Drugs in this category include LSD, Ecstasy, heroin, cocaine and cannabis. There are also more common social drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, and some religions would also put tea, coffee and other similar items in this category as drugs to be avoided. Arguments about drugs are important in religion because they concern the possible harming or ending of life by human hands rather than by God's will. The rate of decrease has slowed in recent years. Drinking large quantities of alcohol increases the risk of raised blood pressure, strokes, some forms of heart disease, cancers and cirrhosis of the liver.
Women generally drink far less than men.
Three-quarters of these were men and over half the people were in their twenties. Therefore Christians do not approve of the taking of so-called recreational drugs. The Salvation Army and Methodists have always been opposed to the use of alcohol because of the bad effects it can have on people's behaviour. For this reason some Christians do not permit the use of alcohol at the Eucharist and instead use unfermented grape juice. Tobacco is not condemned by the churches but many Christians are of course concerned about the effect which it can have on people's health.