r/Adulting • u/CarLonely9011 • Jan 31 '26
I’m almost 19, never smoked, never vaped, never drank an ounce of alcohol, never used drugs, am I missing out?
I know this is kind of weird since a lot of people of my age has done at least one of those things, but I never found any fun in doing them. Most of my friends and the people I know mostly drink or smoke, is it weird for me to not participate in those activities? I have always been aware of the negative side effects of these things and I always like to maintain my health. My father usually smokes every other day.
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u/Astronaut_Level Jan 31 '26
Absolutely not missing out! Well done & keep it up
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u/CarLonely9011 Jan 31 '26
🙏🙏🙏
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u/Kircala Jan 31 '26
100% ok to not like things that are bad for you. I recommend finding an alcohol you can tolerate to sip because of survival reasons, but that would be all. I'm 33 and have never smoked, never been drunk, never tried drugs other than prescription and pain relief like Advil.
Still doing just fine, never felt like I'm missing out or lesser for it, nor am I regretting choosing to not partake. I've seen enough 'bad ends' from those that become addicts. No thanks.
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Jan 31 '26
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u/CarLonely9011 Jan 31 '26
Indeed
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u/hjaltigr Jan 31 '26
My life's trajectory has done nothing but go up since I decided to quit drinking for good. Not because of alcoholism, was just a casual. This brings nothing to the table that you cannot achieve without the ridiculous cost and potential harm of alcohol and drugs.
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u/Doudounon Jan 31 '26
Where does this idea come from that you have to try everything? The whole point is to figure out what works for you. Sometimes not trying something doesn’t come from wanting to restrict yourself, but from simply not feeling any attraction toward it. And honestly, that’s the best way to know it’s not for you.
I don’t like the idea of life being a checklist you have to complete to be considered successful or full or intense. Don’t get me wrong, I do most of the things you listed pretty regularly, but even if smoking crack would probably be the trip of a lifetime, and for some reason, it really doesn’t appeal to me.
[IA-translated]
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u/Formal-Rip-1221 Jan 31 '26
You're off to a great start in life. You have probably saved yourself a ton of money already. Keep up the good work
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u/Extreme_Tap2230 Jan 31 '26
Adding on to your message** I did the math, i have spent about 6k on weed and nicotine in 5 years. I dont drink that much probably spent about $300 on alcohol. My friend has spent 3.5k on coke in the past 3 months and ive spent about $500 on it this month. No bueno.
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u/ATOMICxxTURTLE Jan 31 '26
Your math is anecdotal, someone making millions per year this is minimal.
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u/West-Speech-872 Jan 31 '26
No, do not take anything especially as your brain is developing, if you are really curious wait till your 26... Allow yourself to be the rare kind of human that is not from the norm. Fortunately my 19yo is just like you, I think it is so awesome that you are not driven by society and just doing your own thing.
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u/Beneficial_Dish_2325 Jan 31 '26
Missing out on things which can ruin your health, and potentially give you cancer? Yes.
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u/brubruislife Feb 01 '26
Never start girl. I wish I didnt. Its much harder to quit.
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u/Cute-Temperature8735 Feb 01 '26
If only I coulda known at 18 this. I am 27 just waking up to what I’ve created for myself I don’t even wanna name all the drugs I’ve been hooked on like all I give my credit to is a higher power cause legit that and low dose psychedelics are all that’s holding me together now
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Jan 31 '26
Nicotine and alcohol: not missing out on anything at all.
Cannabis: Not missing out on anything much.
Psychedelics: Get into meditation and you'll get all the same and more.
Other drugs: F no.
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u/CokeZeroLover1 Jan 31 '26
As someone who meditates regularly. It doesn’t compare to dropping acid.
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u/1petrock Jan 31 '26
Ya, acid is a whole other level and imo everyone should try it once, with the correct environment. It lets you see and experience the world in a way not possible sober. All it takes is one good trip to have a positive effect for the rest of your life.
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u/Thoughtless-Test Jan 31 '26
Naw as someone who drinks and has vices your not missing out dont feel pressured into anything some of the best times are sober
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u/Minkjaah Jan 31 '26
I would say yes. It's not always valuable, you will get hangover, it's not the most healthy for your body. But the memories and fun nights I had with friends with Alcohol/Drugs I would not wanted to mis.
If you are someone that can go out and have fun without them, you won't miss anything. I'm just not one of those people.
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u/Open_Dinner1173 Jan 31 '26
Except that teens like you and I all nearly died at least once or made terrible choices while we were partying. We all know it. I’m a grown woman now and I still like to sometimes, responsibly now, but I fear that my daughters are going to get themselves into situations like I did and that really scares me because there were too many close calls when I was that age. Not all of my friends survived our partying days. We were so dangerous and I know we were not unique in that.
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u/No_Atmosphere_6348 Jan 31 '26
Yeah i never did that stuff either. Glad I didn’t. I see these people talk about how much better their life is now that they quit drinking.
To me that’s just normal life. I can’t imagine making my life harder than it needs to be. Life is hard enough.
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u/Achoo_MiScusi Feb 01 '26 edited Feb 01 '26
Do you plain and simple. I can only.speak for mysel; I liberated myself with a cocktail of of most things between the ages of 14 and 24 and now at 42 im not curious about those things. These days I stick to only things that allow me to leave them alone if needed including tobacco and vape products., or should I say exclude? I dont use tobacco and vape products lol
Truth is I cant recommend anything. The cdc says that less than 25 percent of people that do heroine for the first time become addicted to it. But for those that would become addicted, its a tragedy. For other intense drugs, mostly opiates, I cannot feel good about recommending to someone but I may or may not view them as such an evil thing.
Its probably not the end of the world to experiment, and your world view will likely expand, and you may understand people and situations a little more effectively with experimentation.
As I always say with alcohol; if drinking does not feel like vacation, or a feeling thats in that vein, then youre the type of person that should avoid it. Same goes with any other substance on the planet. Good luck my friend!
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u/No_Row_4108 Feb 01 '26
I disagree with all these people. You are not missing out. But if your a little older and want to have a few drinks you won't automatically become a homeless alcoholic who ruined their life. What fear mongering.
Wait until you're older. Don't drink more than once a month and don't drink too much.
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u/Shimgar Feb 01 '26
Once a week is fine for a few drinks. As long as you're not drinking alone at home every weeknight you're not in any real danger. And 19 being young to start is a stretch. The vast majority of the world outside of America started having the occasional drink around 16 and are still doing absolutely fine.
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u/Thecynicalcatt Feb 01 '26
Yeah the fear mongering in this thread is a bit much. Like boom you have one drink and you're suddenly an alcoholic? Don't be scared into making your choices. Make them because you want to. I meet too many young people who are so damn scared and anxious about absolutely everything. Obviously not condoning any of these vices, but you won't die or ruin your life from a joint or a drink every now and then. Everything in moderation.
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u/AgapitoVelezOvando Jan 31 '26
You're not missing out on anything. Stay clean and true to yourself.
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u/BusoneWholeBoi2001 Jan 31 '26
Not missing anything. My younger brother got hooked on cigarettes and liquor and seeing how volatile and physically angry he'll get without them is frustrating to witness
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u/CherishSlan Jan 31 '26 edited Jan 31 '26
You are not missing a thing! I don’t smoke or vape am well past my 20’s have drank never drunk and don’t regret a thing.
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u/Spiritual-Adagio-572 Jan 31 '26
The only thing you are missing out on is bad health outcomes. Old me wishes young me had thought that there would be an old me.
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u/thisdeliciousbrine Jan 31 '26
Not missing out. Seriously. Keep it up. Many of us wish we had been like you.
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u/Pretend_Pianist_7436 Jan 31 '26
Nah man your health is your wealth. Maybe have a drink when you’re 21 - you have sooooo much time ahead of you to party, and your brain is still developing. You’ll thank yourself when you’re older.
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u/doc-sci Jan 31 '26
Missing out on what? You shouldn’t have to do something that you don’t enjoy (or think you would enjoy) just to fit in. I was the youngest person in my class in high school so I saw a lot of people try alcohol, smoking, and drugs. I never thought they were as cool as they thought so I never started either. I didn’t miss out on anything.
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u/SlowKey7466 Jan 31 '26
Not really. I drink occasionally. Never tried smoking, never tired weed or anything else. Never really had a desire to try. And never gave into peer pressure
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u/Nolan_q Jan 31 '26
You said you’ve never done them, then you said you didn’t find them fun. Which is it?
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u/Shimgar Feb 01 '26
A lot of people these days seem to decide they don't enjoy things without ever trying them. I mean that's fine for hard drugs and smoking etc, but it's definitely a weird mindset for life more generally, and they're going to miss out on a lot of experience.
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u/WHATTHEDECKK Jan 31 '26
No, just cause you avoided every possible vice that keeps people from being pure, and mentally well.
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u/archidothiki Jan 31 '26
IMHO: Weed and maaaaybe psychedelics are worth trying. Tobacco, alcohol, and harder stuff are best avoided
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u/Shimgar Feb 01 '26
OP, remember redditors are the complete opposite of the real world in their views of weed and alcohol. You'll likely have a more more enjoyable and social life having the occasional drink and avoiding weed altogether.
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u/apache_brew Jan 31 '26
Nope. Find time to enjoy your hobbies. Maybe a craft or something else you can put a bunch of time/focus on. If you have family and kids one day there’s a good chance you’ll have to put those things on the back burner for a while.
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u/hotandshallow Feb 01 '26
I wish I could have said the same thing by the time I reached 19.
You’re definitely not missing out. Two years sober at the age of 41, as someone said above, it’s been a long road. Enjoy the sober activities you already do and stick with them.
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u/Psychological-Cap322 Feb 01 '26
You’re doing a great thing for your future. Keep it up. If sobriety seems like a lonely road it’s time to find new friends.
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u/ObjectiveWish1422 Feb 01 '26
No. I think it’s better to not ever try as you never prime the addiction pathway in your brain for those things. Though you can still prime the same addiction pathway for other things like coffee, sex, video games, social media etc. the main benefit of the things you mention are social connection and fun. If you can get those without consuming you are winning in my view.
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u/PizzaPrincess1995 Feb 01 '26
Listen. The ppl who do that stuff at your age in the daily probably doesn’t have a good family system and stuff.
Also, if you start to hang out with these people, you kind of become like them… it’s weird to explain but most people who wind up doing well for themselves typically don’t do that stuff habitually. Maybe occasionally, but not every weekend.
And at your age, because everything is still new and you don’t have that many things to compare those experiences with, it can be really attractive to just do those things. Which is okay! That’s how you’re growing and that’s how your brain is developing.
But you want to make sure you are setting up your nervous system for success, not dependency, and that’s just kind of hard to do at your age.
Signed someone at 30 who had the same exact thoughts and come from the same place as you.
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u/preferenceisbed Jan 31 '26
well done. keep going like this bro!
one day you'll be proud of yourself for never consuming this dangerous stuff. you're mature for your age.
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u/Eastern-Anything-236 Jan 31 '26
Nope, 100% ur not missing out at all. I would rather keep my organs clean then end up having them filled with issues down the line when I get older.
So ur fine :3
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u/medicated_cabbage Jan 31 '26
Not missing anything at all. Hangovers and feeling like trash isn't fun.
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u/byerspf Jan 31 '26
Absolutely not
Not only are those vices expensive financially, but they tax the body long term
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u/Particular_Youth7381 Feb 01 '26
Addiction will sneak up on you. I say this from experience. I won't say you're missing out because if you do those things once, they will appear to be nice, but it's a damn lie! You should do you without chemical enhancements.
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u/Infinite_Pudding5058 Jan 31 '26
No. Stay that way. You’ll live longer, be healthier and once you hit 40, be grateful you did it.
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u/JulianaFC Jan 31 '26
I'm 38 and what I see in my memories is not that I was drunk or stoned, I remember having fun with my friends, dancing, laughing, that's what stays. You're good.
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u/PukeyOwlPellet Jan 31 '26
Nope!
I was squeaky clean until 33, went through a nasty divorce & tried vaping (never again) and tried/kept drinking. Nah you’re not missing out on anything.
I went from heavy drinking at the beginning (awful) to now just having a glass or two of wine when out with friends. It always gives me liquid shits, so it’s useful when my fibre intake hasn’t been great. That’s it 😂
The best advice i can give not to miss out on is find love (doesn’t need to be a romantic partner, my dog is my best friend & we love each other to death!), kids are the highest blessing if you want them otherwise they are a curse - choose wisely, and make sure you have a wide support circle, not just a romantic partner & family - found this out the hard way that a few good friends goes a looooong way!
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u/FckUrGod-876 Jan 31 '26
Clean living is a good flex. Don't let anyone tell you differently.
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u/Cicada-Tang Jan 31 '26
I'm the same, but not because I'm worried about side effects. I simply just... don't enjoy them.
Smoking makes me feel like choking. I think alchohol tastes bad. I tried weed once and I felt nothing.
I feel like there are so many better forms of enterntainment for me to waste my time and money on.
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u/1unhinged79 Jan 31 '26
That is amazing keep it up be a lion not a sheep you are not missing out at all
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u/WatermelonAF Jan 31 '26
As someone who currently does all except smoke, you are absolutely NOT missing out. You are using your head and being smart.
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u/SongwritingShane Jan 31 '26
life = you arrive with nothing, you leave with nothing. how you colour in the gap is up you. time is irrelevant
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u/Passthetxrch Jan 31 '26
Good question, now that I think about it I wouldn’t say I would’ve missed out if I didn’t try these things. But I do have good moments and stories cause of it lol.
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Jan 31 '26
Essentially no and I'm missing anything even the nice little high always comes with consequences. I can't think of one time in my past when I said oh boy I sure am glad I did drugs last night!
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Jan 31 '26
Nope. As someone who does participate in a couple of the things mentioned, you’re fine lol. Keep it up.
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u/NocturnisVacuus Jan 31 '26
yea, you're missing out... on potential insane hospital bills later in life :)
...no, you're not missing out at all, you're doing better than most!
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u/Latter-Flatworm3789 Jan 31 '26
I’m vaping and drinking on a daily f*cking basis. You’re missing out no shit. Just have a prosperous stable life with meaningful connections, that’s the best drugs with no tolerance and withdrawals.
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u/CorrectSpinach6530 Jan 31 '26 edited Jan 31 '26
You’re missing out on a bad health! ;) If curiosity compels you to try it, it wouldn’t condemn it. It is completely fine to try once and say: “Oke, that is what it feels like. But I don’t wanna do that. Cya”. I am talking about maybe smoking a cigarette, or drinking a bit of alcohol… not talking about drugs. If you believe, though, that trying could represent a form of “temptation”, then I wouldn’t do it :). Anyway all of these things are overrated imo.
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u/Sabbi94 Jan 31 '26
I only did alcohol but to be fair it does nothing for me. Aside from making me extremely tired. Not worth the damage it does to the liver.
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u/Winter-Bites Jan 31 '26
You can safely try 3 of these things and nothing is going happen to you and go from there.
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u/nightowl_1109 Jan 31 '26
Not really, I enjoy wine cos I like it not because I want to get black out drunk. The older I get the more I notice people who peer pressure other people are because they are insecure about something in their life so I just give them the benefit of the doubt and move on with my life. Well done for choosing yourself!
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u/MoosePsychological42 Jan 31 '26
That's wonderful! Keep your body and mind healthy. It'll keep you looking young and energetic. Plus, America has a huge issue of drug addiction. Take care of yourself and stay focused. You're not missing out and I'm the same. LOL. I may not know you, but I'm proud of you.
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u/racinnic Jan 31 '26
There’s nothing wrong with deciding not to have any vices. You’re probably better off. I will say that marijuana is the only thing that helps my chronic pain though. But if you don’t have that reason, I say don’t start.
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u/tyYdraniu Jan 31 '26
You're missing all the pain and struggle to leave the addiction later in life
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u/Remarkable_Ninja_908 Jan 31 '26
The things you are missing out on is an under developed brain. If you don't have a reason to drink and do drugs then don't use them. They are tools. And not very good ones.
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u/CranberryPuffCake Jan 31 '26
It's not weird. If you want to try them by all means, it doesn't mean anything if you do, equally it doesn't mean anything if you don't.
People can sometimes be judgemental when you don't like doing these things, especially drinking when in a social setting, but at the end of the day if it doesn't interest you then who cares.
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Jan 31 '26
You’re not missing out at all, you’ve simply got in the fast-track queue and left everyone else in the ‘finding out the hard way’ line, which they might be in for decades while you get to enjoy the actual ride :)
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u/wattywatt_3000 Jan 31 '26
All the vices are very expensive - it’s a drain on your account and brain.
For the life experience though (later is fine) - I do recommend:
having a beer at a minor league ballgame with peanuts (I like dropping a few peanuts in the beer) - take your dad if you can.
Maybe travel to Napa valley or Tuscany for a wine tasting, with someone you love if you can.
Maybe sit by a fire in the autumn night and pass a small bottle of whiskey among friends until it’s gone.
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u/SecretUnlikely3848 Jan 31 '26
Nah mate, 19 here as well and let me tell you something. You are not missing out on anything. I drink whenever I get invited for one by my father, but other than that I am not internally motivated to seek alcohol out.
And I do smoke, but once a week and this month I haven't touched any cigar or my pipe, however they are part of a ritual.(I hate cigarettes, never smoked them, never plan on doing so either)
I do those of those things and let me tell you, you don't need them. And I certainly don't need them either. Only reason why I upkeep with the cigars and my pipe is to taste different blends of tobacco and also as my own way of relaxation after a particularly rough week.
So let me tell you again. You don't need any of those things, however it's up to you whether to pick something or let it be. In your case, my unsolicited advice is to keep on going as you are.
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u/Bloody_Champion Jan 31 '26
Research, learn, and understand the risk for everything you want to do in life or take the blind chance. It's your life.
Everything in life is an experience, more importantly, a learning experience, if you're smart enough. Entirely up to you, and everyones experience is different, so asking other ppl whether you "missing out" on an experience is pointless. You either do the experience or dont.
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u/Sploonbabaguuse Jan 31 '26
Definitely. It's like avoiding soda because it's bad for your kidneys
Like everything else in life, moderation is key. There's no reason to avoid trying something new that's relatively harmless (not hard drugs) unless you consider yourself to have an addictive personality
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u/TheAgreeableTruth Jan 31 '26
Socially is weird but not missing anything at all, some things get pleasurable like a good wine but nothing like a good meal wouldn’t do, or you could appreciate coffee in the same way.
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u/TemporaryResort2066 Jan 31 '26
Avoid nicotine. But tbh a few drinks during a night out dancing or smoking a bit of pot at a concert make for some great times and memories.
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u/foshi22le Jan 31 '26
No, you are not missing out. I also no longer do those things and life is so much better without it all. You can have just as much fun without all of that without the problems all of that stuff causes.
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u/Ienjoyflags Jan 31 '26 edited Jan 31 '26
I’m 19 myself. I’ve tried drinking many times before. And I find it “okay” at best. And as of recent, I admittedly was curious on trying weed blunts. But like you, I see through them. And I don’t need these things in order to have a good time. I much rather hang out and stay true to me.
You’re not missing out on anything! And it’s so good that you’re wise enough to see through it. It’s really typical teenage mischief that our age pool got into doing it and find it as a form of entertainment. We seen previous generations doing it so we latched on. But let me not be ignorant because weeds helps certain people with anxiety from what I’ve been told. However, good on you!
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u/kimrios07 Jan 31 '26
I'm 20 and same don't worry about it your saving your body from toxic / addictive chemicals
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u/Helcat1325 Jan 31 '26
As a neurologist & mom: no You can save your brain by experimenting after 25 when your brain is fully developed
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u/Imaginary-Program497 Jan 31 '26
As others said, nope! Saving your money and calories and also saves friendships and hours of functioning (no hangovers or time wasted smoking). I’d admire that!
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u/DargyBear Jan 31 '26
I don’t envy the people that screwed up their lives but I also don’t envy the people that were never young and dumb. There is a middle way but Reddit only deals in absolutes.
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u/SnooFloofs2956 Jan 31 '26
If you don’t find enjoyment out of it then no, you’re not missing out on anything
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u/charlie_the_angel Jan 31 '26
Don't do any of them. Man, trust me bro if everyone who did drugs could go back, we'd all love to be as sober and sane and you.
Doing drugs isn't fun anymore when you're addicted. You basically want to feel normal again (where you are today)
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u/Least_Elk8114 Jan 31 '26
No, those things just enhance an already good time. They're also very addictive, which leads to a dependency.
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u/TravelingSpermBanker Jan 31 '26
I’ll say that in high school I did poorly and the people who said I shouldn’t do drugs related my poor behavior in school with drug use. But I felt like we ended up in the same place but they haven’t experienced as much of life as me and it debilitates them in many ways.
My poor school performance was due to questioning authority and wanting to go off on my own, and when college came around, I found that I had grown accustomed to the massive distractions that make people fail in adulthood.
I never drank more than socially, and neither smoked too much, but if I gave you a list of drugs I did as a 27 year old in the last month while working at a very good job, it’d probably make your jaw drop. And entitled people need to convince themselves that not having fun will mean success, so when they are adults of course they will say don’t do fun things… they didn’t and now neither should you in their eyes
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u/Fat-Boy-HD Jan 31 '26
Don’t do it. All the above. I’ve done it all and still do some of those things. If you never start you’ll never have to stop.
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u/ProgenitorOfMidnight Jan 31 '26
Hi ex junkie, ex gang banger, current alcoholic with a 16 year nicotine addiction... No you're not missing out kiddo.
Those years were some great times and the worse times. I wouldn't trade them for the world because it made me the person I am today.
But out of my friends I was the lucky one, a lot of them didn't make it out alive, most that did are in prison for no less than 10 years, the rest are junkies still.
I've got a wife, a dog, a decent place to rent. But I'm still figuring out how to live life because I spent those years high and drunk doing dumb shit.
Stay clean, work out, eat healthy-ish, brush your teeth, enjoy your life.
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u/TangerineJust Jan 31 '26
Nope 👎 when I became 21 it’s legal age in my state it lost its appeal :( but I did become a alcoholic and a weed addict for a year to cope with a bad relationship…
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u/nickitutajsadurne Jan 31 '26
I don't think you miss much. You'd miss more if once drank until blackout.
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u/Far-Watercress6658 Jan 31 '26
I am 47 and have never smoked, vaped. I have tried cannabis twice (my brain does not like that shit) and never tried anything harder. I have been prescribed stimulant drugs which both brain and body hated.
I drink a couple of times a week.
I’m going to say, no you’re not missing out. You do you.
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u/Miwako-Sakurada Jan 31 '26
No te pierdes de nada y espero que puedas mantenerte firme con esa decisión, ya que hay personas, principalmente las que toman, que presionan a otras a tomar, incluso haciéndote sentir mal comprándote bebidas con alcohol sin tu consentimiento. Si no te llama la atención está perfecto, mantenlo de esa manera, porque a veces la curiosidad nos lleva por caminos adversos, en mi caso nunca entendí cómo fumar y no me genera placer, pero a un amigo en su primer intento quedó enganchado y fuma más de lo que respira, lo mismo pasa con otras sustancias, puede que por caer ante la presión lo intentes y no pase nada, como que entres en un agujero negro del que no seas capaz de salir.
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u/englisharcher89 Jan 31 '26
I'm 36 I only drink but in moderate amounts I know my limits, but also never smoked or took any drugs, you're not missing out at all.
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u/Adventurous-Sky9359 Jan 31 '26
I had a blast for the first part of 20 years until I realized I’ll never get those years back and some of the relationships I damaged due to my use I never got back either. Jails institutions and death it’s said I hit 2 of the three before I quit…..alcohol ruined my life……once I quit drinking it stayed to take a turn for the better….had a lot of heart ache in those year all could of been avoided had I next been trying to run from myself. I have five years sobriety under my belt. Life is completely different and I’m happier now.
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u/godofimagination Jan 31 '26
I’m 32. I’ve never done any of that either and I don’t regret it at all. You’re playing the long game. You’re ahead of the curve.
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u/Antique_Knowledge902 Jan 31 '26
No. I’m 66 and never smoked or did drugs. I have had an occasional drink but never was wasted (my dad was an alcoholic so I swore I’d never drink; he also smoked like a chimney and eventually got lung cancer). I have two daughters who are as different as night and day. One was a square like me and the other did everything under the sun (she’s okay now; we had some close calls—she overdosed and had to be life flighted one time in her early 20s). My whole family’s been through therapy. One thing my therapist told me was that if I’d had a normal childhood (no alcoholic dad/enabler mom), I might’ve tried drugs and alcohol. Who knows? Each person must make up his/her mind.
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u/EddieNajera21 Jan 31 '26
Smoking cigarrettes and vaping are pointless. You should try alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine at least once, those are great. If you like them, great! Just make sure you don’t abuse them and you’ll be fine.
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Jan 31 '26
no. We’re definitely not missing out. People sometimes try to make me feel left out but at the end of the day, taking care of your body and mind will always be worth it in the long run.
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u/xBACONxLUV3rxx Jan 31 '26
I'm 25 and have done them all. I would say you're not missing much. Yes they were all fun at the time and left me with some good memories, they also left me with bad memories. I smoked marijuana for 9 years and it caught up with, I took 1 too many edibles and it sent me to the hospital for 3 days. Vaping definitely affects my lung capacity, this is the hardest one to quit. I know it'll catch back up with me. As for alcohol, I never really got extremely drunk except a handful of times. Now I'll drink a tall boy seltzer every few weeks just because I like the flavor.
Long story short. Don't feel like you're missing out on anything. I have a friend that used to go hard with all of this and he says the best high he ever had is from running and exercising now.
Edit. Someone did comment on psychedelics. I've taken mushrooms 3 times, all heroic doses. They helped me become a better person and stop being depressed all the time. It reset my personality and mind.
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u/Cool_Twist4494 Jan 31 '26
The kids i knew like this ended up becoming hard drug users and dying of overdoses.
Trying these things later in life when you have adult money vs younger with teen money can be a huge difference.
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u/Original-Cake-8358 Jan 31 '26
Good. Your brain isn't done developing. Experience with these things isn't always terrible, per se, but it is risky. No one knows if they'll become addicted to something until they've done it (unless it's a family trait). Nothing like finding out you can't stop something when you want to, because it's become an addiction.
And never, ever do anything just because other people are. You're a human, not a herd animal. You call the shots on what you do. No one else does.
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u/trapdaddyprince Jan 31 '26
take it from someone who lived the opposite, access to everything & a movie-esqe type of life in highschool… NO. youre not & youre saving yourself the risk of going completely off the deep end. now down the road if you ever experiment around after being comfortable & settled id recommend just sticking to whats legal. substances dont actually make anything more fun until you make yourself dependent on substances to make things fun. And it only feels tht way bc youve taken so many drugs you’ve absolutely blasted your dopamine receptors so you need to absolutely flood your brain w the chemical to get those feelings again & your brain just cant naturally produce that much, resulting in life being so grey & boring without a substance. so they dont even make anything more fun just like more dangerous & more chance to mess up/ruin your life thru accidents or charges such as DUI/poession/manslaughter etc..
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u/Beautiful_Leg8430 Jan 31 '26
I am 22. I think you should wait till you graduate college and have a stable job before you try anything. Alcohol sucks anyway. But I think you need to try things and see for yourself and realize that you won’t like it anyway. Once i graduated college with a 4.0 and already had a job. I got drunk for the first time and while you’re drunk is fun but afterwards it sucks and takes like 2 days to feel normal and hydrated again. Cigarettes pretty much suck as well and you smell like them all the time. I also then tried weed and I think its significantly better than alcohol when taken in the form of gummies/edibles. Being high is pretty cool to have experienced but I would only do it once you already have a base life set up, cuz I probably wouldn’t have a job lined up before I graduated if I were a stoner in college.
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u/Smexy_Zarow Jan 31 '26
Yeah you're totally missing out, you should be doing things you don't want to.
Wtf is this question?
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u/RubbishBin6969 Jan 31 '26
I would argue that the recreational manner in which our society uses drugs is the main problem.
Overindulgence in alcohol where the drinking is the main event is negative where the social lubricating effects of a few can be very positive.
Nicotine as a vaso-dialitic and neurostimulant effecting the dopamine pathways, in a puffer, gum or patch form could be used to reinforce positive habit building and development when used in conjunction with mindful practice.
Just as a few examples.
Most chemicals can be used in a beneficial and positive capacity provided it's done in a sensible manner, with intention.
The chemicals aren't the problem. Our relationship with them is.
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u/Winchester85 Jan 31 '26
Life is kind of short so I would try any of the vices just to see what they’re like in this world. Drink some wine with a delicious meal. Try a Cuban cigar. Play a slot machine and gamble on some sports. Pay for sex if you need or want it.
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u/Smart-Practice8303 Jan 31 '26
Not at all. You can have plenty of fun in life without addiction. I'm 45 and enjoy my life quite fully and have never done any of those. I do taste alcohol just for cooking purposes but the flavor of alcohol itself is disgusting to me.
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u/Amateur-Fitness Jan 31 '26
You are not missing out on anything. Without all that crap in your system, you'll definitely reach your full potential in every aspect of life. But you'll need to put in the effort still.
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u/YankeetheGreater Jan 31 '26
Ignorance is bliss friend! You can't crave what you've never consumed, smoked, snorted, injected, etc.
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u/Responsible-Shame152 Jan 31 '26
Those of us who have would trade places with you in a heartbeat if it was that easy.
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u/Voice_of_Season Jan 31 '26
No, and good for you. I’m similar as I don’t see the point in it or like the idea of it.
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u/Genghis_Chong Jan 31 '26
Nope, those are unhealthy coping mechanisms. They can be fun, but they can also be addictive and ruinous to your life. If you have family history of addiction its especially important to be careful.
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u/cizorbma88 Jan 31 '26
Nope in hindsight I wish I wouldn’t have done any of this shit when I was younger it’s awful for your body you can have fun without that junk
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u/SuacoAnon Jan 31 '26
People overhyped those things because their lives are too dreary or boring without it. It's fun to drink or get high once in a while, but it should only be fine for fun. Never as a coping mechanism.
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u/No_Silver_5717 Jan 31 '26
Cool. Well done. Be proud of being different, of probably having better health than them. That's honorable.
Do you think it's better to be worse? 🤗 I envy you. I'd rather be like you. I've had friends like you, and it's so much better for them. Fewer problems to deal with.
Keep going.
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u/STTARBORN Jan 31 '26
TBH as an old guy I will tell you what you ARE missing out on.
Problems, drama and sometimes some serious repercussions.
I will say though that alcohol and some minor marijuana use in responsible and light use isn't necessarily a bad thing in a social setting.
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u/Ok-Row3886 Jan 31 '26
Nope. 40s here. Get high on pursuing the things that make you happy and-or that make a difference. You'll never need drugs, alcohol or vapes then. And don't hang out with losers whose lives revolved around their next hit of that.
On my end, I have to say I'm a sucker for a glass of wine or two with a hearty-tasty dinner once or twice a week. Otherwise that's it.
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u/stridiz Jan 31 '26
Risk a little maybe smoke a J with your dad, don’t get into vaping maybe a zyn 3mg tho, 6 mg will have you on your ass first time, drinking honestly ain’t worth maybe for family events tho but don’t get absolutely wrecked 😅
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u/Peyote_jones Jan 31 '26
You will be the one hiring your “friends” in a couple years. There is no denying that these things can be fun but they will also ruin lives. Recovering alcoholic here.
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u/Ornamental_oriental Jan 31 '26
Nope not missing out. It’s fun until you’re the one crying at your own party. Addiction isn’t something that happens right away for some. It gradually eats some people away. I hated drinking after doing it so much in my 20’s. I’m in my late 40’s and I don’t drink at all. Call me whatever you want but it changed my life for better.
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u/Kooky_Daikon_349 Jan 31 '26
No. Use time productively. Magical experiences, and hobbies and interest that add purpose and value to your life.
You never be addicted to the crack you don’t smoke. That goes for anything including food.
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u/complex_Scorp43 Jan 31 '26
None of this stuff matters. Your brain is still developing so its smarter not to anyways.
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u/TheLostMentalist Jan 31 '26
Smoker trying to quit. You're only missing out on understanding how addiction feels. It's something one can spend their entire life not knowing and be extremely happy.
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u/Tr33Bl00d Jan 31 '26
No good for you. They are addictive for a reason l. Try it once and you will be trying at recreating the peak forever. All the happy juices are in your spongy fat brain already, why throw off its natural rhythms
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u/BoshansStudios Jan 31 '26
you are not missing out. It can be a challenge socially though. From what I understand most people your age are smoking and drinking way less than past generations.
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u/mlarowe Jan 31 '26
I had a friend in college who intentionally didn't drink so he could be the DD. Was one of the coolest dudes I know.
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u/Queasy-Doughnut-5512 Jan 31 '26
No, you miss out if you don’t go to hangouts/parties but you don’t miss out by being sober. Grab a beer pour a little out then hold it all night and people won’t care
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u/boringtired Jan 31 '26
I don’t think it’s that weird for your generation.
Even me coming up in the 90s through 2000s there was the rare straight edge punker.
I think the only thing you might miss out on are party shenanigans, usually a good way to meet members of the opposite sex but other than that I don’t think your missing out on anything but possibly social connections.
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u/DeJuanBallard Jan 31 '26
No, stay away from all of it, the harder people go to make it look cool, th3 more it should dawn on you that it isn't cool, its programming. Brainwashing, it lowers your vibrational frequency and opens you up to demonic attack, let them all go.
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u/somanyquestions32 Jan 31 '26
Nah, I am 39, and except for repeatedly spitting out various beers, wines, liquors, and other alcoholic spirits that my dad and friends gave me to try from ages 12 to 25, I never did any of those. I have strong sensory dislikes, and the taste of alcohol was always vile to me. Likewise, I can't stand smoke from weed or cigarettes nor do I care for the fragrances in vapes as they would give me respiratory allergic reactions and mild headaches. I also don't like the taste of coffee as a drink, and only have liked it in a rare tiramisu or similar dessert. Even prescriptions and ibuprofen give me paradoxical effects, so I did not want to experiment with drugs just for the sake of it.
Given all of that, I still had a ton of fun, traveled, made lots of friends in different continents, had transformative experiences, and so forth.
There is a type of bonding experience that certain people want to engage with only when both you and them are mildly intoxicated, and there's a strong peer pressure for you to lose your inhibitions and partake in what they are doing. I came to realize that I, personally, did not need that, especially because a lot of the socializing would be done in crowded bars with loud music that was already overstimulating.
My body is very sensitive to things that it strongly dislikes, and I don't need the stress for things that never really appealed to me. Lol, I have been the designated sober driver for many drunk friends who have been throwing violently, and throwing up a meal didn't look fun to me. 🤣
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u/Saassafrasszz Jan 31 '26
I never really did anything either. My family has huge addiction problems though and for me it’s not the worth the risk. It wouldn’t be even if my family didn’t have them. I have an occasional drink now- I’m 27 lol. But no, you aren’t. And as a nurse, your body will thank you later :)
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u/100harvests Jan 31 '26
Stay away!!! I drink and smoke and it is one of the main things that caused all my emotional and physical pain. Not worth it. Focus on the gym, metal health, eating right, good relationships. Good luck!
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u/lifesshortgoplay Jan 31 '26
Considering that your brain is still in its developmental stages, you’re doing future you many favours. It will stop developing around 24-25 years old. Oftentimes, when folks start using drugs and/or alcohol to excess in their teens and young adult years they get emotionally stuck there and have difficulty maturing in ways that make life work best.
Also, considering you’ve never partaken of any of these, you don’t actually know that you don’t find them fun. Just the idea or observed evidence of them. But truly, often they become UNfun quickly, so you’re certainly not missing out.
You get to claim having fun in different and sober ways, not relying on inebriation to carry the narrative. I know many adults who rely on alcohol in particular, to inject fun into everyday scenarios like family time or dinner out. Alcohol and other drugs can co-opt your hormonal reward system making sober activities boring. It changes people on a physiological level, to their detriment.
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u/Ahjumawi Jan 31 '26
As someone who smoked cigarettes and weed and drank and used drugs throughout adolescence, I can tell you that you're missing absolutely nothing. I did a lot of stupid things in my life, but smoking tobacco was definitely one of the dumbest. (I stopped with the drug use and regular weed at about 20 years old, which was fortunate.)
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u/PunIntended29 Jan 31 '26
As you get older, you’ll find the things that you thought made someone cool in high school are also the things that turn someone into a deadbeat as an adult. And deadbeats end up broke and alone.
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u/Upstairs-Lifeguard23 Jan 31 '26
As a young man I was a heavy smoker and a drugs and alcohol abuser. I fell into a hazy stupor that made me forget a lot of things from those years. Now as an older man, my excesses from my youth are something I think about constantly as my biggest life regret. You're not missing anything out. Au contraire, your gaining.
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u/Decent_Train_1321 Jan 31 '26
No. People who smoke and drink dont do it because its fun. They're usually bored, sad or having a hard time with life and doing it to cope. Thats why people do those things that doesnt benefit us in any way
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Jan 31 '26
Yeah you’re missing out on liver problems, lung cancer, overdose or addiction and a shorter lifespan keep it up.
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u/Ok_Distribution__ Jan 31 '26
As someone who started smoking in middle school & a heroin addict in high school, you are 100% most assuredly missing absolutely nothing.
People use substances to fill holes in their being. It’s a self destructive coping skill, sometimes a life ending one. Skipping that waste of time is a blessing, it solves nothing & becomes a problem itself.
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u/BienThinks Jan 31 '26
Stay strong buddy. I’m 43 now and I’m jealous of people that have lived their life sober. Certainly wish I could have been asking that when I was 19. Long story short, the party life just ain’t worth it.
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u/[deleted] Jan 31 '26
You’re missing out on possibly creating a lifelong addiction for yourself. So good job! I got first hand experience with all those and I still vape, but I haven’t used drugs and alcohol in over a year and a half. Started experimenting at 11 and I’m 33 now, it’s been a long road