Addiction Vs. Recreational Drug Use

Many people use the terms “recreational drug use” and “drug addiction” interchangeably.

While both conditions can cause serious health problems, they have some important differences. In particular, recreational drug use is a behavior, while drug addiction is a disease.

What Is Recreational Drug Use?

Recreational drug use occurs when a person uses a psychoactive drug to feel pleasure, reduce pain or stress, boost physical or mental performance, or fit in.

A recreational drug user may use illegal or legal drugs.

Illegal Drugs

The most commonly used illegal drugs (also called illicit drugs) include:

Legal Drugs

The most commonly used legal drugs are alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine.

In addition, some people recreationally use medical drugs (prescription or over-the-counter medications) by taking them in a manner not recommended by a health care provider (a form of drug abuse).

For example, they might:

take a larger dose than recommended
use a drug more frequently than recommended
mix a drug with alcohol or other substances
crush pills and snort them
use a prescription drug without a prescription

The most commonly misused medical drugs include:

opioid painkillers (also called opiates), such as oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and methadone (Methadose)
stimulants, such as amphetamine (Adderall), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), and methylphenidate (Ritalin)
benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepam (Valium)
barbiturates (also called sedative-hypnotics), such as phenobarbital (Luminal), secobarbital (Seconal), and pentobarbital (Nembutal)
ketamine, a hallucinogen (psychedelic) that’s sometimes prescribed to treat depression
over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil)
over-the-counter cough medicines such as dextromethorphan (Robitussin)

Risks Of Recreational Drug Use

Recreational drug use raises your risk of various health problems. The specific problems depending on the drug and how often you use it. However, some of the most common health conditions linked to recreational drugs include:

heart, lung, or liver disease
heart attack or stroke
cancer
psychosis (a feeling of disconnection from reality)
infectious diseases (such as HIV and hepatitis) from sharing drug
needles or having unprotected sex while intoxicated
anxiety
depression
memory loss

People who use recreational drugs also face the risk of overdose. Common signs of a drug overdose include:

change in pupil size
chest pain
changes in heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, or body
temperature
pale, bluish, or clammy skin
nausea and vomiting
confusion
anxiety
shaking
seizures
loss of consciousness

If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, seek medical help immediately. When left untreated, an overdose may be fatal.

Finally, recreational use of drugs often leads to drug addiction.

What Is Drug Addiction?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines drug addiction (also called substance use disorder) as a complex brain disorder and mental illness. It makes you feel unable to stop using a drug despite negative consequences, such as damaged relationships, job loss, or health problems.

A person can become addicted to any psychoactive drug. Different types of addictions have different names. For example, an addiction to alcohol is called alcohol use disorder, while an addiction to marijuana is called marijuana use disorder.

Drug Addiction Risk Factors

Some people are more likely to develop drug addictions than others. You face a higher risk of addiction if you:

start using drugs as a teenager or young adult
have a family history of addiction
have a mental health condition
have experienced trauma

Signs Of Drug Addiction

The most well-known signs of drug addiction are tolerance and physical dependence.

Tolerance means that over time, your body becomes used to a drug. You’ll then need increasingly larger or more frequent amounts of the drug to feel the desired effects.

Physical dependence means that your body can’t function normally without a drug. If you stop taking it, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as:

sweating
anxiety
depression
fatigue
nausea and vomiting
hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there)
seizures

Other signs of drug addiction include:

intense drug cravings
mood swings
loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
withdrawal from friends and family members
sudden changes in energy, sleeping patterns, appetite, or weight
frequently borrowing or steal money
frequently getting in trouble with the law

Risks Of Drug Addiction

Like recreational drug use, drug addiction can cause serious health issues, including cancer, organ damage, and memory loss.

In general, people with drug addictions face a much higher risk of health issues than people who use recreational drugs but don’t have addictions. That’s because addiction often involves near-constant drug use.

In addition, when you struggle with addiction, you’ll likely find it difficult to think of anything besides getting and using drugs. You may then have trouble maintaining relationships or succeeding at work or school.

Fortunately, addiction is treatable. Most people need professional treatment at a rehab center.

To learn about treatment options for addiction and substance abuse, please contact us today. We offer a variety of recovery-focused services, including behavioral therapy, support groups, and mental health counseling.

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Recovering Champions offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs. Achieve long-term recovery.