OFF: definition of "recreational" [kill this thread!]

[Paul Mather]

I can't believe I am getting involved in this thread, but think of this
as a "point of information" more than anything else...

On Thu, 18 Jul 1996 ROBOdewd at AOL.COM wondered aloud:

> what exactly is a "recreational drug user"?  hell, when I smoked pot and did
> all that shit I considered myself a drug user...these people try to make the
> use of drugs sound less serious by saying "recreational", as if there are
> certain exceptions or they need some reassurance that what they are doing is
> ok...who defines the terms of who is recreational and who is a downright
> junkie??  you and I can tell the difference between Ertyl Mackelschneid that
> smokes pot once a month and Jimmy the Bed-Ridden Junkie that boots heroin on
> the hour, every hour...but hey, they're both drug-users...Jimmy's just as
> recreational as Ertyl, he just does it more often!  {and a miracle if he's
> still alive!!!!}

The term is from the literature, and is not intended merely as a
"conscience easer."  As I understand it, a "recreational"  drug user is
someone who is, at best, psychologically addicted; a "non-recreational"
("habitual") drug user is someone who is physiologically addicted.  AFAIK

Cheers,

Paul.

e-mail: paul at csgrad.cs.vt.edu                    A stranger in a strange land.