We’re probably gonna see answers for both. Lotta people out there self-medicating and looking to escape reality. It’s easy to judge people for this, but it’s important to remember that there is a veritable fuck ton of unchecked mental illness out there, undiagnosed and simply torturing people who suffer from it on a daily basis. So there is the self-medicating crowd.
There’s also a meditative and spiritual crowd who take drugs to fulfill spiritual desires. Sometimes this overlaps with other reasons, and users of DMT seems particularly prone to spiritualizing their DoC.
Some people are genuinely seeking fun. They’re using drugs recreationally in order to enjoy themselves, perhaps be festive, or perhaps to celebrate a thing. Some people just like to get high, and there’s nothing wrong with this provided it’s done in a responsible manner both in regards to the user’s health and overall to society in general. Work-life balance and all that, you know…
And yet others use drugs for performance enhancement, be it mental performance or physical performance. Better living through chemistry & that whole bit…
I guess I could enumerate some of the reasons why people get high. I think it’s something like this… here’s
Ten Reasons People Get High
1. Reality escapism
2. Self-medication for mental health
3. Self-medication for physical pain
4. Spiritual journey
5. Psychonautical experimenting
6. Cognitive performance enhancement
7. Physical performance enhancement
8. Reflection and meditation
9. Recreational use – social or private
10. Sex / Recreational enhancement of intimate activity