Recreational drug use
From OrthodoxWiki
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Definition
Recreational drug use is defined as the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes. Simply put it is the use of drugs for pleasurable effects of the mind and body. The user of these drugs is turning to these substances for a mind-stimulating affect.
Recreational User compared to Drug Abuser
A drug abuser is constantly using both legal as well as illegal drugs in order to put him/herself in a constant mind-altering state. They have reached the point where they have become addicted to the substance(s) of their choice and they constantly require more consumption of the drug(s) in order to feel at ease. The recreational drug user still uses mind-altering substances in order to achieve a high, however he/she only does it recreationally, or meaning that he/she is not addicted or constantly in need of the effects of the drugs.
Drugs Commonly Used by Recreational Drug Users
The most common drugs that are used by recreational users are alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, marijuania, cocaine, and prescription pain-killers. Some of these drugs are legal and some of them are illegal, however both are readily available and relatively easy to find for someone in need of them. Alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine can easily be purchased in any convenient store, while marijuania, cocaine, and pain-killers can be easily purchased at schools, work-places, or street corners.
Who are Recreational Drug Users?
There are no specific set of characteristics that can accurately describe a recreational drug user. Users are from all walks of life. Business men/women, lawyers, health care professionals, construction workers, college/high school students, unemployed, homeless, Christians, non-Christians, all are at risk of becoming recreational drug users. In a survey covering the entire world's population it is reported that nearly four percent or over 270 million people in the world use marijunaia. Approximately one percent of the population uses cocaine or other types of amphetamine type stimulants. It has become a widespread issue that is affecting people all over the world. It is estimated that 200 million people use drugs at least once a year, and 110 million people use drugs monthly. These 310 million people are considered to be recreational drug users, while the 25 million people who use drugs frequently are considered to be drug abusers.
Dangers of Recreational Drug Use
Taking drugs can lead to physical or psychological dependence on the drug:
- Physical dependence occurs when a person becomes used to the drug's effects and withdrawal symptoms are noticed when the drug is suddenly stopped.
- Psychological dependence occurs when a person believes they rely on the drug to be happy and find they cannot easily stop taking the drug.
- All areas of a person's life can be affected by drug use. Relationships can break up due to arguments over drug use, or a person using drugs may be more likely to make mistakes at work. People are also more at risk of unsafe sex while under the influence of drugs.
- As there are no controls over illegal drugs, there are often added risks of overdose, poisoning or adverse reactions.
- Cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy all carry a risk of brain haemorrhage. The death and disability rate of people who suffer a brain haemorrhage linked to substance abuse is greater than those who suffer a brain haemorrhage without using illegal drugs.
- Illegal drugs are often mixed with other substances, and in many cases users cannot be sure of what they are taking.
- Most drugs will also have some effect on unborn children. Avoid using any illegal drugs while pregnant and check with your doctor before taking both prescribed and unprescribed medicines.
Use of Recreational Drugs by Orthodox Christian Teens
Just as the use of drugs for recreational purposes is effecting the rest of the world's population, it is just equally effecting the members of the Orthodox Church. The legal drugs of alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine are a part of most Orthodox Christians lifestyle. They either drink wine/beer with their meal, drink their coffee and for a good number smoke their cigarettes. In terms of illegal drugs being used there is some evidence for use by Orthodox Christians, especially amongst the youth. In a recent study conducted by the Antiochian Archdiocese it found that over fifteen percent of Orthodox teens' surveyed reported using alcohol for recreational purposes at least once a year. If that many teens are reporting using alcohol, than surveys taken on other drugs would also report very significant amounts of drug use. This is a very serious issue as the use of drugs recreationally at such a young age could lead to many problems later in life and highly increases the teen's chances of becoming a drug abuser.
Orthodox Church's Stance on Recreational Drug Use
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?
The Church's rational for being opposed to alcohol and drug abuse is found in St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians 6:19-20. In both cases one who over indulges puts the body and mind at risk and in some cases harms and even destroys the body. It is a well-known fact that excessive alcohol consumption kills brain cells and affects the liver. Other drugs such as cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, heroin and the like all affect the body and eventually harm and destroy various organs and can even lead to death. Aside from the physical harm caused by alcohol and other drugs, one's emotional and spiritual lives are directly affected. While certain forms of alcohol, such as wine, drunk in moderation, particularly with a meal, can in fact be healthy, overindulgence to the point that judgment becomes impaired can lead to loss of self-control and one's entering into sins one might not otherwise enter into. The Orthodox Church is against the use of drugs because of the negative effects that it has on one's body and one's self. The body is considered the temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore it is the responsibility of each individual to take the best care of his/her body, so that the soul has a proper place to dwell. Another reason the Church is against drug use is that they produce mind-altering effects that can lead one into sin.
