An exploratory investigation into the recreational use of drugs

Abstract

Nearly all societies throughout history have made use of various natural and artificial substances as a means of altering consciousness and mood in the search for pleasure. Drug use is an age-old form of leisure. Whether a drug is legal or illegal is a reflection of the history and morality of a nation. Our politicians and media have been debating the moral degradation drugs are causing to our society, yet in a contradictory way popularising and creating a demand for this perceived 'deviant' product. The aim of this research is an attempt to provide a balanced contemporary perspective on recreational drug taking which will add to the existing body of work on drugs and drug use in our society. In doing so, we have the potential to explain why over half our population has tried an illicit drug and why a large number recreationally use drugs, despite efforts to ban this 'illegal leisure' through traditional methods. This study analyses the current and historic literature, which focuses on drugs and leisure. Following this theoretical framework, in depth interviews of six self-prescribed recreational drug users were conducted and analysed. The discourse of this collected data was then compared to the analysed literature review. In conclusion I found that people today grow up with uncertainty in a 'risk' society. The unprecedented use of recreational drugs is an extension of this 'risk' and a way of dealing with the stresses of modern society. The majority of New Zealanders have tried illicit drugs and a large number recreational use drugs in their life course. Thus, drug taking has become 'normalised' and is no longer a deviant activity on the margins of society.