In Becker's essay about the social construction that is smoking pot he explains that first time users usually do not have a euphoric feeling because they do not know what to feel. He says that they need others, experienced users, to tell them how to feel. Similarly I personally believe that the first time a person uses marijuana or other drugs is the most important for whether or not they will do it again. For example if you smoked or consumed some substance and the whole time you were afraid of getting caught by some sort of authoritative figure you might say it was a bad high. That one bad experience may turn them off of any mood altering substances. In the same sense sometimes people may simply be turned off by the unnatural feeling or maybe an out of body experience.
Also I believe that the reason people try drugs definitely influences how they experience it. For example people doing it to escape a reality they do not like I would hypothesis would have a bad experience but also be more likely to become dependent even on non-addictive substances. Those trying a substance socially will most likely have a good experience depending on the experience of those around them. Finally those trying something on their own just for the experience I might guess would vary the greatest, whether they feel they are being desperate or are lonely in life or maybe they are doing it to reflect or just get a different perspective. Whatever the reason people use mood altering substances, it differs for everyone.
My personal opinion on why people should use mind altering substances is either for social recreation, personal recreation, or gaining new perspective on an issue or issues. I have always felt escaping problems through any sort of substance abuse is the fastest way to end up 6 feet under.
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