Why people do drugs?

[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.

[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.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Excellent thorough answer.

[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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[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.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good post

[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.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Excellent post, well explained, I could so relate.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

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

peace
-unema

[klonopinz]

To be able to answer this question.

[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.

Reputation Comments on this post:

your not wrong !!

[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.

Reputation Comments on this post:

interesting point- that "recreation/enjoyment" is an "escape" in many contexts, not necessarily a ne...

[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.

[dimichaeltryptamine]

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