Recreational drug use

Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purposes rather than for work, approved medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear (often spiritual use is considered recreational). Since more and more forms of recreational drug use are being discovered to be self-medication (including much "recovered knowledge" which was well-known 50, 100 and more years ago), including using opioids sourced from illicit or other channels for pain and its related problems as well as depression, social phobia and other recognised disorders, terms such as "unsupervised drug use", "non-, semi-, and sub-therapeutic drug use", and "allotherapeutic drug use" may be more exact terms to cover the range of activities under discussion. Also since not all nonsupervised drug use is illegal or illicit, these two terms are subsets and often misused.

Psychopharmacologist Ronald K. Siegel refers to intoxication as the "fourth drive," arguing that the human instinct to seek mind-altering substances has so much force and persistence that it functions like the human desire to satisfy hunger, thirst and the need for shelter.^[1]

Contents 1 Distinctions 1.1 Responsible drug use 2 Drugs popularly used for recreation 2.1 Most Popular Psychoactives 2.2 Other Psychoactives 2.2.1 Barbiturates, including 2.2.2 Benzodiazepines, including 2.2.3 Nonbenzodiazepines, including 2.2.4 Deliriants, including 2.2.5 Dissociative anaesthetics, including 2.2.6 Opium (Papaver somniferum) and opioids, including 2.2.7 Phenethylamines, including, but not limited to 2.2.8 Stimulants, including 2.2.9 Indole alkaloids, including, but not limited to 2.2.10 Inhalants, including 2.2.11 Unclassified 3 Demographics 3.1 Ireland 3.2 United States 4 Movements 5 References 6 External links

Distinctions

Responsible drug use

The concept of responsible drug use is that a person can use recreational drugs with reduced or eliminated risk of negatively affecting other parts of one's life or other peoples lives. Advocates of this philosophy point to the many well-known artists and intellectuals who have used drugs, experimentally or otherwise, with few detrimental effects on their lives. Critics argue that the drugs are escapist—and dangerous, unpredictable and sometimes addictive, and have negative and profound effects in geographic areas well beyond the location of the consumer. It should be noted that these criticisms can apply to a number of non drug related addictions and behavioral abuse disorders. According to medical literature, responsible drug use only becomes drug abuse when the use of the substance significantly interferes with the user's daily life.

Drugs popularly used for recreation

Most Popular Psychoactives

The drugs most popular for recreational use worldwide are:^[2]

• Ethanol (commonly known as alcohol) - Legal in most parts of the world.
• Caffeine (from coffee, tea and other plant sources) - Legal in most parts of the world (certain theocratic systems disallow the use of this substance).
• Theobromine (caffeine-related substance found in chocolate) - Legal in most parts of the world (certain theocratic systems disallow the use of this substance).
• Cannabis (cannabinoids, primarily tetrahydrocannabinol) - Illegal in most parts of the world.
• Tobacco (nicotine) - Legal in most parts of the world.

Other Psychoactives

Other substances often used (street names in italics):^[3][4][5]

Barbiturates, including

• Amobarbital (Sodium Amytal)
• Aprobarbital (Alurate)
• Butalbital (Fiorinal, Fioricet)
• Methylphenobarbital (Mebaral)
• Sodium thiopental (Sodium Pentothal), truth serum
• Pentobarbital (Nembutal)
• Phenobarbital (Luminal)
• Secobarbital (Seconal), vero

Benzodiazepines, including

• Alprazolam (Xanax), xanax bars(in reference to a 2 mg bar),footballs, zanis, xans(zans), etc.
• Bromazepam (Lexotanil)
• Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
• Clonazepam (Rivotril, Klonopin), pins, clowns, k-pins
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Lorazepam (Temesta, Ativan)
• Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), roofies, ruffies, ruff up, rib, roach 2 (R2), forget-me-pill, rope, ropies, circles, forget it, Mexican Valium
• Midazolam (Dormicum)
• Nimetazepam (Erimin), happy-5, hypnon, The Don, Eriminomics (refers to the Erimin market), pink devils, power pill, Kai Sing Guo (Fruit of Happiness)
• Nitrazepam (Mogadon)
• Oxazepam (Seresta)
• Temazepam (Normison, Restoril), king kong pills, vitamin T, jellies, tams, terms, mazzies, temazies, red and blue, no-gos, blackout, green devils, drunk pills, brainwash, beans, eggs

Nonbenzodiazepines, including

• Zaleplon (Sonata)
• Zolpidem (Ambien)
• Zopiclone (Imovane)
• Eszopiclone (Lunesta)

Deliriants, including

• Atropine (Tropane alkaloid), found in datura, angel's trumpets
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Sominex, Unisom, Nytol)
• Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• Scopolamine (Tropane alkaloid), found in datura, angel's trumpets

Dissociative anaesthetics, including

• Nitrous oxide, laughing gas, whip-its
• Dextromethorphan (DXM), dex, dextro, robo
  • Triple Cs, skittles, CCC, refers to a mixture of this and Chlorpheniramine maleate, a deliriant.
• Ketamine (Ketaset, Ketanest, Ketalar), K, Special K
• Phencyclidine (PCP), angel dust

Opium (Papaver somniferum) and opioids, including

• Buprenorphine (Temgesic, Transtec, Subutex), Temies, Subbies
• Codeine
  • Purple drank, Sizzurp refers to a mixture of this and Promethazine
• Dextropropoxyphene (Depronal, Darvocet)
• Diacetylmorphine (Heroin), H, smack, big H, diesel, skag, aunt hazel, horse, junk, shit, boy, jones
• Dihydrocodeine (DHC), (DF 118)
• Fentanyl (Duragesic, Sublimaze, Actiq)
  • 3-Methylfentanyl
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin), (Lortab)
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), (Palladon)
• Meperidine, or Pethidine (Demerol)
• Methadone (Symoron, Methadose)
• Morphine (MS Contin, Oramorph, Kapanol), M, hardstuff, big M, vitamin M, aunt emma, morph, 13, mojo, emsel, hardcore
• Nicomorphine (Morzet)
• Oxycodone (OxyContin, OxyNorm, Roxicodone)
• Oxymorphone (Opana)
• Pentazocine (Fortral)
• Tramadol (Ultram, Tramal, Tramagetic)

Phenethylamines, including, but not limited to

• 2C-B bees
• 2C-E
• 2C-I, substance sometimes sold as mescaline
• 2C-T-2
• 2C-T-7
• DOB
• DOM
• DOC, substance sometimes sold on blotter paper as LSD
• MDMA, ecstasy, E, X, rolls, beans
• MDEA
• MDA
• Mescaline (found in peyote, peruvian torch, san pedro and other cacti). The Divine Cactus
• Nutmeg, the active constituents of such are metabolized by the body into phenethylamine compounds, including PMA^{[citation needed]}

For more information see: PiHKAL.

NOTE: Several stimulant substances are also classified chemically as Phenethylamines, including amphetamines and ephedrine.

Stimulants, including

• Amphetamine
• BZP and other piperazine-based drugs (mCPP, TFMPP), party pills
• Cathinone (found in the khat plant)
• Cocaine, coke
  • Crack refers to a freebase, cut form of the substance made for smoking
• Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall), speed, addy
• Methamphetamine (Desoxyn), meth, ice, crystal
• Methcathinone ("cat", chemically related to, but not to be confused with khat/qat/cathinone)
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
• Ephedrine
• Propylhexedrine, OTC stimulant chemically similar to methamphetamine

Indole alkaloids, including, but not limited to

• Tryptamines, including, but not limited to:
  • Dimethyltryptamine (DMT, found in numerous plants), spice
  • Psilocybin and psilocin (found in psychedelic mushrooms), shrooms
  • Diisopropyltryptamine (DiPT)
• LSA (Lysergic acid amide/ergine, found in Morning Glory seeds)
• LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) (Delysid), acid, sidney
• Ibogaine (found in the Tabernanthe iboga plant)

For more information see: TiHKAL.

NOTE: In regards to chemical classification, several psychoactives without effect-based classification also fall into this category including yohimbe and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the active constituent of kratom.

Inhalants, including

• Alkyl nitrites (poppers)
• Chloroethane
• Fluorocarbons, as found in Gas duster
• Chloroform
• Diethyl ether
• Gasoline
• Glue
• Toluene

Unclassified

• gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
• Kava
• Kratom
• MAO inhibitors (Harmala, Harmaline), to potentiate certain other drugs
• Muscimol and Ibotenic acid, the psychoactive constituents of Amanita Muscaria mushrooms, toadstools
• Salvinorin A, found in Salvia divinorum, diviner's sage
• Carisoprodol (Soma)
• Yohimbine, found in energy/weight-loss supplements/drinks and used traditionally as an aphrodisiac
• Methaqualone, "Quaalude"

Demographics

Ireland

A study in Ireland found that for teenagers aged 15–19:^[8]

• 86% Drink alcohol (the legal alcohol purchase age and public drinking age is 18.)
  • 51% binge drink (defined as five drinks or more at occasion) at least once a month.
  • 19% Binge drink once a week.
  • On a typical drinking occasion, the average amount of alcoholic beverages consumed is 5.75 pints.
  • The average age for taking a first alcoholic drink is 13½.
• 50% Have used illegal drugs at least once.
  • 41% Have used cannabis at least once.
  • The average age of first illegal drug use is 14½.

United States

Drug use has increased in all categories since prohibition.^[9] Since 1937, 20% to 37% of the youth in the United States have used marijuana. One in four high school seniors has used the drug in the past month; one in ten 8th graders has done so.^[9][10] Between 1972 and 1988, the use of cocaine increased more than fivefold.^[11] The usage patterns of the current two most prevalent drugs, methamphetamine and ecstasy, have shown similar gains.^[9]

Recently, new methods for reporting drug use statistics in near real-time have been made possible for over 300 substances in the 3,140 US counties.^[12]

Movements

There have been many movements, mostly calling for the legalization of recreational drugs (most notably cannabis). Examples of such movements are the Worldwide Marijuana March, Hemp Day, and 420. Several movements which call for the legalization of drugs, not from an argument of their safety, but rather from an argument that this issue should be considered a medical one and not a criminal one, also exist, primarily in North America, one such organization is the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). Impact varies from country to country, depending on its legality. Also, there are many Anti-Drug movements, specifically Straight Edge and The Partnership For A Drug Free America, calling for the continuation of its current illegality.

References

1. ^ Siegel, Ronald K (2005). Intoxication: The universal drive for mind-altering substances. Vermont: Park Street Press. vii. ISBN 1-59477-069-7. 
2. ^ Lingeman, Drugs from A-Z A Dictionary, Penguin ISBN 0 7139 0136 5
3. ^ Lingeman, Drugs from A-Z A Dictionary, Penguin ISBN 0 7139 0136 5
4. ^ Erowid.org, Erowid Psychoactive Vaults, http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/psychoactives.shtml
5. ^ DEA Drug Database, http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/concern.htm
6. ^ WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2008
7. ^ Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004
8. ^ RTÉ News - Half of young people use drink, drugs
9. ^ ^{a b c} Monitoring The Future
10. ^ Charles Whitebread: The History of the Non-Medical Use of Drugs in the United States
11. ^ Controlling Cocaine: Supply Versus Demand Programs
12. ^ DopeStats

• Walton, Stuart (2002). Out of It: A Cultural History of Intoxication. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-027977-6. 

• • The Cult of Pharmacology: How America Became the World's Most Troubled Drug Culture by Richard DeGrandpre, Duke University Press, 2006.
• Dale Pendell, Pharmakodynamis: Stimulating Plants, Potions and Herbcraft: Excitantia and Empathogenica, San Francisco: Mercury House, 2002.
• Pharmako/Poeia: Plant Powers, Poisons, and Herbcraft, San Francisco: Mercury House, 1995.

External links

• Recreational drug production standards on Psilly.com

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