Recreational drug use: definition, risks, and drug abuse prevention

Recreational drug use refers to the practice of using substances of abuse for their psychotropic properties and not for medical purposes. Individuals engage in recreational drug use for reasons like inducing euphoria and pleasurable feelings, alleviating emotional stress and/or the negative symptoms of a psychiatric disorder, escaping the boredom of daily life, altering mood and consciousness, and enhancing social skills.

The risks of recreational drug use are developing tolerance and dependence that are strong predictors of addiction; overdosing that has the potential to turn fatal; engaging in risky behaviors; experiencing physical health problems; developing mental health issues; experiencing financial instability; failing to build and/or nurture meaningful interpersonal relationships; and harming others. It is possible to prevent recreational drug use from escalating to drug abuse by avoiding drug triggers; staying away from and/or effectively managing peer pressure to use drugs; learning healthy ways to cope with stress without self-medicating; practicing relaxation techniques; improving mental health; and creating and living a balanced and structured life filled with meaning and inspiring goals.

What is recreational drug use?

Recreational drug use is a non-clinical term used to describe a pattern of substance use where drugs are consumed for their psychoactive properties and without medical justification and supervision, as mentioned by Starobin et al., in the section titled “Recreational Drugs: Effects on the Heart and Cardiovascular System” from the Encyclopedia of Cardiovascular Research and Medicine published in 2018.

Authors Schierenbeck et al., in the chapter titled “Effect of illicit recreational drugs upon sleep: Cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana” from the book Sleep Medicine Reviews published in 2008 note that recreational drug use is often indulged in by well-integrated users belonging to no particular social strata. These users take the drugs at weekend parties in an attempt to alleviate stress, escape the monotony of daily life, improve socializing skills, and enhance their dancing abilities.

Authors Anadón et al., in the chapter titled “Drugs and Chemical Contaminants in Human Breast Milk” from the 2017 book Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology (Second Edition) note that recreational drug use has the potential to lead to drug abuse. It is erroneous to assume that tolerance and dependence, the strongest predictors of addiction, stem only from chronic substance use, according to a 1987 article by Miller et al., published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, titled “The relationship of addiction, tolerance, and dependence to alcohol and drugs: a neurochemical approach.” Studies have shown tolerance to alcohol and other drugs developing within hours and days of taking a single dose.

What are recreational drugs?

Recreational drugs are consumable substances that are taken for their psychoactive properties, as mentioned by Hussain et al., in the chapter “Raman spectroscopy in forensic science” from the Handbook of Analytical Techniques for Forensic Samples published in 2021. “Recreational drugs” is a non-clinical term. They are taken to induce euphoria, derive pleasure, achieve relaxation, alter mood and consciousness, and enhance the quality of life. These drugs are naturally available or synthetically prepared in laboratories. These are legal and illegal drugs that are used without medical supervision and users tend to believe that consuming these substances sporadically will not trigger an addiction. Drugs differ in their dependence liability, with cocaine, nicotine, and heroin considered to carry greater risks than substances like alcohol, amphetamines, and cannabis, according to Anadón et al., in the chapter titled “Drugs and Chemical Contaminants in Human Breast Milk” from the 2017 book Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology (Second Edition). So, using any recreational drug, even in moderation, poses considerable risks of causing drug abuse issues. Legal drugs include alcohol, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription medicines like opioid painkillers and drugs used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Illegal drugs used recreationally include cocaine and methamphetamine. These are often called “street drugs” because they are not prescribed by a physician or are available for sale at a drug store. However, prescription drugs too, are known to be tampered with and sold illegally on the streets. The legal status of a recreational drug depends on the jurisdiction where it is sold and the age of the user. Any substance with abuse potential is used and has the risk of being used recreationally.

What are the types of recreational drugs?

The types of recreational drugs are listed below.

• Stimulants: Stimulants are a class of drugs known to increase the workings of the central nervous system, according to a StatPearls [Internet] release titled “Stimulants” authored by Farzam et al., and last updated on 2 July 2023. Stimulants make an individual feel more awake, alert, energized, and confident. The common stimulants used as recreational drugs and with high abuse potential include amphetamines (speed and ice), cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and nicotine (tobacco).
• Depressants: Depressants reduce arousal and stimulation and induce sleep by slowing down the workings of the central nervous system (CNS). According to an April 2020 Drug Fact Sheet by the United States Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration titled “Depressants,” the common depressants are barbiturates (Fiorina®, phenobarbital, Pentothal®, Seconal®, and Nembutal®), benzodiazepines that have sedative properties (Valium®, Xanax®, Halcion®, Ativan®, Klonopin®, and Restoril®), and non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics (Lunesta®, Ambien®, and Sonata®). Other CNS depressants that are used recreationally include alcohol, cannabis, ketamine, GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), and opioids like heroin and codeine, according to a release by the Department of Health and Aged Care in Australia titled “Types of drugs” and last updated on 21 June 2021. Inhalants–substances that are breathed in through the mouth or nose–like volatile solvents (removers, paint thinners, glues, and correction fluid), aerosol sprays (deodorants and hairsprays, vegetable oil sprays, fly sprays, and spray paints), and gases (nitrous oxide or laughing gas, propane, and butane) are other examples of depressants with abuse potential.
• Analgesics: Analgesics are a class of medicines designed to treat and relieve pain. They are also known as painkillers. Analgesics reduce pain by either lessening inflammation or altering the way the brain senses pain. The latter class of analgesics contains opioids and has significant abuse potential, according to a StatPearls [Internet] release titled “Opioid Analgesics” authored by Cohen et al., and last updated on 29 April 2023. Opioid analgesics have the ability to produce euphoria and sedation, which are effects drug abusers desire. Common analgesics used as recreational drugs include fentanyl (Duragesic), hydrocodone (Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER), hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), oxycodone with acetaminophen (Percocet), and oxycodone with aspirin (Percodan).
• Hallucinogens: The United States Drug Enforcement Administration defines hallucinogens as a class of drugs that have the ability to alter perception of reality and mood. These drugs are associated with phenomena like dreams, illusions, hallucinations, and religious exaltation. Common hallucinogens include LSD (acid), psilocybin (magic mushrooms), MDMA (ecstasy), marijuana, ketamine, peyote (mescaline), phencyclidine (PCP), and salvia divinorum (diviner’s sage).

What are the risks of recreational drug use?

The risks of recreational drug use are listed below.

• Developing tolerance and dependence: Drug misuse is known to trigger tolerance and withdrawal, the latter being a development that is associated only with dependence, as mentioned in the chapter titled “Drug Dependence” by Douglas H. Ruben from the Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology published in 2004. Repeated drug use builds up tolerance as the individual becomes less responsive to the desired effects of the substance and needs more of it to feel the “high.” Chronic drug abuse leads to dependence, a state where the individual experiences unpleasant and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if they quit using the drug. It is possible for tolerance and dependence to lead to the development of addiction.
• Overdosing: Drug overdosing is a leading cause of poisoning deaths, according to a publication by the Genetic Science Learning Center of the University of Utah, titled “How Drugs Can Kill and How to Stop Them.” At high doses, recreational drugs quickly overwhelm the body’s detoxification mechanism and disrupt normal bodily functions, potentially becoming fatal. Even first-time and occasional drug users have the risk of overdosing.
• Engaging in risky behaviors: Recreational drug users are known to engage in risky behaviors like driving when intoxicated or engaging in unprotected sex. Drug use is also implicated in criminal activities. Drug users are known to be extremely motivated to commit crimes in order to fund their addictive habits, according to a 2013 publication by Rafaiee et al., in the International Journal of High Risk Behaviors & Addiction, titled “The Relationship Between the Type of Crime and Drugs in Addicted Prisoners in Zahedan Central Prison.” Substances of abuse adversely affect cognitive abilities like decision-making, impulse control, and inhibition. So, drug users are also more likely to commit crimes under the influence of drugs because they are unable to ignore intrusive thoughts or ascertain the negative consequences of acting out their impulses.
• Developing physical health problems: Prolonged recreational drug use impairs physical health and reduces immune defenses. Regular drug users are known to often suffer from colds and flu, according to a release by the Department of Health (Government of Victoria, Australia), titled “How drugs affect your body.” Drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and marijuana cause dental problems. Long-term drug use is known to cause heart, lung, and kidney diseases and cancer. Drugs like inhalants destroy or damage nerve cells in the brain and the peripheral nervous system. Drug use also raises the risk of contracting infections, for instance, due to unsafe needle-sharing practices, exposure to bacteria through the drug injection site, and engagement in risky behaviors like having unprotected sex, according to a July 2011 publication by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), titled “Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction–Addiction and Health.”
• Developing adverse mental health symptoms: Drug use has the potential to aggravate the symptoms of an existing mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, and also trigger the development of psychiatric diseases in vulnerable individuals (NIDA, 2011). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in its publication titled “Know the Risks of Using Drugs” last updated on 30 January 2024 mentions that paranoia and aggression are known to be triggered by drug use.
• Experiencing negative cognitive symptoms: Chronic drug use triggers adverse cognitive symptoms like learning and memory impairment, poor decision making, and impaired impulse and behavior control, according to a 2019 article by Manoranjan S. D’Souza published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, titled “Brain and Cognition for Addiction Medicine: From Prevention to Recovery Neural Substrates for Treatment of Psychostimulant-Induced Cognitive Deficits.”
• Experiencing financial hardships: Street drugs become increasingly expensive when there is a high demand for them and low availability. Financial hardships arise when the drug user spends an increasing amount of money on the substance. Chronic drug users also report increased rates of joblessness because they are either unable to hold on to their jobs or fail to secure employment due to having a criminal record. Joblessness or not having a steady job creates additional financial difficulties, according to a publication by the Department of Health and Aged Care (Australia) titled “What are the effects of taking drugs?” last updated on 15 July 2019.
• Failing to sustain interpersonal relationships: Drug use is known to trigger behavioral symptoms, such as aggression and paranoia, that harm interpersonal relationships. Drug users tend to withdraw from their loved ones either because they want to conceal their substance use or are too preoccupied with acquiring, consuming, and recovering from the effects of the substance to devote time to building and nurturing their relationships.
• Harming other individuals: Chronic substance use not only harms the individual taking the drug but also their loved ones and those who come into contact with them(NIDA, 2011). For instance, a pregnant woman who uses drugs is likely to pass on the harmful substance to the fetus, thereby causing the newborn child to experience neonatal abstinence syndrome. It is believed that children who are exposed to drugs in utero exhibit cognitive and behavioral deficits. Tobacco users expose non-smoking individuals to secondhand smoke that contains at least 250 harmful chemicals. Secondhand smoke raises the risk of individuals developing lung cancer and heart disease even though they have never smoked. Drivers are known to have been involved in motor vehicle accidents when driving under the influence of drugs like alcohol and marijuana.

Why do people use recreational drugs?

People use recreational drugs to lessen or avoid physical or emotional pain and for reasons like relaxation, excitement, rebellion, peer pressure, boredom, experimentation, and curiosity, according to a 2017 release by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, titled “WHY PEOPLE USE DRUGS.” The National Institute on Drug Abuse in a November 2022 release titled “The Science of Drug Use: A Resource for the Justice Sector” notes that individuals use recreational drugs to improve performance at work or in school. Individuals take drugs like opioid painkillers to relieve symptoms of chronic pain.

A large percentage of drug users take substances like alcohol, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine to feel a pleasurable “high.” Getting a “high” is an attempt at self-medication to distract themselves from their emotional turmoils and/or soothe the negative feelings or unpleasant psychiatric symptoms triggered by an existing mental health condition. Drugs like benzodiazepines and opioids are consumed to induce feelings of relaxation, calmness, and drowsiness.

Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine are misused by individuals who want to improve their energy, attention, and confidence levels. Young people are known to use recreational drugs out of curiosity, as an experiment, or in an attempt to fit in (NIDA, 2022). Peer pressure is a recognized contributory factor for drug use initiation in emerging adults, according to a 2020 article by Keyzers et al., published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse, titled “Peer Pressure and Substance Use in Emerging Adulthood: A Latent Profile Analysis.”

Can recreational drug use lead to drug abuse?

Yes, recreational drug abuse can lead to drug abuse in vulnerable populations. The progression from initial and sporadic recreational drug use to severe drug abuse is not inevitable and depends on multiple factors. These include the genetic makeup of the individual, their unique biological factors, the age when drug use was initiated, their personality and psychological traits, and environmental factors like peer pressure, familial dynamics, presence or absence of chronic stress, and availability of drugs, as mentioned in the chapter “The Neurobiology of Substance Use, Misuse, and Addiction” from the 2016 publication by the SAMHSA titled “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health [Internet].”

How does recreational drug use turn into drug abuse?

Recreational drug use turns into drug abuse in vulnerable individuals through a multi-step interaction between individual susceptibility and the extent of their drug exposure, according to Boateng et al., in the chapter titled “Addiction” from the 2014 Elsevier Reference Collection in Chemistry, Molecular Sciences and Chemical Engineering. The first step is sporadic recreational drug use where the brain’s reward circuitry and learning pathways are over-stimulated. Typically, initial drug use is impulsive, such as a teenager experimenting with alcohol or marijuana or yielding to peer pressure to try a party drug, as mentioned in the chapter “The Neurobiology of Substance Use, Misuse, and Addiction” from the 2016 publication by the SAMHSA titled “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health [Internet].”

It is possible that another individual begins to use drugs to soothe a powerful negative emotion like depression or anxiety. If these individuals experience feelings of pleasure after using the drug, their emotions reinforce the use of the substance. They will likely use the substance again. Drug consumption also alters brain chemistry and functionality, according to a 2010 article by Thomas J. Gould published in the journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, titled “Addiction and Cognition.”

The brain regions and pathways implicated in addiction overlap extensively with those associated with fundamental cognitive abilities like memory, learning, attention, reasoning, and impulse control. During the early stages of drug abuse, cognitive shifts in these brain regions and pathways foster maladaptive associations between drug use and external stimuli that contribute to cravings and drug-seeking behaviors in the future.

Additionally, the presence of a mental disorder increases the likelihood that a recreational drug user develops full-blown addiction, according to a 2020 publication by the NIDA, titled “Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report.”It is possible that a psychiatric disease induces changes in brain circuits that enhance the positive reinforcing effects of drugs. For instance, substance users with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder report increased cravings, which make them more vulnerable to developing drug abuse problems following recreational drug use.

The second step in the progression from recreational drug use to drug abuse involves repeated consumption of the substance, especially by vulnerable individuals. These individuals demonstrate increased, intensified, and sustained drug use. Repeated use builds up tolerance, so they take more of the drug to experience the desired effect.

Chronic substance abuse is also associated with the development of drug dependence that manifests as unpleasant and/or distressful withdrawal symptoms when drug use is stopped. So, in the final step, the individual is compelled to take drugs to avoid withdrawal symptoms. They lose control over their drug use. Compulsive drug use is a hallmark of severe drug addiction. The cognitive shifts that promote drug use also hinder abstinence and increase the risk of relapsing (Gould, 2010).

How to avoid drug abuse with recreational drug use?

To avoid drug abuse with recreational drug use, reflect on your drug use patterns to identify drug triggers. These triggers include people, places, social situations, habits, and emotions that induce drug cravings in you. Avoid places where drugs are likely to be available, such as bars and pubs. Socialize with friends and family members who do not use drugs. Avoid interacting with drug-using peers who are likely to pressure you into consuming substances. Learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga, so that you are able to deal with emotional stress and anxiety without resorting to drugs. Stop self-medicating by changing your beliefs. Learn about the recreational drug you use to understand that it is less useful to you than you perceive it to be.

For instance, you consume an alcoholic drink before going to bed at night because alcohol has sleep-inducing properties. However, alcohol also disrupts the normal sleep pattern, causes you to wake up more often during the night, and shortens the duration of your sleep. So, you have to acknowledge that alcohol causes poor quality of sleep even though it makes you fall asleep quickly.

The presence of a psychiatric disorder increases the risk of developing a substance use disorder. Managing the severity and frequency of mental health symptoms is one of the most effective ways to prevent drug abuse. Seek the help of a licensed counselor or therapist if you have a mental illness, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. If you have been prescribed medications to manage a severe mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, adhere to the routine and dosage to ensure the symptoms do not aggravate. Do not alter the dosing regimen of any prescription medicine you take without consulting your physician.

Legally prescribed drugs too, have addictive properties. If cravings arise, distract yourself with activities like listening to music and exercising. Set specific but realistic short- and long-term goals like not using drugs for a week or a month, exercising at least four times a week, and getting together with family and friends regularly. Commit to your goals and create a plan to achieve them so that you are motivated to stay away from drugs.

How can someone quit recreational drug use?

An individual can quit recreational drug use by acknowledging they have problematic drug use habits, avoiding triggers, avoiding socializing with drug-using peers and/or family members, and living a balanced life rich with meaning and purpose and filled with enjoyable activities that keep the focus away from drugs and drug-related pursuits. They should take care of their mental health, seek treatment for problematic drug use habits, and learn and develop healthy ways to cope with stress and anxiety that do not involve the use of drugs.

Those who misuse substances are often in denial that they have a problem. They should keep a record of their substance use–when they use drugs, how much they consume in one session, and the mental states and/or social situations that trigger drug cravings. This log is irrefutable evidence of problematic and/or excessive drug use and helps an individual acknowledge that they are misusing substances. This record also helps identify drug triggers that the substance-using individual must avoid. These triggers include people who tend to exert pressure to use drugs; places, social situations, and environments where substances are likely to be available; and emotions that are painful and/or unpleasant to deal with.

Keeping track of substance use also helps individuals using recreational drugs determine if they have developed a tendency to self-medicate. Individuals who want to quit using recreational drugs should consider seeking professional help to treat their problematic substance use habits. A licensed therapist or a counselor will help them unlearn maladaptive thinking and behavioral patterns and learn and develop alternative healthier ways of coping with emotional stress that do not involve using drugs.

Often, individuals self-medicate with drugs of abuse to soothe the negative emotions and pain that their psychiatric condition triggers. It is imperative that these individuals also seek help and adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen to manage a psychiatric disorder. They should live a structured and balanced life and prioritize eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting adequate sleep, and practicing stress management and relaxation techniques.