Popular Recreational Drugs
DEA statistics show that, year on year, drug use is increasing. An estimated 12.8 Americans, that is 6% of the population aged 12 or older, uses some sort of illegal substance on a regular or semi-regular basis. Most of these users are not addicted (so far), and take a range of substances that could be classified as popular recreational drugs. The two most common are Marijuana and cocaine.
The biggest single culprit is obviously Marijuana in its various forms. In fact, over half of all drug use concerns marijuana. There are a few reasons for this. Hashish is considered to be something of a “safe” drug. It certainly doesn’t have the same danger sign that we connect to crack or heroin for example. The 1960s image of smoking dope to mellow out is still with us. Given that some people actually use marijuana on prescription for things like pain relief, its positive image is hardly a surprise. This seems to be particularly true amongst the nation’s youth.
However, marijuana use is certainly not without risk. Obviously mixing hash with tobacco when rolling a joint means all the same potential problems as any other smoker, from cancer to heart disease. But this isn’t everything. Anyone using marijuana is less able to make correct judgements and will react less quickly, making accidents a real threat. Regular use can upset the chemical balance of the brain leading to depression and other mental health issues.
Cocaine has almost exactly the opposite image to marijuana. Rather than being something taken to relax, cocaine use is about stimulation. People have been using extracts of the coca plant in one form or another for a thousand years, and although use today might be slightly down from a high point in the 80s and 90s, it remains very common. Cocaine might be considered the richer man’s drug of choice, but if you include its crack form, then it is amongst the biggest drug problems in America today.
Cocaine is very addictive and crack even more-so and although the high is very quick to arrive, the feeling of being like a superman doesn’t last long. Given that tolerance builds up quickly with regular use, more and more is required to get any effect, meaning that the resultant down can be extremely difficult to deal with. Long-term, violent mood swings and paranoia are common, as well as a host of physical side-effects. Crack, and the various substances that are used to cut it, can be lethal.
These two might be considered the most popular recreational drugs, but they are two of a growing number of illegal substances, from amphetamines to magic mushrooms. And whilst they can certainly have an effect, whether bringing you up or calming you down, the side effects, both short and long-term, mean that they are a serious health risk for all users.