Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [recreational-drugs]

Use this tag for questions about the use or properties of "recreational" drugs such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine or LSD.

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Is cannabis a gateway drug?

gate·way drug noun A habit-forming drug that, while not itself addictive, may lead to the use of other addictive drugs Is there any evidence to suggest that people who try cannabis are more likely to try other drugs?
MSpeed
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Can you determine the type or quality of illicit drugs by tasting them?

This is a ridiculously common trope in cop shows and movies. I've seen movies where either a cop or a druglord was able to rattle off purity statistics after just a taste. The good guys bust into a room and find a bunch of drug bricks. They stab a…
MrHen
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Kindergarten drug dealers

A common myth says that drug dealers make drug-laced candies or pills and give them off to children outside schools. For example, Examples of the drug-mixing strategy also include candy laced with marijuana and, in several states, flavored…
Sklivvz
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Do people get high using cat urine?

In one episode of South Park, people start getting high on cat urine. Some preliminary searches on the net show some people agreeing and some disagreeing with this fact. It's hard to say how serious people are when they answer because they don't…
apoorv020
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Do most drug users not become addicted?

This 2015 Conversation article by Paul Hayes, former chief executive of the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, claims that most users of illegal drugs do not become addicted: Drug use is common, drug addiction is rare. About one adult…
user4234
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Do dealers give free drugs to teenagers?

So we've all heard our parents telling us that "if a stranger gives you drugs for free, don't be greedy and don't accept it". However, I've never seen this happen in real life yet. So do (or did) drug dealers give sample drugs for free to random…
J. Doe
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Is the cannibal drug (Methylenedioxypyrovalerone) linked to biting attacks?

The consumption of this drug is popularly connected to the possibility of attacking other people via biting. Some sources that reference the former are: Cannibal Drug: MDPV Effects And Similarities To Flakka In this source it clearly states that no…
user2638180
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Are missing light bulbs a sign of P/meth use?

I read this claim attributed to a landlord in Balclutha, New Zealand: "It's very hard to tell if a house is infected because you can't really see it. There are telltale signs for landlords, like light bulbs missing all the time. But you can't smell…
Rupert Morrish
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Can fermented human waste ("jenkem") be used as a hallucinogenic drug?

This wikipedia article on "jenkem" describes it as— a supposed inhalant and hallucinogen created from fermented human waste. Urban Dictionary's highest-voted entry for "jenkem" describes it as— Fermented mixture of ripened sewage used primarily…
Anko
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Is the "gateway drug" theory valid?

Possible Duplicate: Is cannabis a gateway drug? From D.A.R.E.: What Is a Gateway Drug? A gateway drug is a drug that opens the door to the use of other, harder drugs. Gateway drugs are typically inexpensive and readily available. While there…
Wolf
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Does LSD use correlate with high achievement?

There is the famous quote by Steve Jobs Taking LSD was a profound experience, one of the most important things in my life. LSD shows you that there’s another side to the coin, and you can’t remember it when it wears off, but you know it. It …
Housemeister
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Can psychedelic drugs cure depression?

Some friends that I have met over the years who are into psychedelic drugs such as 'shrooms, LSD, and ecstasy (aka "molly") seem to be considerably happier people - they have lots of friends, they go to lots of parties, and seem to always have a…
D.Hutchinson
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Is this true that addictions happen due to lack of bonding?

https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong?language=en This guy makes some bold claim. He said that heroin, one of the most addictive drugs out there is not addictive enough. He said the following.…
user4951
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Are narcotics too dangerous?

Countries like China, Britain, and the U.S. have banned opium. The media is anti-narcotics and the U.S. government spends billions of dollars enforcing these laws. We're told that narcotics are too dangerous. But a quote on adverse effects…
don't have to believe truth
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Is the video of a person reducing the tremor cause by Parkinson with cannabis showed in a BBC documentary true or false?

There is an episode of BBC Horizon with the title Cannabis: Miracle Medicine or Dangerous Drug?, presented by Dr Javid Abdelmoneim. At mins 16:40 the presenter shows a youtube video of a person affected by Parkinson's visibly shaking, smoking a…
mustermax
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