Priest, you seem to have had some experiences I can not just equate with, but have shared - particularly the early ones. I was absolutely fascinated by 'drugs' long before ever really experiencing them, and along with a couple of friends were always borrowing one their brothers underground magazines and literature to find out more, with, IIRC, a thrill of dread, mixed with a peculiar desire to experiment... it's so long ago now I can't really recall the feelings and reasons for this undeniable fascination (almost obsession maybe?), but looking back on it, suspect it was such things were utterly forbidden by our straight laced, stuffy parents, and were thus imbued with a sense of rebelliousness akin to sex, which being at that 'difficult age' (official!) almost went together.
Like almost everyone in the UK, we all began with alcohol and tobacco I suppose, and my peculiar, inverted 'pride' at being a notorious and early smoker pleased me, even when it caused trouble, for being seen as a rebel... when in fact I was a rather timid, unadventurous child/boy, though of course wanted to be seen as daring, worldly and heroic by my friends and contemporaries.... especially the girls I think, as I was hopeless with them!
Booze of course gave me the confidence and ability to become obnoxiously amorous, daring and have some success with girls, though my toes still curl after 40 years when I recall certain early (and distinctly less than satisfying) adventures... shudder!
Drugs were a big step up the ladder of rebelliousness I think, and I started with cannabis predictably enough, with a mixture of excitement, dread and determination... nearly put off for good by a very early experience of 'overdoing it', after teenage impatience inspired us to smoke several pure joints of Durban Poison, rather than wait for it to take effect... almost akin to tripping, which was quite terrifying, but very exciting, strange and fascinating too. My friends who similarly partook seemed quite enamoured with dope, but for some reason, smoking it sensibly after that had lost its appeal, and I wanted more.
I have problems remebering the exact timing, but I think speed came next, which I absolutely loved at first sniff, thanks to a sadly late friend, who introduced me gently and thoughfully to the very best, pretty sensibly - and no doubt unwittingly helped me to get very good grades in my A Levels exams.
The next, and biggest, most monumental step up the ladder (or maybe first loop of the snake, depending on your POV) was Acid. I had been absolutely fascinated by the stuff since first reading about it, and although deeply worried about having a 'bad trip', nervously took it one night witha friend - luckily the right person, place, time and moment, with the best music and stars and sunrise. It was a Shulgin ****+ moment, and there was no going back...
Many years of joy, misery, over-indulgence, experimentation and wonders have since followed, and I can honestly say, I would not have missed them for anything, every experience whether +ve or -ve, has been worthwuile, and I can honestly say that whatever sort of a mess I am today, is in no way a result of taking drugs, or experimenting with them. In fact my knowledge of drugs has been all that saved me from an early grave, by persuading me that suicide is not the only way to beat chronic depression (which has nothing to do with drug use/abuse). Has my early rebelliousness and recklesness in a way saved me, I have to ask: And Yes is the answer, without it I would have missed a great deal of fun, vital learning, Exquisite experience and an appreciation of the wonders in me and around me, which make my life worth living. Without, I would have faded and died by the wayside decades ago, having learned nothing important, and missed out on a great deal.
That is of course entirely subjective, and my experience in this body alone - in no way would I suggest to anyone wondering whether to start experimenting with drugs that is the RIGHT way! With a bit of luck, most people will not have to face the sort of catastrophes I had to, and be capable of living a happy, fulfilled and worthwhile life without ever resorting to drugs...
Oh dear, another "quick reply" gone astray.... oh well, I'll leave it....