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

[SBoggart]

Marijuana is incredibly boring to me, but when I do smoke I do it just before I go to bed and sleep like a baby.

Alcohol on the other hand, is a wonderful thing. I'm aware of the taboo in saying that you drink to get drink, but... Screw it, I do. It's just damn good fun.

 

[dslatch]

I started smoking as a social thing, weed 'cuz the funniest things happen when your high and getting drunk is only fun at a party (because there is always one person worse off then you).

 

[ntw3001]

I drink, very occasionally smoke weed and don't smoke tobacco. They're pleasant things to do in a social environment. Feel free to lay off them if your ultimate goal is to prolong your lifespan to its maximum achievable length, but not many people really see that as a useful thing to do. As long as the user doesn't become addicted there's really no long-term harm. There aren't many people around who actually regret having indulged lightly in these things. In the case of smoking, 'indulging lightly' isn't really a common thing. But for drinking or drugs, you're unlikely to find someone lamenting the wild years they'd spend going out in town every so often and having a glass of wine with dinner.

That said, smoking is one thing I don't get, because I don't see much reason to adopt such a fantastically inconvenient habit.It's not easy to stop, but I don't really understand why people start. Of course, it's only recently that the government (in the UK) have brought in laws to make it really, really awkward to be a smoker, so maybe fewer people are picking it up now.

 

[Liam Barden]

Imbibing Alcohol and other stimulants

Alcohol is actually a pretty potent depressant.

 

[Sulgoth]

I don't get smoking. I don't OBJECT to it, but I don't get. I have tried it several times, and it always feels like...Well, sucking on garbage. It doesn't help me relax, it doesn't...benefit me in any way. It just smells horrible. I just...Don't get it. At all.

That said, I DO understand getting drunk. It's not dignified, it's not productive, it's really not helping anyone in any substantial way....But it's fucking FUN. Sometimes it's nice to just abandon all pretense of being an intelligent human being and act like a DUMBASS for a few hours, just for the sake of doing it. At least, if you do it right. Designated driver and all that. I also only get drunk with people I trust. Things can go downhill VERY quickly if you aren't careful about the kind of company you're keeping.

But...It's still fun as hell if you do it right. Which I learned the hard way.

PS: Never tried any illegal drugs, so I can't comment on those.

I kinda wish I could not object to smoking, but if someone decides to smoke near me I start coughing badly. If they decide to be a dick and breathe the smoke in my face my legs give out I cough so hard. Bashing your head on the floor because of a smoke might not seem all that bad but I've gotten concussions from it happening before.

 

[II2]

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.

Without meaning offense, you're asking the impossible; people's personal reasons for trying things or liking them enough to stay are an unreliable subjective kaleidoscope.

You have to go through some doors to see what's behind them, basically. Running with that metaphor, you can ask somebody who's stepped out what it's like 'in there', but for all the different answers you get, you're not any closer to actually being inside.

That said, I think it's nice of you to suspend judgement on people and try and understand rather than just condemn activities you don't understand or partake in - wish more people were like that.

I don't smoke (tobacco or marijuana) anymore and don't drink, but still enjoy hallucinogens or opiates on occasion.

 

[HardkorSB]

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.

Well, if you have never done drugs then you don't really know how it feels now, do you? The things you experience after some drugs are just beyond description.
With lighter stuff like weed, it's the pleasant feeling in your body, the all round positive attitude, the fact that you can get enjoyment out of sitting on your ass for hours and doing nothing, the way your thoughts arrange in your head (way differently than sober).
Other than that, I've only tried mushrooms so I can just tell you that whatever you might have heard about it, you simply cannot be prepared for the trip they give you. Yes, they can fuck up your body but the things you see are awesome.
With alcohol, for me it's the fact that you get way more confident in social situations. It's a lot easier to just walk up to a girl you don't know and start a conversation when you're a bit tipsy. You just care less whether you'll make a fool of yourself or not and you're more likely to just say what's on your mind rather than worry in advance and hold back for no apparent reason.
Cigarettes? I don't know. I tried once and it tasted like shit. That's all the experience I had with it.

I hope that answers your questions, at least to some degree.

 

[Gigano]

...
Alcohol is actually a pretty potent depressant.

Moderate consumption generally feel relaxing, loosens up the mood, and lowers inhabitation and social anxiety. So while it may physiologically be a depressant, it can still be - and commonly is - used for its pleasurable effect. Which I'd refer to as a mental stimulus, and hence in layman's terms refer to alcohol as a stimulant.

 

[DANCEMASTERAFRO]

I smoke to relieve stress, it calms me down but in all honesty I could give them up tomorrow. I drink heavily and have been drinking everday since 1/1/11 as a test to myself. I enjoy drinking it's a social affair, it breaks down barriers and there's no social situation that can't be improved with a few beers or a bottle of vodka in my opinion. I've tried every drug offered to me, that's class A, B, C etc. I live for the experiences and I believe you can't judge people with experiencing at least a little of what they have. Weed is relaxing and enjoyable and I've had long philosophical talks with friends over nothing at all. Ecstacy, Cocaine, Vallium, MKAT, MDMA all that stuff is good if you want to go out have a great time without really knowing why it's a good time, these things bring you up and you feel as though your night is invincible (not as many of the adverts claim, that you are invincible, I've never had the urge to go fight someone whilst doing drugs or climb scaffolds or try to fly.) You just have a good time even if it's pouring down with rain, you've been charged £6 for a beer, you can't get a taxi and the prospect of work the next day is looming. The harder stuff's not really worth mentioning, I believe I'd have enjoyed them more if I needed to enjoy them more, if you understand my meaning. The best drug I've ever taen was LSD at T in the Park (A big festival in Scotland) and it was a wonderous affair. I didn't see any pink dragons or giants spiders or whatever else but reality was warped, I knew what was happening around me but my senses weren't sure. I remember for example putting my ticket into my boxers because I could feel the wind blowing away my clothes, my skin and everything else, I was walking around as a skeleton with a ticket lodged in my pelvis, but it felt amazing, I was weightless and worryless. The experience left me with synesthesia (which you can look up to understand more) but essentially I now see colours when I hear sounds.

I will say though that you shouldn't try hard drugs as a way to escape your problems, never get addicted and never rely on a pill or a plant to solve your problems. Try everything once but always be careful and don't let anything get a grip of you.

 

[jpoon]

I'm an avid pot smoker, and I have complete control over how much I use. Simply put, all but the most pathetically weak willed bastard will have zero problems quitting marijuana, after they quit the "negatives" go away damn quick. No harm done, no issue.

There is no stress relief that works better than taking a few tokes, and I sure as fuck wouldn't be trusting western medicine to handle it. No danger in weed, no harm, no reason not to. It's just a relaxing drug that leads to nothing but a happier mind.

Alcohol, I have no problem controlling myself with that either, one night of drinking is usually enough for me for weeks or more.

It's all about will power, and a lot of people just don't have it for some reason...I do.

 

[thelonewolf266]

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

Putting a video of a comedian who often said that there was nothing wrong with smoking and drugs but then died of cancer himself at the age of 32 doesn't really lend its self to your argument.Its hard to accept that people do these things because it kills them.

 

[Fearzone]

Good question.

Your mistake (OP) is assuming addiction is solely about choice, that human action is motivated solely by rational decision. Drop that assumption and better clarity will be your reward. Yes, choice is involved, it is how people ultimately quit, but wise decision is not the only passion that directs people to action. Ever play videogames a little too much?

So imagine giving up your favorite thing for good, forevermore. Sex? Pornography? Chocolate cake? Captain America comics? Whatever it is, you can't have it, ever again. This would not be a welcome turn of events for you, and you might try to find ways to "make it work" i.e. use responsibly, and failing that, if this compulsion shattered work and relationships and left you with no other joys in life, you might just say "ah fuck it" and let it take you to your grave.

 

[Blue_vision]

I do however have issues with other harder drugs like speed and heroine. I don't want to damage my body and they burn you out over time. I am not saying however I don't think people should be allowed to use them, I think people should be allowed to do whatever they like to their bodies.

My "bad 3" of Meth, Heroin and Cocaine, I have no support for. I will openly say that you're taking a huge risk by doing them, and the risks far outweigh the benefits. I wouldn't want them to be kept illegal, but they should be very hard to get, perhaps requiring a doctor's note or something, and frequent checkups (or something like that.)
But for everything else, I have no issue with. Drinking and smoking are just ways for people to loosen up (in different ways and psychoactives are incredibly fun and eye-opening, with little negative side effects and almost no long term dangers.

The issue I see with drinking and smoking is that people do it in extreme excess. If you were to smoke a cigarette or two a week just to unwind, that'd be fine. But getting addicted and relying on packs a week is extremely unhealthy. Smokers and society in general need to confront that issue.

 

[WOPR]

*snip*

I'm 18½, never tried drugs, cigs, beer, wine, ANYTHING (unless you personally count caffeine, which I've only had in chocolate and the yearly soda around the holidays)

I wonder the same thing myself
I do find it funny that the MASSIVE pot-heads around here will argue "it's good for you man" then proceed to hack up a lung and a half coughing cause they can't breathe too well...

 

[blindthrall]

"Sometimes, one must make a beast of oneself to get rid of the pain of being a man."

Smoking is useless, and I'm pissed I got hooked on it. I agree that it's a disgusting habit, and I try to only do it when nobody else is around.

Alcohol is a social lubricant, it's hardwired into us to enjoy getting drunk. There's a reason fruit ferments. Prohibition proved alcohol is going to be around for a long time.

As far as illegal drugs, OP, I'm sorry, but you sound like a government PSA. Which I've always suspected the real point was reverse psychology, in that the man wants us to stay happy and stupid, and drugs accomplish that. And they do tax drugs, just with a police force rather than the IRS. Having said all that, I've done a shitton of different chems, and there's only two I'd really recommend. Marijuana and mushrooms.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

I don't do any of the above, but I understand why people do. Life is about having fun, trying out everything that it has to offer is part of what makes it fun. Variety is the spice of life.

If you avoided everything that was bad for you then you'd live in a padded cell.

Illegal drugs however, are somewhat different, and not advisable under any circumstances. I don't understand people that choose to do drugs. Come to think of it, smoking is pretty pointless as well because it stops being enjoyable after you've done it enough, and by that time you're already depending on it to get you through the day.

So, realistically, drinking is the only one of these things that I'll defend.

 

[jpoon]

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

*Snip vid*

Putting a video of a comedian who often said that there was nothing wrong with smoking and drugs but then died of cancer himself at the age of 32 doesn't really lend its self to your argument.Its hard to accept that people do these things because it kills them.

Pretty sure we're talking about a different kind of smoke here. Massive difference between the two, and he died of pancreatic cancer so I don't know how this pertains to anything. He definitely didn't die from marijuana smoke.

 

[HellspawnCandy]

I have Crohn's disease, I've smoked pot before but not as much as I do now. Think about not really eating a full meal in a month and having constant stomach pain. Then smoking a bowl and wanting to eat everything while your insides feel all ok and nice. It has medicinal and recreational uses for me, what's not to love?

 

[boag]

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.

Replace drink with videogames.
Smoking with tabletop games.
Drugs with Comic books.

I personally dislike smoking and drugs, and I drink about once a year.

I can honestly say that its just something people do to relax, but like always, some will have no control and take it too far.

 

[Phlakes]

Same thing with me. I don't see why I should do something unhealthy for fun when I could play video games or wank instead. (Not only was this ONE example, the last part was obviously sarcastic and if you're too blinded by misguided rage to notice that, it's a good idea to not post and keep from making yourself look like you just did)

And before someone goes "HERP DERP VIDEO GAMES ARE UNHEALTHY TOO", for playing games to be as unhealthy as drinking/smoking/some drugs, you would have to do it a LOT. A lot longer than it would take to start damaging your liver or your lungs.

...And before someone goes "HERP DERP MOST DRUGS AREN'T UNHEALTHY", first, that's not true, and second... Well, that's just not true.

snip

Obviously you need a little help reading my post, so I went ahead and did that for you.

You know, I wonder if there's a correlation between people who use drugs and people who get all defensive and act like a douche because someone disagrees with them.

Spoiler

Yes, there is.[/url]

Also, unhealthy food is still food, which is necessary to live.

I also love how think "no drugs = wasted life". I'm sure that's a great mindset to live with. If you're anything to go by, I'll stick with my staying clean.

And I think you should know, the character from that webcomic is a satire of people like you. Good job there. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ComicallyMissingThePoint]