Recreational drug use

# Overview
Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear. At least one psychopharmacologist who has studied this field refers to it as the 'Fourth Drive,' arguing that the human instinct to seek mind-altering substances has so much force and persistence that it functions like the human drives for hunger, thirst and shelter.

# Distinctions
Regardless of medical supervision, this label does not apply to the use of drugs for utilitarian purposes, such as the relief of fatigue or insomnia, or the control of appetite. Similarly it is incorrect to catagorise non-medical use of performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids used by some athletes and bodybuilders, as being recreational drug use, as the aim of this drug use is primarily to enhance physical appearance and performance rather than to achieve pleasurable effects.

## Responsible drug use
The concept of responsible drug use is that a person can use recreational drugs with reduced or eliminated risk of negatively affecting other parts of one's life or other peoples lives. Advocates of this philosophy point to the many well-known artists and intellectuals who have used drugs, experimentally or otherwise, with few detrimental effects on their lives. Critics argue that the drugs are escapist--and dangerous, unpredictable and sometimes addictive.

# Drugs popularly used for recreation
The drugs most popular for recreational use worldwide are:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Cannabis (THC)
- Tobacco (nicotine)
- Betel nut (arecoline)
- Khat
- Kratom
Other substances often used:
- Barbiturates, including:
amobarbital (Sodium Amytal)
aprobarbital (Alurate)
butabarbital (Butisol)
butalbital (Fiorinal)
hexobarbital (Sombulex)
methylphenobarbital (Mebaral)
pentobarbital (Nembutal)
phenobarbital (Luminal)
secobarbital (Seconal)
sodium thiopental (Sodium Pentothal)
talbutal (Lotusate)
- amobarbital (Sodium Amytal)
- aprobarbital (Alurate)
- butabarbital (Butisol)
- butalbital (Fiorinal)
- hexobarbital (Sombulex)
- methylphenobarbital (Mebaral)
- pentobarbital (Nembutal)
- phenobarbital (Luminal)
- secobarbital (Seconal)
- sodium thiopental (Sodium Pentothal)
- talbutal (Lotusate)
- Benzodiazepines, including:
alprazolam (Xanax)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
diazepam (Valium)
flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
lorazepam (Ativan)
nitrazepam (Mogadon)
temazepam (Restoril)
- alprazolam (Xanax)
- clonazepam (Klonopin)
- diazepam (Valium)
- flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- nitrazepam (Mogadon)
- temazepam (Restoril)
- Deliriants, including:
atropine
diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl)
dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
scopolamine
nutmeg
- atropine
- diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl)
- dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
- scopolamine
- nutmeg
- Dissociative anaesthetics, including:
dextromethorphan (DXM)
ketamine (Ketaset)
nitrous oxide
phencyclidine (PCP)
- dextromethorphan (DXM)
- ketamine (Ketaset)
- nitrous oxide
- phencyclidine (PCP)
- Opium (Papaver somniferum) and opioids, including:
codeine
fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq)
heroin
hydrocodone (Vicodin)
hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
meperidine (Demerol)
methadone (Methadose)
morphine
-xycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone)
-xymorphone (Opana)
dextropropoxyphene (Darvocet)
- codeine
- fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq)
- heroin
- hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- meperidine (Demerol)
- methadone (Methadose)
- morphine
- oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone)
- oxymorphone (Opana)
- dextropropoxyphene (Darvocet)
- Phenethylamines, including:
2C-B
2C-E
2C-I
2C-T-7
ephedrine (ephedra)
MDMA (ecstasy)
MDEA
MDA
mescaline (found in peyote and other cacti)
- 2C-B
- 2C-E
- 2C-I
- 2C-T-7
- ephedrine (ephedra)
- MDMA (ecstasy)
- MDEA
- MDA
- mescaline (found in peyote and other cacti)
- Stimulants, including:
BZP and other piperazine-based drugs (mCPP, TFMPP)
cocaine
dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall)
methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
methylphenidate (Ritalin)
- BZP and other piperazine-based drugs (mCPP, TFMPP)
- cocaine
- dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall)
- methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
- methylphenidate (Ritalin)
- Indole alkaloids, including:
Tryptamines, including:
dimethyltryptamine (DMT, found in numerous plants)
psilocybin and psilocin (found in psychedelic mushrooms)
ergine
LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) (Delysid)
- Tryptamines, including:
dimethyltryptamine (DMT, found in numerous plants)
psilocybin and psilocin (found in psychedelic mushrooms)
- dimethyltryptamine (DMT, found in numerous plants)
- psilocybin and psilocin (found in psychedelic mushrooms)
- ergine
- LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) (Delysid)
- Inhalants, including:
alkyl nitrites (poppers)
chloroform
diethyl ether
gasoline
glue
toluene
- alkyl nitrites (poppers)
- chloroform
- diethyl ether
- gasoline
- glue
- toluene
- Unclassified:
gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
kava
MAO inhibitors, to potentiate certain other drugs
salvinorin A, found in Salvia divinorum
- gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
- kava
- MAO inhibitors, to potentiate certain other drugs
- salvinorin A, found in Salvia divinorum

# Drug use over time
Drug use has increased in all categories since prohibition. Since 1937, the use of marijuana has become one undertaken by 20-37% of the youth of the United States.  Between 1972 and 1988 the use of cocaine increased more than fivefold.  The usage patterns of the current two most prevalent drugs, methamphetamine and ecstasy, have shown similar gains.