The critical issue is to examine your own drug use honestly and to evaluate the degree of risk. In order for a person ever to experience drug problems or drug addiction he must use the drug at least once. That is to say that exposure to drugs through experimentation is a necessary starting point. Once exposed there are various forces that affect a person's decision to quit or to continue using. If the first use of a drug is approved by friends and pleasant or gives temporary escape from problems, and there are few or no bad results, the person is likely to try the drug again.
Some people experiment with drugs on one or two occasions and then quit.
They may feel that the drug effect is undesirable, the costs too high, that friends or family do not approve or they become anxious over the concern of being caught. The major risk of experimental use is an immediate toxic drug effect. This could be an effect on the mind such as a sudden panic reaction to marijuana. It could be an action on the body such as an overdose, or dangerous side effects from chemicals mixed in with the illicit street drug. If a person moves from first use to continued use, he or she has decided that the rewards outweigh the negative consequences.