Why people do drugs?

[SmokeNmirrors]

Swims pet rock has done plenty of different kinds of drugs pot,coke,xtc, you get the idea but the media always is saying people use drugs to run away from there problems. I don't feel that way swim likes like taking drugs to have fun and feel good but could it be a self conscious way of me dealing with problems that swim may be unaware of? also the main question is why do you think people use drugs?

[Pino]

It gives my labrat pleasure. My labrat is a hedonist. Very simple. My labrat thinks using only drugs is boring. It is not better than doing nothing (except for the dissociatives). He thinks it should be combined with an activity. It makes experiences more intense. Labrat also hates alcohol, so he choses different drugs.

My labrat also has a strange and busy lifestyle. Sometimes labrat needs to stay awake somewhat longer to get to a deadline. Other days labrat must sleep, while stressed or needs some forced relaxation. His drugs use sometimes is functional. It keeps him mental and financial ok.

My labrat is a happy person, but if he isn't he is most likely to drink too much alcohol for a while. That's labrats hiding-for-problems drug. Therefore labrat hates alcohol a bit. It puts him out of control. Others makes the problems seem more intense.

The main reason is that he is a hedonist and he needs on average more stimulus to be satisfied than other rats. He also like to stack experiences, like having sex on a strange place and use some drugs. Which makes it more intense. Vanilla doesn't satisfy him anymore. Sometimes he uses drugs, because life is boring, but he tries to avoid that one. It is a one-way ticket to hell in his mind. Which is ok, but he would like to go at another time like over 50 years or so.

Sometimes the labrat thinks hedonism is a disease, but he probably is born with it, so he stopped resisting it.

My labrat believes there are many reasons to use drugs. They can be used to forget, for self-medication, functional or recreational. The media has a too narrow vision on drugs use. Most people in a cafe aren't running for problems, so why would a drugs user run for problems? One of the reasons of this narrow vision can be, that drugs use is inherent illegal. A drugs user deliberately breaks some rules. Many people can't imagine you would break rules and a lot of people, who can, have all kind of problems -psychopaths, criminals, schizophrenics who self-medicate etc-. They media concentrate on this group, but ignores the group of well-informed and educated drugs users, because they doesn't cause problems. Many of them are critical members of society and are therefore willing to break rules in cases they don't acknowledge them. Laws about drugs use is just a small part, many people ignore new privacy laws, because they reject them. They aren't news-worthy, so they are being ignored. The media wants money and boring stories about successful managers, who uses drugs and die when they are 70, aren't interesting. It wont bring in the cash.

[Masa]

cos they are cool

[Perception Addict]

Curiosity, a desire to see the world from a new perspective, a need to find wonder in the world (at least for psychedelics), fun.

[fnord]

Grandma has no responsibilities in life,she dosent work and has 24 hours a day of free time to kill,so why not?

[Jeer]

swim does drugs for pleasure, as a social activity amd to explore his mind. that simple, lol

[FuBai]

We really can't reduce the complexities of drug use to a single motive. Some people do want to escape from reality or problems that they are facing, some people simply want to relax. You even get people doing it simply because it's illegal, or because their friends do it or for one of the many other causes. The reason the whole drug issue is so interesting is because of its complexity and how it comments upon the human condition. Most people do it, primarily, to enjoy themselves, although this is sometimes simply a conscious expression of subconscious motivations.

[Masa]

word Fubai
ppls reasons for taking drugs are as unique and complex as the ppl them selves
I think drugs are similar to extreme sports in many respects and have similar attractions

The real question is why are they illegal? : )

How about this quote from ace druggy film Trainspotting

“People think it's all about misery and desperation and death and all that shite, which is not to be ignored, but what they forget is the pleasure of it.
Otherwise we wouldn't do it. After all, we're not fucking stupid.
At least, we're not that fucking stupid”

[SmokeNmirrors]

That is an awesome quote

[Metomni]

SWIM does drugs for many reasons. First off there is the initial attraction and curiosity that comes with the unknown and unpredictable. Secondly, when SWIM hears about experiences from friends, the internet, and everywhere said experiences sound very enjoyable and worthwhile. Also, SWIM finds many drugs allow access to parts of the mind otherwise closed off from consciousness.

The curiosity combined with the amazing feelings, thought processes, and epiphanies are enough for anyone to be interested.

[fnord]

\to experience great unknown,the fact that they change the way you feel(mostly)for the better.to feel nice,to enjoy their effects to cure boredom.to see all the beautifull colors.

[razorwiredildo]

swim gives into the urge to feel different than he normally does.

[Masa]

So much has to do with the fact they are illegal , People (the young even more so) are drawn to the seedy side of life they don’t want to do what they are told and doing things that are dangerous makes them feel alive
How many times have do you hear about actors saying that they enjoy playing the Bad Guy more? Lets face it Good Guys are all wankers

If mummy tells little Johnny not to put his hand in the cookie jar what do you think the first thing he is going to do when she leaves the room : )

In Scotland all we hear about is how we need to cut down on heavy drinking and that we should adopt attitudes more like countries in the continent where they have less of a heavy drinking culture but if you look at any of these countries you will find that they have a lower age where you can buy alcohol and children are far more likely to be allowed to drink at a younger age, having a glass of wine at the dinner table and so on

Prohibition solves nothing - if anything it just makes the inevitable just that little bit sweeter

[Aerine]

The adult apple juice tells the younger apple juice not to put his hand in the cookie jar so the younger apple juice goes and buys white lady

[truth]

because reality is a bitch

[moda00]

because reality is a bitch
Haha, like Nas' "Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high, because you never know when you're gonna go.." Funny, ironic, true at times.. but too simplistic.

Drugs for swim have been an indulgence and a compulsion, a freeing force and an extremely restricting one, a way to live in the moment and at times, a way to escape reality momentarily. So many contradictions. Life is so beautiful too, when you can see it- and "drugs" in their different ways can teach lessons and create perceptions that allow one to see reality in newer and more beautiful and meaningful ways. It's like religion- people need something in their lives to have meaning. Or hedonism, like mentioned above- why not feel good? Or medicating psychological or physical illness or other damaging but more accepted behaviors like gambling and drinking to excess- "I feel horrible and self-destructive and want it all to go away." So many motives. And while drugs are hard to classify and put into words effectively, I think the current distinction between legal and illegal drugs, whether spoken or unspoken, defines the discussion as to motives- the point above, that since people aren't "supposed"to break rules, those who do are problematic or abnormal. And since people are supposed to conform, peer pressure is thrown into the mix. But I think most drug users can identify with many types of use, reasons for use, etc. and to expand that discussion entails using better, if not perfect, means of distinguishing what we mean- why do people use drugs? Well, rather than legal vs. illegal, why not discuss why people might use known addictive drugs? Or how someone could use a drug for religious or spiritual reasons? Or why one might seek something that produced increased pleasure or sensation, or wakefulness, or awareness?Ultimately it comes down to human nature and philosophical matters, but more realistically I agree that there are a myriad of reasons and contexts that cannot be oversimplified..

[flyingfishes]

I cannot tell you why most people do drugs, but i can tell you about this one guy i met.

swim does drugs for one reason. To learn about himself. He has tried drugs which don't induce said learning and doesn't really appreciate them.

[AetherPoison]

swim does them cuz he figures that life is only going to happen once, and swim would like to have tried certain experiences before he dies. swim has done mushrooms, acid, and smoked obviously, cuz swim figures 'why not?'. i would never want to go thru life and regret never trying something amazing like mushrooms before, and if you like the experience, why not do it again. tho personally swim wud never touch things like meth or coke or anything like that, cuz that is an experience that puts too much at risk.

[~lostgurl~]

This is something my gurl wrote about 18 months ago after giving up methamphetamine. It is just a tiny snippet of a much larger piece of writing that is at this stage is too personal to post, but I think this bit fits well in this thread. Just to clarify, "my gurl" refers to a lost girl I once knew, (inspiration for my username) and whom I write of often here at drugs forum.

I used to do drugs to get high, to feel good, to feel confident, to see things from a different angle. I used to do them so I could love more, laugh more, see more….. to give life more than just one perspective. I used to take them so I could feel. Feel more positive, feel more energetic, feel more enlightened, feel more secure in what I want and who I am and what I am capable of. But now I just want drugs so I can be numb, feel nothing. I don’t want to keep thinking, I don’t want to keep feeling, I don’t want to be.

[ihavequestions]

swim does them because they change his experience of himself and his world. depending on the drug they can enhance an experience for the better.

think of a happy and warm memory that swiy have had. now imagine that memory more vivid, more intense, and even happier. those are the types of memories that makes a person feel alive

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Because swim isn't satisfied with life and drugs especially opiates swim's favorites change this world from an ugly and cruel place to a soft and feminine and warm place where swim is taken care of by the very best mistress in the universe.Even withdrawals while horrible atleast take away all other worries other than getting that fix.

By the way if this sounds like a good way to live it isn't.So please if swiy is reading this and thinking of trying heroin do what you will but know swim has paid a pretty heavy price for all this.

[Dexyfiend]

SWIM does drugs cos they're fun and make him feel good. He dosent need them to feel good but he uses them to enhance an already good time.
His drug of choice are amphetemines. The reason? Cos they don't change his personality (like alcohol) or give him a euphoria which he can enjoy by sitting on his skinny arse (like opiates although he does enjoy opiates). They enable him to still be himself albeit with limitless energy and motivation.
One of his favourite activities is dancing (not dancing with preset steps and shit but dancing at clubs or bush parties) and amphetamines allow him to do this for a very very very long time.

[cyndi]

Swim started using drugs because of life situations that made her sad, amps of course, and they made her happy at first and social. In the end, just maintainance, still unhappy, and not a nice person. She became antisocial and very mean. Swim usually is a nice easygoing person but way different on speed. Yeah it started as a weekend thing and turned into a daily thing in the end. She was crazy and just strung out all the time. It was a bad situation.

[chinpokomaster]

SWIM wants to know what all the different drugs feel like and then, the ones that keep him coming back, what they can offer him in certain situations.

[Swift Serenity]

SWIM first did drugs to just to see how it feels. Then later it was to get away from his problems.. .very bad.. Then after that he stopped for a while and then went back, and now just does it to feel good, explore his mind and inner self

[Darkhavans]

SWIM is extremely satisfied with his life, and has no problems of any sort that would cause him to use drugs. SWIM only uses drugs to experience the inexperienced, to go through different feelings that otherwise could not be felt without the aid of a drug. SWIM is curious about drugs and their effects on the body and mind, and this is why SWIM uses them. SWIM also occasionally uses drugs for productivity and to enhance his creativity. SWIM can go without using drugs (even addictive) for any amount of time he wishes in most situations, and has never had the desire to binge or increase a dosage substantially on a drug. SWIM loves to learn, and finds that experiencing these things can help him learn more about the drugs themselves, and help to understand other things and see them in a different way.

[infekt]

It seems that when swim wants to do a psychedelic, he wants to feel everything. When swim wants to do opiates, he wants to feel nothing (more often in recent times). I guess swim does drugs to feel different. Any bit different.

[sylenth]

smurf does it cos smurf sees it as a part of life & used when felt like using for what ever reason. as equal as food, water, walking, meeting people, working etc... it's there added with all the spices that spice things up. each has it's purposes.

a easy holiday maker if not abused...

[thelonleyaddict]

Swim first tried cannabis when he was 15 because his brother smoked it. Swim liked it but it wasnt 'perfect' for him. Swims brother was actually a heroin addict and when he moved in with his brother swim started to experiment with all sorts of drugs, eventually ending up on harder drugs. At the time swim thought it was because he was curious, but now he thinks he was looking for the answer to the way he felt, ie empty lonely bored etc.

[FuBai]

Swim first tried cannabis when he was 15 because his brother smoked it. Swim liked it but it wasnt 'perfect' for him. Swims brother was actually a heroin addict and when he moved in with his brother swim started to experiment with all sorts of drugs, eventually ending up on harder drugs. At the time swim thought it was because he was curious, but now he thinks he was looking for the answer to the way he felt, ie empty lonely bored etc.

That's always a tricky one, as no one can see anyone, let alone themselves, free of bias. Simply because the thought that you were "searching for an answer" came after the first thought does not not necessarily mean it's correct. Because no one can fully separate themselves from all sorts of illogical mannerisms and ways of looking at the world you can never be wholly sure, especially with a vague subjective feeling, what is the true causal factor.

All people are influenced by external factors, which tend to provide them with a fundemental mental perspective through which they look each time they encounter an object for which such a perspective structure has been created. These perspective structures allow us to quickly and efficiently negotiate problems, but they may also act as blinkers, limiting the ability to see the same object from either a different perspective or, the impossible goal, the objective truth, should such a thing exist. These perspective structures are part of the collective unconscious of certain groups - doctors tend to look at a problem in a very different way to, say, a Civil Servant, and we all know that certain groups are predominately characterised by certain perspective structures.

Now lets take your example - before getting addicted SWIY thought he was simply experimenting - it is probable that, while this viewpoint has some truth in it, it was not wholly correct. Perhaps there was some sort of denial in terms of SWIY's habbit, perhaps, as you said, he was looking for a way of dealing with internal concerns, or perhaps any number of other reasons. Because SWIY was associating with lots of drug users and, indeed, became one, he would most likley have taken on some the perspective structures of that group, including thinking that repeated use of hard drugs can be called experimentation (after a few times it just becomes standard recreational usage unless SWIY is actually doing something different each time). After getting addicted SWIY's view point changed - now, thanks in large part to the Government's method of dealing with addiction, SWIY has experienced how terrible the life of an addict can be and, probably, feels at least a little remorse and self-hate. These emotions cloud SWIY's ability to recall exactly what SWIY thought and how SWIY felt in the past. These emotions will also feed into a new perspective structure which SWIY may have created himself, or inherited from other addicts, through which he views his addiction.

I realise how long this post has become so I'm going to stop writing. I hope you get the general gist of what I'm saying, that being that introspection is not neccesarily or even usually accurate.

[Zomby]

SWIM agrees with Swift Serenity's FOAF.
SWIM started doing drugs just out of curiosity. She was really intrigued by how drugs can make you feel different feelings and emotions; e.g. how ecstasy would summon feelings of energy, euphoria and love, when in reality; SWIM would have been feeling lazy and bored.

After that phase, SWIM became more interested in other drugs to get out of reality and to enter magical worlds where everything was really good and there was no connection with reality and even no awareness that there even was a world and reality outside of SWIM's house.

[StonerUK]

I used to do drugs to get high, to feel good, to feel confident, to see things from a different angle. I used to do them so I could love more, laugh more, see more….. to give life more than just one perspective. I used to take them so I could feel. Feel more positive, feel more energetic, feel more enlightened, feel more secure in what I want and who I am and what I am capable of. But now I just want drugs so I can be numb, feel nothing. I don’t want to keep thinking, I don’t want to keep feeling, I don’t want to be.

That is it. Feels good, then drags you down, then do it to escape. Seen it happen to others...

[VitaminK22]

The first drug swim took was ket. A few friends had told him what ket does to you and how it makes them feel, but swim couldnt believe the things his friends were saying, he didnt think that a chemical used to put people/animals to sleep could give you the effects his friends were describing, so out of curiosity he decided to buy a few of grams between him and 3 friends. At first it felt kinda weird putting a £10 note up swims nose and snorting some glassy salt, but after 15 mins or so, swim couldnt believe what he was experiencing - euphoria, floating, feeling like nothing could hurt him or make him feel bad, feeling like god and seeing the world from every possible perspective. As the night went on, more crazy, unbelievable shit happened which just made swim want to take more. The morning after swim knew that his life had just changed drastically overnight, the way he thought about the world and how things that seem impossible and unbelievable can happen. Swim also realized how he'd been misled by the people who have tried to keep him away from drugs (his school, the government, even his own parents -tho its not their fault, they've just been misled like swim).

This is how swims life with drugs started, after ket came xtc, after that was coke, then speed, then LSD. Swim took every one of these chemicals for the same reason he took ket, he had to experience it to believe it's effects (except speed, which he took cos he had no xtc left ;)). Before taking each of these drugs, not once did anyone tell swim he could get away from his problems by taking them, because thats simply not true. If you've got a problem then deal with it, dont just take a drug in hope that it will go away cos it will probly come back and bite u on the ass.

Swim continues to take drugs for the exact same reasons people go out drinking on the weekends - for fun and to socialize.

[xekko]

My pet Koala likes to experiment with Psychedelic drugs. He rarely uses any drugs for recreational purposes.

[pistol pete]

doing drugs is a hobbie
some people go bolwing, some people place chess. some people like the get fucked up.
swim's never done a drug in his life to get away from a problem.
swim smoke's pot becuase its relaxing and gives him a good outlook, i do psycedellics beacuse they teach him about him self and give great experience.
swim feels really bad for anyone who has to take a drug to take away their problems,or forget how shitty their life is.
the reason you do drugs can determine your dependency on them.
if you are counting on a drug to regulate your feelings, the drug is controlling you.

[beena]

Obviously nobody would do drugs unless they were fun, SWIM included. SWIM took drugs initially cos they are fun and continues to do so partly cos she is addicted but also partly cos they are fun.

This said, SWIM has noticed that the majority of people who are drug addicts do have some kind of emotional/psychological problems or issues in their past, SWIM included. I don't think people consciously make a decision to take drugs based on their past or to 'run away from problems'. I mean I don't think people say 'Oh I've got such and such wrong with me or such and such has happened to me so I'm gonna use drugs'. But I think people who have perhaps had a rocky start in life, have family problems or emotional problems or mental health issues are more inclined to see the appeal in taking drugs and are more likely to experiment.
After all, if you are a generally happy and stable person you are less likely to feel the need or even want to take a substance to alter your state of mind. Whereas if you are suffering with depression (for example) and somebody offers you a spliff you are more likely to consider it at least. SWIM has problems with self-esteem and lacks confidence. She is (or was) also painfully shy and felt awkward in social situations. Cocaine appealed to her as she knew it was meant to relax people and would make her more talkative. So she was more predisposed to take cocaine I guess you could say.
And then when she did take cocaine I think the effect on her was more profound than it would've been on a friend of her who, let's say was a happy, confident person. They both would've had the same feeling of euphoria but for SWIM she would also have been experiencing something extra (an added bonus if you like), the ability to relax in public and communicate with a large number of people, and be the life and soul of the party. SWIM's friend might already be used to that feeling but to SWIM it is something new and pleasant and extremely desirable.
So SWIM's friend goes away and thinks 'that was great fun, but I'm not sure if I'll do it again cos it's very expensive and I have fun with or without it', and she perhaps will do it again but only on the odd occasion - at the weekends from time to time - whereas SWIM goes away thinking 'I must have that again - it's a wonderdrug - a miracle', and SWIM ain't stupid either: she knows it's addictive and swears to only have it at the weekends when she goes out with people but then she gets invited out mid-week so she takes some coke to relax her and then she thinks she'll have a line before college to perk her up and so on and so on. That's why people who are less happy in their everyday lives or less emotionally mature or stable tend to be the ones who use drugs and are definately the ones who abuse drugs.

[unema]

Everyone is different bro, as I'm sure someone mentioned before...I failed to rummage through the 2 pages :(

In swims honest opinion, for swim and others hes seen, there is an underlying issue. Whether it be loneliness, depression, pain, horrific past or even present memories that drives one to use to block out the [see pain], and many others including feeling "good or happy." Cause in all honesty, there are people in our world that feel GREAT on a daily basis without a single mood or mind altering substance entering their body. So saying "to feel good and have fun" does not always mean everything is fine n dandy internally/mentally/emotionally because those states of mind are achievable on your own. It's kind of hard to explain but I think most of you see what I'm saying.

This is solely based off swim's and other experiences swim has had the pleasure in seeing or hearing first hand.
When swim was younger, say 15 and below, he had not done so much as sip a beer or smell cigarette smoke, haha oh those were the days...And yet, swim was still so full of joy and gratitude towards life. When he crossed the threshhold of "manhood" so to speak, he learned of many atrocities around the world, the hate, poverty, and overall shit his country and religion have spewed across lands. And not just his but almost everyone's. And swim saw what the world thought and did to people who made the attempt to live and think outside the norm and began to see and feel the hopelessness of others, near and abroad. Swim had and still does have an amazing, fulfilling life but still felt somewhat responsible for this shithole we call earth, which several years ago was the greatest place under the stars right? Swim couldn't shake the feeling and found substances could stop the thinking. Substances kill the feelings and thoughts of a racing mind. Without getting to indepth and detailed, that right there was the beginning and part of the reason swim began using drugs.

There is almost always a reason, in my honest, most heartfelt opinion, 99.9% of the time there is a reason...

unema
-peace

[Msurfpro13]

swim thinks ppl use drugs because it makes them feel amazing, it makes them feel thinks they can never feel with altering their body, hense using drugs.

[unema]

swim thinks ppl use drugs because it makes them feel amazing, it makes them feel thinks they can never feel with altering their body, hense using drugs.There are actually people that say a spiritual experience and a true connection with their higher power gives them a much, MUCH more intense "high" than any drug, including the motherload, HEROIN :laugh:

(actual documentation as well, natural highs are obtainable, now if I could find it :s)

peace
-unema

[klonopinz]

To be able to answer this question. :laugh:

[chillinwill]

Red Rock started doing drugs because he was bored with everday normal life and wanted to just find some excitement. Not to mention he was lonely in middle/high school and found the drug world very exciting. After experimenting, he loved the altered state as well as the euphoria drugs provide. This was all before he found his love of heroin and then shit went downhill quickly from there.

[yaba]

Swim started when he was 13 out of curiosity (he was told heroine makes you crazy) Then he met his real dad just released for murder who smoked it and didn't go crazy !!

He used pretty much everything.. Think its his life he uses when happy, when said, when rich and when poor.

He just likes the feeling of... Maybe it is to hide real feelings, or he hasn't known anything else.. Either way swim is happy when on something !

His ex girlfriend's told him many times, your such a nice person when you drug free.
But swim feels happier when he isn't drug free ! And this has broken relationships.

Know by reading this that it look likes that someone has a problem, but each to there own and swims life is in control. Has a job, a dog, very good friends, always got enough food for him and his dog, toiletries, etc..

He is in debt like most in the UK (non drug related)

Think he uses drugs so he feels nicer, and doesn't like reality.

[AmIHighYet]

I don't like the excuse that we do it to run from shit. Only reason swims life got fucked up was because they started drugs, if it were all true then swim was running from shit before they had shit to run away from.

The high makes you feel motherfucking good and there's no reason to complicate that. I hate hearing that sex in the city bullshit because someone has to blame there problems on this kind of stuff and not on themselves.

[cra$h]

swim uses to escape. He doesn't think like everyone else, and it's to his downfall. Drugs not only provide a great feeling, but you forget who you were, and who you are now, and don't care who you are tomorrow.

But at first it was curiosity, then it was just to pass time.

[Anonabyss]

People use drugs for the same reasons that people play video games. Everything we do for "enjoyment" is meant to be an escape from anything in our life that is not as enjoyable. That's the whole idea of recreation, to try to make the best of your situation and have a good time. Drugs are no different from any other recreation activity, other than that a large number of ignorant idiots don't realize that and likewise make it seem like it is taboo.

[ripdas112]

For fun, escape problems, mind expansion, bordom, feeling great.

[Kane]

Kane the spider monkey says that he uses because it's a break from the world, not so much to get away from his problems or anything, but just from the monotony that occurs every day. Right now he's dosed some LSD and is listening to Nine Inch Nails. He's enjoying himself a lot, and that's what matters.

[Lightbulb-breaking]

The first almost human beings to travel into outer space were monkeys sent into space for the greater good, well people who take drugs are just like those space monkeys. Together we space monkeys blast, drift, or warp(whichever you prefer) through our own inner space for the greater good of ourselves (and sometimes others). It really is a journey you leave for whatever reason; problems, looking for a good time, etc., and you eithr come back a different person or end up somewhere differrent entirely. A friend of mine refers to this journey as the exploration of metaphysical perception.

[stephy171072]

Swim feels there are a number of reasons and it really is normally slightly different for each person however here are some of the most popular reasons in swims mind and also some of the reasons swim took them herself.

Depression. One of swims reasons. People could either have been suffering from depression for a long time like swim and just desperately looking for some kind of way out of it even for a short period of time. Or they could just as easily be upset about something more short term such as a break up or a death of a loved one and are looking for a easier way to deal with the pain.

Confidence. Also one of swims. Some people take drugs especially the party kind so that they can get a confidence boots and act like the life and sole of the party when the could not other wise do this. Alcohol is very commonly used for this.

Do deal with very painful memory's. Some people really really on drugs to help them cope with horrible things that have happened in the past such and rape and abuse.

Peer pressure. Some people do feel that the are under pressure to take drugs due to what the people around them are doing. This is mostly the case in people of a younger age but does also happen to people in an older age category contrary to what some people may think.

Curiosity. Another one of swims. The saying 'curiosity killed the cat' comes in here. There is so much mention of drugs an alcohol today in the media and just through random chat and so people are learning of their existence and younger and younger ages and some people just generally what to have the experience.

It's the only thing known. Some people are just born into it. If say their parents or parent is an addict and they grow up around addicts and drugs it is very likely that person them selves will go on to take drugs as it is all they really know.

Weight. Again one of swims. As the ideal of being skinny nowadays gets pushed more and more a fast growing reason for people taking drugs is weight loss. There are many drugs that taking them have the side effect of weight loss. The most common drug for this is things like speed.

Rebellion. Also a more common thing in teenagers. Most teenagers want to rebel in one way or another and some take things to more extremes than others and one of the common ways people choose to do this is to experiment with drugs.

Money. used to be one of swims. Swim belives some people find that some of the party drugs eg. an ecstasy pill will cost a lot less and give the user a good night out that paying for drinks all night so this sometimes becomes the more appealing option.

Prescriptions. Some drug habits start out without any bad intentions. The user may have suffered some sort of accident and are prescribed pain pills from their doctor but as most of us know the opiates found in pain pills are very addictive. So it is not uncommon for people to become addicted to their pain med's and then after not needing them for the injury they will try and obtain them illegally or in some cases injure themselves again to obtain another prescription.

This is all swim can think of at the moment but she's sure there are more.

[dimichaeltryptamine]

Why stop at a sober state when there's the endless highway that is your mind in another state.

[Hollow Hippie]

Depends on the type of drug

Stimulants, opioids, and depressants for simple pleasure and recreation. No escape. In amphetamine's case, SWIM takes advantage of the work inducing effects to do something productive and entertaining.

Dissociative psychedelics (DXM, Nitrous) for a journey outside the mind and a tool for examining SWIM's life.

Setragonenic psychedelics (LSA, etc) to bend SWIM's world to take a different look at it + the emotional feelings to everything in life, something SWIM sometimes needs.

[fatkidzonmopedz]

swim first did them bc he didnt like himself. everyone around him was doing drugs and he finally just gave in and decided to see what everyone loves so much about em. now he does it because sober life is boring and he feels without drugs he is a boring uninteresting loser. pretty much, hes lost.

[Tussipax]

Most of Swim's friends smoke weeds and get drunk just for fun when they are all together.
Swim takes drugs to feel something transcendant, to feel in an other world, to feel like in a dreaam, to feel euphoric, to feel get high, to feel good, to feel in a unrealist world, to feel have a trip without coming out of my room.

[Akashik]

For me , curiosity also, and a mix of things, ( is it ever just one thing)

plus i feel that humans need to be a balance of good and bad ( not saying drugs are bad just u know...."not as accepted!") but i still love em....or hate them....

BALANCE!!

[dadrone]

SWIM enjoys the different type of experiences. The weird thing is that after a while of intoxication, SWIM enjoys sobriety the same way he enjoys achieving inebriation when he's sober. They both have their pros and cons.

[Waste]

Without a doubt curiosity.

THere's just something about drugs that fascinate SWIM, the idea of going through this life and not trying something, just because the government say it's bad for you is something he just can't grasp.

Even harder drugs like H, surrounded by all the media hype, always being told stories of how people end up addicted to the stuff, that still won't stop SWIM from trying it. He just has to know what all the hype is about, and more importantly he knows he can trust himself to be responsible with a new chemical. Read up on doses, a few trip reports maybe, check out bad sings to look out for etc.

(Ignore the very basic English, SWIM is rather fucked on trams for the first time :p)

[dr. swim]

Drug-use is looked down upon by society because they make us happy with the way things are, and if society is to advance there needs to be a certain amount of discontent so that people are pushed to improve and reform.

I personally believe that drug use is nothing but a victim-free sin. You're not gonna get anywhere in life just doing drugs all the time, but as long as you're not hurting other people then there shouldn't be any laws against it. Especially when said laws are extremely biased towards certain types of psychoactive substances and restricting towards others.

[Codehead]

There are as many reasons as there are drug using people. But mostly I think its the having godo times or make good times even better. Also there is the problematic users, who often end up addicted, they use drugs to escape reality (usually from problems, depression and anxiety), ofc they also use drugs to have good times, but still the main reason is escaping from reality.

[redbaron816]

Swim does drugs because you only live once so why not experience as many different things as you can. When people start doing drugs it is out of wanting to know the unknown. They hear good things from their friends, the media also plays a big role in advertising drugs and celebritys having a blast from them. Influences could be different for everyone, but when someone starts experimenting then you know that they wanted to change their reality or escape it for a while. Its all about perspectives too because drugs can teach a person alot when you open your mind to the world and are willing to learn. They have the ability to put you in someone elses footsteps for a time being and you can see the world from that angle; thinking outside the box.
Swim believes that the government puts such bad stereotypes on drugs because they dont want everybody knowing how good it feels to get high and to question authority. Instead of being under their control because the whole thing is a giant control mechanism to keep the general population from knowing too much and rebelling against corporations and government agencies.

[Laszlo1]

swim began using drugs out of boredom, definitely, also feelings of detachment from basically everyone and even himself, a kind of vague, general apathy, that was recurrent throughout his sober life. This is when he began using the more social drugs, weed, alcohol, cigarettes.

swim's motivations have changed a lot since then. He departed from the use of drugs as a social crutch once he felt firmly established in his friend group. Now, he's not quite sure what it is... A certain amount of it is just release, freedom from worrying about classes and trite annoyances, or even a few hours swim can forget about giant looming abstractions that have dominated his life. But that makes it sound too grim, or hints at abuse or future abuse, which swim doesn't feel is accurate. Swim uses drugs also to just boost his capabilities, specifically pharm amphetamines, that just kind of serve as chemical work ethic, and really get swim going better than any other incentive he's found so far, excepting a few. Also, swim briefly used benzos to just remove himself from his life during a bad time or two, but was lucky in the sense that he sold his stash and gave that up for a few months now, as it didn't really get him anywhere.

[aowe]

Life is hectic for everyone. Some of us though are more able to cope with this than others. Some turn to drugs as an easy way to get passed their anxieties. Once a person starts using drugs to overcome anxiety. So the user feels he or she requires more drugs to bring more support. That type of cycle can lead to long term addiction.

people use drugs in order to have control over their moods, but as to why some people need so badly to have control over their moods while other people manage to cope without drugs, there is no simple answer to this question. :mad:

[beena]

It is easy to say 'oh I did drugs cos I had a bad childhood, blah-blah-blah', and although troubled individuals do seem to gravitate towards drugs and drug-addiction I think if we're all honest with each-other and ourselves the reason people do drugs is because they're damn enjoyable! Yep, it's that simple ....
More interesting, I think, is why do people keep doing drugs and why do some people get addicted and others not. SWIM has felt recently that she is caught up in some kind of weird drug-addiction vortex - she describes it like this because when her addiction is in full swing and she's totally under the contol of drugs she hates her situation more than anything and desperately looks for a way out but then as soon as she gets out she wants to get back in again (and invariably does).
It's like as soon as she's been clean for any period of time she finds herself incapable of remembering (at least not with any clarity) just how bad her life was on drugs and all she can think about and long for is the euphoria of a hit.
The last three times SWIM has got clean she's done it virtually by herself: with the aid of a few morphine tablets to take the edge off the w/d but never enough to make it pain-free. So she goes from using virtually everyday, feeling terrible on the days she can't get it and thinking about nothing else but desperately wanting to stop and change her life, to suddenly stopping and then finding that a week without drugs is so painful (both physically and mentally) that she wishes she hadn't started the whole damn process ... week two is usually better physically (and I s'ppose there's a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel), but time drags ... I mean really drags, boredom is a huge factor and insomnia is intolerable.
Week three on the other hand is great cos SWIM gets a sudden energy burst and what appears to be a natural buzz ... starts to feel really alive again. Unfortunately when this feel-good factor kicks in it seems to remind her of the euphoria of the drug itself and this is when the mental cravings really start again. Instead of remembering the agony of the withdrawal she has just been through or the horrible lifestyle she had when taking heroin everyday, all SWIM can think about is how great that buzz is. Also, one of the effects of getting clean is that (by week three) SWIM gets seriously restless and hyperactive and is so full of energy and ideas but can't channel them productively. Because heroin is a depressant and calms her down it always seems like a good idea to have some - doh! - So, SWIM never gets past week three.

[pinksox]

In her teens, SWIM smoked pot because it was "cool" and because she loved the body-twitching, smiley, gut-busting high she'd get from it. It was definitely a social event back then.

SWIM tried coke once as a teen when it was offered to her. She did one smallish line, then curled up on the couch, alone. She didn't recall feeling high or anything. Just strangely "mellow and relaxed," and, for the first time ever in her life, "completely and total safe." She woke the next morning tearing the house apart looking for more--even though she knew there was none to be had. SWIM knew at that point that she could never do this drug again or she would have a VERY BIG problem. She never has used Coke since that time.

In her late teens and early twenties, SWIM drank alcohol in social occasions because is made her relaxed and more social.

In her early twenties, SWIM got turned onto opies. First for what they made her feel...and then because of what they made her not feel.

In her mid-twenties, SWIM did DXM and diphenhydramine to get over the opiate PAWS phase.

In her mid-thirties, SWIM went back on opies for chronic pain and takes them as prescribed. They're for dulling physical pain and functioning now. Not for getting high. In fact, they don't make her "feel" high in the least anymore.

In her late-twenties through to present SWIM learned the indulgent mellow of benzos. Actually, several benzos give her a few hours of crazy productivity(at high doses) followed by the typical benzo mellow "chill" for several hours after. Other benzos just make SWIM mellow and sleepy or have anxiolytic effect(SWIM is a worrier...always has been)so that effect is sometimes welcome as well.

SWIM uses Lyrica and/or Zanaflex to potentiate certain benzos.

SWIM sometimes uses Cannabis to fight off nausea or relax. Purely an alone activity these days.

In short...they're all a chemical means to an end that SWIM can't meet on her own sometimes. Nothing worng or harmful when done in moderation. SWIM will never again go back down the addictive path she went down in her 20's.

[SmokeNmirrors]

It is easy to say 'oh I did drugs cos I had a bad childhood, blah-blah-blah', and although troubled individuals do seem to gravitate towards drugs and drug-addiction I think if we're all honest with each-other and ourselves the reason people do drugs is because they're damn enjoyable! Yep, it's that simple ....
More interesting, I think, is why do people keep doing drugs and why do some people get addicted and others not. SWIM has felt recently that she is caught up in some kind of weird drug-addiction vortex - she describes it like this because when her addiction is in full swing and she's totally under the control of drugs she hates her situation more than anything and desperately looks for a way out but then as soon as she gets out she wants to get back in again (and invariably does).
It's like as soon as she's been clean for any period of time she finds herself incapable of remembering (at least not with any clarity) just how bad her life was on drugs and all she can think about and long for is the euphoria of a hit.
The last three times SWIM has got clean she's done it virtually by herself: with the aid of a few morphine tablets to take the edge off the w/d but never enough to make it pain-free. So she goes from using virtually everyday, feeling terrible on the days she can't get it and thinking about nothing else but desperately wanting to stop and change her life, to suddenly stopping and then finding that a week without drugs is so painful (both physically and mentally) that she wishes she hadn't started the whole damn process ... week two is usually better physically (and I s'ppose there's a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel), but time drags ... I mean really drags, boredom is a huge factor and insomnia is intolerable.
Week three on the other hand is great cos SWIM gets a sudden energy burst and what appears to be a natural buzz ... starts to feel really alive again. Unfortunately when this feel-good factor kicks in it seems to remind her of the euphoria of the drug itself and this is when the mental cravings really start again. Instead of remembering the agony of the withdrawal she has just been through or the horrible lifestyle she had when taking heroin everyday, all SWIM can think about is how great that buzz is. Also, one of the effects of getting clean is that (by week three) SWIM gets seriously restless and hyperactive and is so full of energy and ideas but can't channel them productively. Because heroin is a depressant and calms her down it always seems like a good idea to have some - doh! - So, SWIM never gets past week three.

Swim agrees with the reason most people do drugs also is the fact they are so enjoyable swim never had a bad childhood in fact it was great. swims mother always will ask what did she do wrong that made swim like this and swim will always tell her its nothing she did cause swims sister is the complete oppisite going into her second year of college which is when swim dropped out and always does things in a positive direction unlike swim. So swim doesnt think it is how someone is raised its the fact of liking to feel good whenever swim would like.
Beena, swim is in the same boat swiy is,he will go to rehab or AA/NA and be doing well and knows that all the bad shit in his life was due to his drug addiction but as soon as swim has things together he gets this idea oh hes only 21 he has his whole life to get clean and one hit wont ruin his life also the depression swim gets is horrible constantly in his head he thinks swim will never get high again and feel that amazing rush and then pretty much panics. Swim has made it past 3 weeks but only because of suboxone but the problem with suboxone is though when swim is taking it people will be like well swim isnt actually completely sober and then swim will pretty much be like oh well since he isnt clean whats the diff. So swim is trapped in the same vortex ugh.

[chillinwill]

Problem with suboxone is though when swim is taking it people will be like well swim isnt actually completely sober and then swim will pretty much be like oh well since he isnt clean whats the diff. So swim is trapped in the same vortex ugh.

Who's to say SWIY isn't clean? Clean should be defined by SWIY and not other people. If one has to be on suboxone for a little while to get off their drug of choice and it will benefit them, then so be it.

[Adultswimmer]

SWIM thinks that life is pretty boring and shitty most of the time. Like rats scrambling around until they die. And as we progress and technology advances, life gets even more stressful. The competitiveness and pressure to "succeed." Hell, there are parents who have their kids signed up for so many activities that there is no time to play. Our mind wants something to take that stress away whether it be sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. Which is why the war on drugs will never work. It didn't work in the early part of the 20th century either.

Now we have the alphabets absurdly trying to prove they are worth their pay by shutting down what they call rogue pharmacies and harassing doctors. Their criteria for documentation in patients' records only allows for maybe 5 patients to be seen a day, if the doc actually followed the criteria. It is that intense. Unless they use templates, and since most family docs can't afford computers in every exam room, they just don't do it. The letters go out looking for meth labs or some such, can't find them, so they go after the docs; the easy way to show something/anything on their reports. They return from their field trip victorious that they now prevented legitimate pain patients from getting treatment.

SWIM grew up in France and approves of their philosophy that if you want to kill yourself, fine. Which is why there are not many speed limits, traffic lights, or lanes in the streets. Keeps you alert. SWIM would rather choose her own demise but at this point is just hoping it happens before she ends up in a nursing home or with Alzheimer's. SWIM would rather burn out than fade away. Yes, it's incredible how SWIM comes up with these phrases that make good songs.

[SmokeNmirrors]

Who's to say SWIY isn't clean? Clean should be defined by SWIY and not other people. If one has to be on suboxone for a little while to get off their drug of choice and it will benefit them, then so be it.
Swim agrees and is going for another try but actually it was the people at swims rehab, counselors and patients but swim has to say even he isn't completely clean being on suboxone but its better then being on heroin.