Does anyone NOT do drugs?

[APowers]

Do you know someone who does not use any recreational drugs* on a habitual/normal basis?

*"recreational drug" being construed as including alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine, as well as other more typical "recreational drugs" (pot, narcotics, amphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens, etc.).

I have a really hard time thinking of someone who is actually not a drug user. You?

[Datastache]

I know someone like that pretty well: me.

I do consume chemicals that I think will improve my happiness - water, plus the various proteins and carbohydrates and lipids found in my food - but nothing that anyone would seriously consider a recreational drug.

[GrayGhost]

I drink alcohol very occasional. Sometimes I also use caffeine. But that's about it.

[MoonShadow]

I can't function without caffeine, and I mean that literally.  I have been using caffeine to regulate my migraines for 30 years; and even though I haven't actually had one in the past 6 or 7 years, I'd still be wary trying to reduce my intake.  So I'm claiming medicinal caffeine use.

[11ducks]

Even dairy apparently has addictive qualities

[happy]

I drink alcohol very occasional. Sometimes I also use caffeine. But that's about it.

That's it for me too

[Flyingkea]

Well, I'm a breastfeeding mum, so I only drink once in a blue moon. Don't smoke anything, and dislike coffee (yes I'm weird.) Plus, I'd lose my career if I got randomly tested at work and got a positive result, and that includes ANY alcohol.
I do like a milo in the mornings to get me going, but that's about it really.

My boyfriend is addicted to chocolate though - he is physically unable to walk out of the supermarket without some. The one day he managed it was to prove a point (I kept teasing him about it), and because there is a chocolate vending machine at his work.

[ditheca]

The largest group I know of that avoids the use of recreational drugs are Mormons.  Church doctrine includes the https://www.lds.org/topics/word-of-wisdom which prohibits the use of alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee.

"When people purposefully take anything harmful into their bodies, they are not living in harmony with the Word of Wisdom. Illegal drugs can especially destroy those who use them. The abuse of prescription drugs is also destructive spiritually and physically."

When I served as a missionary in Taiwan, I taught and baptized many families.  There was always some culture shock when they realized we were actually serious about the 'no tea' thing.

Caffeine is not explicitly prohibited, but many who believe it to be harmful or addictive avoid it as much as the explicitly stated substances. I had caffeinated soda a few times in my childhood and reacted very poorly to it.  For me (personally), it is a harmful substance.  I don't have actual numbers, but I'd guess that at least half the Mormons in America avoid caffeine.

[Bob W]

I wonder if tea really is considered a recreational drug given all the health benefits.   I personally cannot think of anyone that doesn't at least use caffeine.  Even kids do. 

You might consider Donald Trump.   I don't know if he uses caffeine but he is adamant opposed to tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs for himself and kids. 

[GuitarStv]

I drink  beer about 5-10 times a year, have coffee maybe 30 times (usually before very long bike rides), and have never used any other recreational drug.  Just never appealed to me . . . My grandfather was a raging alchoholic, and that made a big impression on me with regards to 'fun' drugs.

[Spork]

I've got several friends that don't use anything at all.  They are not religious... they've just chosen not to.

Penn Jillette (Penn & Teller) claims to have never used anything.  He is DEFINITELY not religious.

[snogirl]

I love my coffee.  That's it.

[dramaman]

I've never done any illicit drugs. As for legal (alcohol, caffeine, etc), I occasionally partake of a single beer, glass of iced tea or soda, but nothing that could be considered daily or anything more than once a week at most. And certainly not for any obvious physical changes to my perception or mood. I do have a weakness for salty snacks ;)

[I'm a red panda]

I have never done any sort of illegal drug, nor smoked a cigarette.

I have had alcohol, but could probably count on my fingers the number of drinks I have had in the past decade.

I drink limited caffeine, but I don't consider it a drug, because I don't use it as such. I'm talking less than 5 caffeinated drinks (either a cup of tea or a diet coke) a week. It isn't being used as a stimulant.


If you are classifying anything addictive as a drug, then I think sugar needs to be added to the list. I do not consider myself addicted to sugar, but it would be hard to cut completely from my diet, especially when you consider all natural sugars.

[elaine amj]

I wonder if tea really is considered a recreational drug given all the health benefits.   I personally cannot think of anyone that doesn't at least use caffeine.  Even kids do. 

You might consider Donald Trump.   I don't know if he uses caffeine but he is adamant opposed to tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs for himself and kids.

Interesting. Neither my husband or I depend on or get anything beneficial from caffeine. He doesn't even like coffee much. Once in a while, on a long drive, he will get a latte/cappuccino to "stay awake". Honestly, I doubt it makes much different other than "it sounds good" and since everyone else says it helps, it's worth a shot.

For myself, depending on what's going on with my body chemistry, coffee/tea can give me a buzz. But to be honest, I don't find it helpful to feel jittery. I'd have trouble sleeping, but it never particularly helped me accomplish my tasks. Most of the time, I don't feel any different after drinking coffee. So I have always been a recreational coffee/tea drinker. I drink it occasionally because I like the taste. Never to "use" it. Maybe 1-2x every 1-2 weeks (mostly because we have a Keurig at work, so why not). If I am in the mood, I drink coffee daily for a week or two before I lose interest again.

Same with alcohol. I don't really understand it when people say it "loosens them up". It makes me giggly and dumb. I don't like the feeling. I do like the taste of froo-froo drinks plus it is a social thing so I try very hard to make sure I don't drink more than 1-2 glasses at a time. I'm a cheap drunk so I have to be careful. I HATE being drunk. A few months back, I was at a girlfriend's house and she kept topping off my wine glass because "it's not good for it to be empty". I watched myself carefully and did not feel any signs and sipped throughout the night. The next morning, I had a my first hangover in many years and I was not happy about it. Took me a couple of hours to start feeling human again. I don't get how on earth that is worth it (I know most ppl handle their alcohol much better than I do). Plus, the calories aren't worth it to me either - I'm weird, but I get just as much enjoyment out of a glass of juice.

If we are expanding the definition of recreational "drug", mine would be sugar. And salt. I'd have a rough time going without.

[GuitarStv]

a diet very low in salt isn't better than a diet high in salt.  Not sure that you could call NaCl a drug . . .

[oldladystache]

No drugs here. I quit drinking coffee a few months ago. Not intentionally, I just made it and forgot to drink it, so I quit making it.

[Argyle]

I have never done drugs.  The same is true for most of my friends. 

The statistic is that 9.4% of the population has used illicit drugs in the past month.  "In 2013, 22.6 percent of 18- to 20-year-olds reported using an illicit drug in the past month."  http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends

In my opinion, if you don't know anyone who doesn't take drugs, you're hanging out with the wrong crowd, but to each his own.

[MandalayVA]

That's okay, I've done enough to cover the lot of you.  :D

But those days are over.  I don't even drink coffee. 

[pbkmaine]

Maybe a glass of wine a week plus one or two cups of coffee or tea a day. I have a cold right now - does NyQuil count?

[Jeremy E.]

I drink alcohol occasionally, but no caffiene, no illegal drugs, no ciggarettes, no medical drugs for about 10 years(no nyquil or pills etc.). I did have something injected into my gums when I had my wisdom teeth pulled out about 5 years ago, but I didn't take any of the prescribed pain pills afterwards. I will allow doctors to give me medicine if it's an emergency or if they tell me their are permanent consequences if I don't use the medicine, otherwise I don't see a point in wasting the money/allowing possible side effects.

[MoonShadow]

I drink limited caffeine, but I don't consider it a drug, because I don't use it as such.

That doesn't much matter.  Caffeine is certainly a drug, if only a mild one.

[Fishindude]

I like to drink alcohol a few times weekly, enjoy coffee every morning and even have the occasional "chew".
Not embarrassed or ashamed of it either.

I have a long term marriage, raised good kids, go to work, pay my bills, saved a big nest egg and contribute as much or more to society than many others.
Fully realize there can be some negative health affects, but also enjoy the relaxation feeling these items afford.
No guilt here.

[I'm a red panda]

I drink limited caffeine, but I don't consider it a drug, because I don't use it as such.

That doesn't much matter.  Caffeine is certainly a drug, if only a mild one.

If it isn't being used as a stimulant, I don't see it as a recreational drug. 
Do you consider eating a Hershey kiss drug use? It has caffeine in it; but I certainly don't .  To me, limited soda and tea intake is no different.

Now, if you are drinking many a day, and suffer withdraw from stopping- then I can see classifying it as a drug.

[TVRodriguez]

Do you know someone who does not use any recreational drugs* on a habitual/normal basis?

*"recreational drug" being construed as including alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine, as well as other more typical "recreational drugs" (pot, narcotics, amphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens, etc.).

I have a really hard time thinking of someone who is actually not a drug user. You?

Why?  How does it matter to you?  If you are comfortable with your own habits, what is the relevance of the habits of another, assuming they are doing no harm to others (and possibly no harm to themselves)?

[jba302]

Why?  How does it matter to you?  If you are comfortable with your own habits, what is the relevance of the habits of another, assuming they are doing no harm to others (and possibly no harm to themselves)?

Yea totally. Don't you dare go posting on message boards with things like questions about things you are curious about!

[MoonShadow]

Do you consider eating a Hershey kiss drug use?

The point of eating a Hershey's Kiss, or candy bar, is to improve your mood.  That is the whole point of snacking, since you certainly don't need candy to live.  So yes, I do consider chocolate candy to be a recreational drug; since it does have mood altering chemicals in it's makeup and they are being consumed for recreational purposes.  Chocolate, in particular, also has trace amounts of a protein very similar to a hormone released during sexual orgasm.  So chocolate is definitely a recreational drug in any form.  Again, a fairly benign one, but a drug nonetheless.

[Hank Sinatra]

I drink a lot of coffee and consume sacramental wine. Ditto my husband. It can be hard when he's socializing for work, because people seem to assume that if you don't drink, you're implying some kind of mortal judgement.

Yes, this had an impact on my career. I am not a a Mormon or a Baptist, nor am I  a tea totaler or prohibitionist. But if you want to lose friends and negatively influence people just try nursing one drink.  That figured into my decision to  get enough money to FIRE as early in life as was possible.

[CletusMcGee]

C'mon now, there has to be someone around here with a still-warm crack pipe!

[I'm a red panda]

Do you consider eating a Hershey kiss drug use?

The point of eating a Hershey's Kiss, or candy bar, is to improve your mood.  That is the whole point of snacking, since you certainly don't need candy to live.  So yes, I do consider chocolate candy to be a recreational drug; since it does have mood altering chemicals in it's makeup and they are being consumed for recreational purposes. 

So is eating a steak a recreational drug? I mean, I don't NEED steak to live- I could just drink a protein shake and have a multi-vitamin.

Where do you draw the line which snacking is "drug use" and which eating is "necessary".  Sure it is necessary to EAT- but most of what I eat is luxury in that I'm choosing it based on what I like, which improves my mood.

This distinction is pretty ridiculous to me.  A hershey kiss is not a recreational drug. 


Is watching TV a drug too then? I usually do that to improve my mood (typically if my mood is boredom, which is usually the same mood I'm in when I eat a hershey kiss for that reason. I don't eat them because I am sad and want to be happy.). Your brain has chemical reactions to TV, and some people can become addicted to it.

What if I eat a hershey kiss because I have a bad taste in my mouth from my main meal. Is it still a drug then since I'm not using it to alter my mood, but to get the taste of garlic out of my mouth?

[MoonShadow]

Do you consider eating a Hershey kiss drug use?

The point of eating a Hershey's Kiss, or candy bar, is to improve your mood.  That is the whole point of snacking, since you certainly don't need candy to live.  So yes, I do consider chocolate candy to be a recreational drug; since it does have mood altering chemicals in it's makeup and they are being consumed for recreational purposes. 

So is eating a steak a recreational drug? I mean, I don't NEED steak to live- I could just drink a protein shake and have a multi-vitamin.

Where do you draw the line which snacking is "drug use" and which eating is "necessary".  Sure it is necessary to EAT- but most of what I eat is luxury in that I'm choosing it based on what I like, which improves my mood.

This distinction is pretty ridiculous to me.  A hershey kiss is not a recreational drug. 


Is watching TV a drug too then? I usually do that to improve my mood (typically if my mood is boredom, which is usually the same mood I'm in when I eat a hershey kiss. I don't eat them because I am sad and want to be happy.). Your brain has chemical reactions to TV, and some people can become addicted to it.

Eating a good steak is nutritional in nature.  Chocolate has more than one chemical that has euphoric effects upon the human body, but no known nutritional benefits.  So I eat chocolate to feel good, but eat meat of any quality (primarily) for nutritional benefits.  There is no ambiguity here.

[Telecaster]

The largest group I know of that avoids the use of recreational drugs are Mormons.  Church doctrine includes the https://www.lds.org/topics/word-of-wisdom which prohibits the use of alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee.

Utah has a major prescription drug problem, however.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/660200893/Utah-No-1-in-prescription-drug-abuse.html?pg=all

[Lyssa]

I do not use alcohol, tobacco or any illegal druk.

I do drink coffee, tea and coke but more for the taste. I really does not have any noticeable neurological effects on me since I can drink a double espresso and go to sleep right away.

[david51]

No drugs, alcohol free, never tasted coffee, no tobacco and avoid salt.  I drink five liters of green tea a day if its 90*or up and about 3.5 liters if its below 90. I run 5 days a week so I consume a lot. And I have a similar system of using reuseable cups like Bob w. uses.

[brainfart]

*pleading the fifth*

[Tigerpine]

I do not use drugs, but I do drink beer.  I don't ever drink enough to get drunk.  I've done that years ago, and I don't like it.  I don't drink Coke, Pepsi, etc.; beer is the only carbonated beverage I like. 

I treat myself to a cup of homebrewed French Roast coffee just about every morning.

[okits]

OP, I got nothing for ya. By your description, my toddler is a recreational drug user. She has tasted Diet Coke and coffee-flavoured ice cream before, and eaten probably a lifetime total of 10g of chocolate.

If you cut out the caffeine restriction, I currently fit your bill. 

[shelivesthedream]

Until the age of 20, I did not drink tea (herbal infusions only), coffee or alcohol, let alone take any "real drugs". Then I started drinking a few cups of tea a week. A year later I migrated to the occasional coffee (monthly?). I now drink tea a bit less and coffee a bit more, but I could give up either again forever with little more than a shrug of the shoulders and a yearning for the taste from time to time. I only started drinking them to fit in and be more sociable (I need to actively prioritise making friends sometimes).

So I am now a light 'drug user' but have only been for four years and could give it up again like *that* if I needed to. I just don't feel the need for stimulants.

[gt7152b]

I know of one friend that does not drink caffeine or alcohol and of course doesn't use recreational drugs. My only drug is beer and the occasional whiskey although I'm losing some love for it. I think I'll always enjoy a beer on occasion but it's become a bit boring to consume on a regular basis.

[BlueMR2]

Do you know someone who does not use any recreational drugs* on a habitual/normal basis?

*"recreational drug" being construed as including alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine, as well as other more typical "recreational drugs" (pot, narcotics, amphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens, etc.).

I have a really hard time thinking of someone who is actually not a drug user. You?

Me.  I've never done any illicit drugs of any kind.  Seems like a really dumb idea.  A great way to end up broke, shot, in jail, you name it.

Tobacco, I've never used.  I've had alcohol before, but have never been drunk.  On rare occasions I'll have some, but it's not on any kind of schedule (I'll go months in between without even missing it).  Caffeine, I was a hard core addict, growing up on pop and graduating to coffee.  I've since kicked that habit and have no interest in caffeine at all anymore.  I'm much more stable and have more overall energy without it.

[Pigeon]

I drink coffee and tea.  There are health benefits to doing so.  I think calling them "recreational drugs" is a bit of a stretch.

[AllieVaulter]

I don't do drugs.  No tobacco, alcohol, caffeine (or anything illegal). 

It's not for any ideology, I just don't like them.  People tell me I'll "develop a taste" for them, but that just seems silly.  Tobacco makes me cough.  I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to marijuana (based on suspiciously sneezy & watery eyed concerts).  I dislike the taste of alcohol.  I can tolerate it if I can't taste the alcohol, but that just seems like a colossal waste of money.  My friends are fine with me not drinking.  But that's probably because I regularly attended happy hour with them every week for years, while drinking water.  I'm also a super convenient designated driver.  :)

I've never liked soda or coffee.  In the past few years, I did specifically train myself to like tea.  My one adult beverage.  But I stopped drinking it regularly because my eyeball started twitching.  It's definitely come in handy though.  Traveling where water isn't safe...  at least the tea's been boiled. 

However, I will put out there that I'm pretty sure at one point in my life I was addicted to exercise.  I was 14 years old and working out 30 hours a week.  I tried to quit and that only lasted a weekend. 

[Jakejake]

I do coffee. And on weekends sometimes I put baileys in it.

I don't understand though why caffeine's on the list and sugar isn't. And I don't know anyone who does no sugar/sweeteners.

[Sailor Sam]

Since this has drifted in the direction of drugs people actually do use, I'll admit to being badder than most posting. I drink coffee every day, and I truly enjoy ingesting opioids for recreational purposes. I don't drink much, not a smoker, and I'm not drawn to any other drugs.

[Letj]

Do you know someone who does not use any recreational drugs* on a habitual/normal basis?

*"recreational drug" being construed as including alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine, as well as other more typical "recreational drugs" (pot, narcotics, amphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens, etc.).

I have a really hard time thinking of someone who is actually not a drug user. You?

Neither I nor my husband drink or do drugs including caffeine of any kind  (no sodas either). None of our close friends drink or do drugs; they drink the occasional caffeinated drinks.

[NoraLenderbee]

I have some friends who don't habitually use any drugs. They have a glass of wine once in a great while, but it's not routine. No caffeine. (They are also vegans who eat organic everything.)

I use caffeine to wake up, so that's definitely habitual drug use. I enjoy wine with dinner a few times a week, so in that sense it's habitual, but I don't drink it to get buzzed, and if I couldn't have alcohol any more for some reason, I would be fine. No recreational drugs or tobacco (though I have in the past).

I know a lot of people who rarely consume alcohol, others who rarely consume caffeine.

[MoonShadow]

i don't habitually use any of those drugs.

Anymore.

I've got some good stories, though.

Have you ever seen Mickey Mouse run across the freeway at night?

No?  Me neither.

[gimp]

Alcohol is dandy.

[Zikoris]

Is it really unusual? Drugs have never appealed to me - in fact, I find them pretty repulsive. People who use them regularly honestly tend to come across as losers and life-screwups to me - not really the type of people I want to surround myself with.

The caffeine one is a bit tricky. There are people in my office hooked on coffee, for sure. At the same time, it seems like a stretch to lump a kid eating a chocolate bar in with someone shooting up heroin.

[Bellatrix]

My mom doesn't do any drugs, alcohol, or caffeine.  I drink one cup of tea a day, but nothing else.