Can someone use drugs, and still be a happy person?

[wickenspoet]

I know it's a weird question, but I don't really know any heroin users, or cocaine users, crystal meth users, ets...

But can someone be doing drugs like these and still believe they are happy? Can they use these without feeling inherently depressed? If someone is using, does that mean they feel incomplete in some way, even if they have supportive families or kids they love, for example?

I know it's a strange thing to ask, but the person I knew seemed happy... then she died from a heroin overdose. So does that mean she wasn't really happy? Does it mean that despte everyone who loved her, she spent her last moments alive filled with sorrow before she overdosed?

I'm not trying to be a depressing or morbid, I'm just trying to understand it... but I don't have any experience with this sort of thing.

Do you know anyone who uses and is happy?

.

[Simon_F]

The thing with drugs (including alcohol) is that the happiness they bring is a short-lived chemically-induced one. People who use softer drugs like alcohol and cannabis recreationally and don't develop dependancy issues are able to enjoy that fleeting happiness without it impacting the real happiness that comes from living a good and fulfilling life.

But for people who become addicted (whether it's heroin or booze) life becomes a seesaw between feeling good when you've got a buzz on and feeling wretched when it wears off and the hangover hits. Only way to feel "happy" (or normal) is to take more stuff - until you can get it together to get off the seesaw.

Regarding your friend, it depends. Was it a tragic accident of someone experimenting with drugs or was it the equally tragic outcome of an addiction?

I don't think an addict can be truly happy until they free themselves, and if they think otherwise that's what we call denial.

Just my two cents, I'm not an expert.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Lazarus1140]

I'm sorry to hear about the death of the person you knew. For reasons I'd rather not discuss I know many addicts, and most of those, whether currently active or not, are heroin addicts. Addiction is a complex thing. The path to addiction doesn't have to be paved with rejection, unhappiness, or lack of love or support although those things can contribute. Your acquaintance likely did not spend her last moments alive filled with sorrow.

As I said, the nature of addiction is very complex. Without getting too deep into the physiology and psychology of it, let me simplify by saying it is more about getting high. In my experience the road to addiction often begins with gateway drugs like Oxycodone (a narcotic pain reliever). I have known people who, as a reult of chronic pain due to car accidents or sports or other injuries, ultimately become addicted to prescribed pain medicines. Others are introduced to pills by their friends.

What narcotis do is produce endorphins in the body that produce a sensation of pleasure. It is a more intense sensation than one experiences with the blast of endorphins produced normally by the body when a person enjoys a movie, or wins a game or hears a joke or whatever. With continued drug use the body loses its ability to produce those "pleasure" endorphins as that function has been wholly replaced by chemicals introduced orally or intravenously. Heroin can be less expensive and easier to obtain on the street than pills so the progression to it is natural. I can't imagine anyone setting out to be an addict.

Are addicts really happy? Probably not, but when they're high they feel happy.

I hate drugs and have seen the crippling effect of drugs and addiction on families very close to me.

[AudioWonderland]

Can they believe they are happy? Absolutely. That's the trap of drugs. I have yet to find a truly happy person who has had interest in using drugs though which is probably more telling

[Bfeeney]

While I was knee-deep in alcoholism I was 'happy' when I had it, but I could watch myself going down hill. It's also pretty crushing when you admit TO YOURSELF that you are addicted and need help.

[grumptruck]

I know people that take antidepressants and drink.

[Aceman]

The more extreme the chemical, the more addictive, the less likely this is. But yes, it is absolutely possible.

Let's take me for example. I'm not at all what you would describe as an addictive personality. I can take or leave most anything. I have only ever drank. Never any other recreational chemicals.

Like mattt said - it absolutely happens. But the "occasional" heroin shooter is an extremnely rare bird. Rare enough I'd say the dude was very very lucky.

Meth? I can't remember how that rolls. But amphetamines can absolutely be used casually.

Cocaine? All kinds of people. Crack, not so much...


Again, depends on the interaction between the chemical and the person. Generally, I recommend avoid it though. The price of failure in this is pretty expensive.


I hate it when people say "no - you WILL become addicted!!!!" It's a lie, and it harms their cred way more than it likely prevents people from trying stuff. After a certain age, you notice most absolutes start to fall apart.

[grumptruck]

I do know this. My own flaw. yes I have those.

I've never been sad while drinking coffee.

Maybe thats why I constantly try to drink coffee

FML.

[GuitarStv]

Most people seem to be happy enough recreationally using caffeine, tobacco, alchohol, and weed. Typically the people who are interested in the harder drugs are trying to escape a crappy life with those drugs . . . short term benefit for long term trouble. These types of people tend to rarely be happy when not high.

The other thing that you have to remember is that we're all accomplished liars. It's rare that people will show you their truely intimate emotions or feelings about an issue.

[jeremy]

Cocaine? All kinds of people. Crack, not so much...

i beg to differ. ive known just as many casual crack smokers as coke heads

[gripweed]

Many people use drugs to self medicate. Although there are various and sundry reasons to self medicate, I doubt that many who do were happy to begin with.

Although it's probably true that there are people who can occasionally use hard drugs without addiction, it's exactly that sort of "logic" that addicts use when playing the denial game.

[80's_Metal]

I don't think an addict can be truly happy until they free themselves, and if they think otherwise that's what we call denial.

I agree with this statement.

[jumble jumble]

All happiness is chemically-induced when it comes down to it. If you don't get those chemicals flowing round your brain, you won't be happy. It's that simple. Drugs are a short-term shortcut to getting that going (in rather stronger doses than you get from normal life experiences).

I'm a very irregular user of drugs (not counting alcohol), perhaps twice a year or so. Tried coke once, didn't like it, have had weed a few times, not really that keen any more. Just makes me stupid. I've had mushrooms several times and they are fantastic. Quite why they're illegal and alcohol is legal is completely beyond me. I would happily give up beer if I was allowed to sit around with a few mates and take mushrooms a few times a year.

Tried MDMA a couple of times and it's nice. Not as good as mushrooms, but I had a really nice day both times.

I guess I'm not really the sort of person the question was asked about, but: I'm very happy. I have a fantastic wife and a four month old son. No drugs since he was born - seems a bit irresponsible to be taking a risk with the law. However, I've been drunk loads of times since then, which is apparently completely fine, due to it being legal. Weird how it works. Is it illegal because it's bad, or just bad because it's illegal?

[ImmortalSix]

Can they? Sure.

You can also ride a shopping cart to work, but empirically, most people don't.

[Funkfingers]

I object to the assumption that there is direct cause and effect between intoxicants, stimulants and general levels of happiness.

[formula73]

Hell, when I used to do coke I was happy as ****.

[GoldenVulture]

I was thinking of volunteering to find out but considering the outcome may be extremely negative and " not happy ", I think I'll skip it.

[ratherdashing]

If you were a happy person before drug use began, and you don't let drugs control your life, you will be a happy person on drugs.

Fact is, those two conditions occurring simultaneously are quite rare, especially on the harder stuff. Happy people generally don't seek out chemical enhancement.

[Gypsyblue]

Maybe it depends on whether you're still happy when you're without it.

[crusty philtrum]

Drugs turned me into a penguin.