression, and anxiety. It can also cause problems with your heart and kidneys. Death can occur due to this drug.
Methamfetamines
Methamphetamines are commonly referred to as crystal meth or ice. The stronger form of this drug is methamfetamines. Also known as phet ket, 4-methylamfetamine is a type of amfetamine.
This drug can be snorted, swallowed, smoked, injected
These substances cause a high that lasts for up to 12 hours, which is longer than the effects of crack cocaine. They can also make you feel more awake and hungry.
These substances can make you feel anxious, aggressive, agitated, and nervous. They can also increase your blood pressure and heart rate, and they can make you more prone to experiencing a heart attack. They can reduce your inhibitions, which can result in you taking risks that you would not normally take, such as having sex with strangers. Using these drugs can lead to severe psychiatric illness, as well as homicidal or suicidal behavior.
Mephedrone
Also known as meow meow, m smack, miaow, m cat, bubble, mc, charge
It can be swallowed when wrapped in paper and it can be snorted
This substance has similar effects to amfetamine. It makes users feel more confident and charismatic. It can also lead to a short-lived love affair with those around you.
It can make you feel sick or dizzy. It can also cause your heart to race and sometimes cause fits. It can affect your mouth, throat, and nose. It can stop you from sleeping.
Magic mushrooms
Also known as magics, mushies, shrooms, philisophers stone
In the UK, magic mushrooms can grow wild. There are two types: fly agaric and liberty caps. They can be eaten raw or dried.
Magic mushrooms can provide you with both good and bad trips. A good trip can make you feel more confident and happy, while a frightening experience can make you feel like you’re in a state of panic. Some people find them to be more sensitive or imaginative.
They can make you feel sick, and they can cause diarrhoea or stomach aches. You might also experience flashbacks later. In addition, they can make you feel like you’re in a state of confusion or fear.
LSD
The chemical name of LSD is lysergic acid diethylamide. It’s also sometimes called acid. Other terms for the substance include tripper, flash, paper mushrooms, and stars.
It comes in tablets or liquid drops and blotters
Like ketamine, LSD can cause positive or negative trips. A good experience can make you feel happy and relaxed, while a bad one can make you feel scared and panicky. It can also make you see things that are not there, which can be either good or bad.
It can make you feel scared and confused. It can also make you feel like you’re repeating the same experience. People who have bad trips are more prone to self-harm.
Ketamine
Also known as Vitamin K, K, green, dust, donkey, super K
It is usually injected, snorted, or swallowed
It can make you feel relaxed and comfortable. It can also make you feel like you are somewhere else instead of in your body. This effect is referred to as a trip. It can affect how you see time and space.
It can affect your blood pressure and heart rate. It can make you feel sick and confused. It can also affect your memory. It can cause you to feel like you have to urinate more frequently, and this is referred to as ketamine bladder syndrome. In addition, it can damage your veins and increase your risk of getting HIV and hepatitis.
Heroin
Also known as brown, gear, skag, smack, H
It is usually injected in liquid form, snorted or smoked
Heroin is produced from the opium poppy. In its form, diamorphine can be used as a powerful painkiller. It can make users feel relaxed and calm.
Heroin is addictive and it can be hard to stop using it once one has used it. If users overdose on it, they may lose consciousness or stop breathing. Using infected needles can also spread HIV or hepatitis.
The Law and Recreational Drugs
The 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act
In the UK, in 1971, a law was passed that aims to prevent recreational drugs from being abused. It divides them into three categories: A, B, and C. These three categories have varying penalties for those caught with or supplying these substances.
The offences may include;
Drug Supply
Possession
Possession with intent to supply
Offering to supply to others
Export or Import of drugs
Manufacture of drugs
Allowing a property to be used for the production, supply and use of drugs
Class A drugs are known to be harmful. Some of these include cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and methamfetamine. The maximum penalty for possessing these drugs is seven years in prison. For supplying them, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
Class B drugs include amphetamines, cannabis, mephedrone, ketamine, and methylphenidate. The maximum penalty for possessing these drugs is five years in prison, and for supplying them, up to 14 years in prison.
Class C drugs include gamma hydroxybutyrate, minor tranquillisers, and anabolic steroids. The maximum penalty for possessing these substances is up to two years in prison, and for supplying them, up to 14 years in prison. However, this is not the case with steroids, which are not illegal to possess for personal use.
Many drugs have scientific or medical uses, and they are placed into one of the five schedules of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. These allow authorities to recognize certain uses of these drugs.
Class 1 drugs are those that have no legitimate medical use. They can only be used with a special Home Office license. Some of these include drugs such as LSD, ecstasy, and cannabis.
Schedule 2 drugs, which are commonly used by doctors, are allowed to be possessed if they have been prescribed. Some of these include cocaine, amfetamines, amphetamines, morphine, methadone, and pethidine. These drugs must be looked after properly by pharmacies.
Also, Schedule 3 drugs, such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines, can be legally prescribed. There are special rules that must be followed when it comes to these drugs.
Schedule 4. Minor tranquillisers and steroids, on the other hand, are not allowed to be given to other people. However, if you have a prescription for them, then they are legal.
Non-prescription drugs that are unlikely to abuse are placed under Schedule 5. These are legal to possess and can be purchased over the counter. However, they can’t be given to another person. Some of these include mild painkillers and cough medicines.
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