A person uses one or more drugs in a deliberate or controlled way to enjoy their leisure more. Sometimes called social drug use, this type of drug use often takes place in a group. Other people use drugs alone recreationally to relax and get 'away from it all'. Recreational use can occur very occasionally or every weekend or several times a week. The person might have small amounts, or they might ' binge '.
Harms related to recreational use include the risks taken when intoxicated.
Recreational use of most psychoactive drugs can be hazardous as they affect a person's judgment. Also, many drugs cause a 'hangover' effect. Recreational users are unlikely to experience a withdrawal syndrome. If they do, it is possible that they have developed a dependency. The important aspect of this type of drug use is that the person generally makes a conscious choice as to when, where and how much they will use.