ABSTRACT
Most people accept the widespread medical use of drugs; a large number are available over the counter in pharmacies and supermarkets. Widespread advertising by the pharmaceutical industry and the working practices of the medical profession create a tendency to flight into drug support for life experiences that previously would have been accepted as mere vicissitudes. Young people observe this casual and frequent use of drugs by adults, and they are influenced by what they see. The use of drugs for relaxation, social and recreational purposes is widespread, with different cultures emphasising different substances — alcohol, nicotine and pills from medical sources in the West; alcohol and opium in the East; cocaine in the Andes and marijuana in many regions of the world. Fatigue and tiredness seem to be reduced and users feel alert, restless, anxious or even panicstricken. They are often used at discos or parties to increase excitement, ward off tiredness or to counteract the effects of sedative drugs.
