Some Questions on Drug Culture– a Comparison of “highs” ?

Question by Matt: Some questions on drug culture– a comparison of “highs” ?
Okay, let’s consider the following drugs: marijuana, LSD, mushrooms, peyote. Then, consider these drugs: cocaine/crack, heroin, meth…

Now, when the media speaks about drugs, they always refer to the effect of these drugs on the mind as a “high,” regardless of the drug. I’m don’t use drugs, so I wouldn’t know. But, I’m curious to know — for philosophical reasons, I suppose you could say, if it would be accurate to group these drugs into two categories, as I have. The second class is obviously the one referred to as “hard” drugs by the media. But I’m wondering if there are two destinct categories of “highs.” In other words– a high as in a psychedelic/hallucinagenic experience versus a feeling of euphoria or numbing, maybe? I ask this for a number of reasons. It is perhaps interesting to examine the various factors that motivate people to take drugs. Famous “psychonauts” like Timothy Leary inferred that one should drop acid or take mushrooms to expand one’s consciousness and widen one’s horizons and perspectives on the world. However, I seem to think that the motivations of a cocaine or heroin user might be very different from those of a user of LSD.

I’m interested to hear your opinions on this subject– there’s really no right or wrong answer. Also, please forgive my ignorance on a subject I know very little about.

Best answer:

Answer by CS
For someone who proclaims ignorance of the subject, you’ve done a pretty good job of categorizing things! Though I’d perhaps put pot in it’s own category (it’s not really a hallucinogen.) I would group it with the others you named as being non-addictive and consciousness expanding. I’d also separate heroin (and other opiates/narcotics) from things like meth and coke, since they are stimulants. I think each person finds satisfaction with and is motivated to use one class of drugs or another (alcohol included) due to some aspect of their own mind/body. We’re all different, ya know?

Answer by Wednesday
Myself I’ve always classified drugs as either “social” drugs – that would be ecstasy, cocaine, and alcohol and other drugs – although I guess I could divide those “other” drugs into downers (anything that makes you sleepy, including weed) and hallucinogens. In the rave scene, people often look at people that do coke as “so bad” when they themselves took a bunch of ecstasy and are acting way more obvious. I guess hard drugs are those usually considered addictive? My reason for doing drugs has always been to be more social as I am a somewhat shy person, and though I’ve tried most drugs, the only drugs I really enjoy are ecstasy, alcohol, and cocaine (those drugs that make me more social)