How is your relationship with drugs and alcohol?

[Flashpoint]

Red wine is the glue holding the good ship Covid together at this point.

Looking forward to hockey returning, so I can start hammering beers with regularity again.

(win or lose)

[MRCboicgy]

I'll tell you what's increased for me - Pop.
I never used to keep any pop in the house, and since the pandemic hit, I'm having 4-5 Coke Zero or diet Dr. Pepper a week. I can't handle the fructose in the non-diet versions, which is weird because I hated the aspartame pop beforehand. Sweet things are a drug!

[8sPOT]

What an interesting thread. Huh.

I'm a beer drinker, but also a social drinker. So I've actually drank significantly less during the pandemic. At first I was going on House Party and getting wasted with the boys, but that only last a week or two.

My weed intake is about the same. At first, I would smoke during the day while working but that proved to be very unproductive as Netflix, DIY house projects, Xbox, doing anything BUT work seems a lot more fun while high. So now its the odd beer when watching what little sports there are, and evening marijuana usage. Typically a couple bong rips (big bong full of ice is a game changer for those who don't like to smoke).

As I've gotten older, I have drank less and less. The hangovers, dehydration, etc all just get worse. A night of drinking is a guaranteed wasted day the next day and that just bothers me. Where as with weed, both the benefit and any downfalls are the same as when I was 20 years younger.

One thing that I've discovered during the pandemic is Psilocybin mushroom edibles. While not legal, I believe its only a matter of time. But I've always thought Mushrooms were the best drug out there. All the hard stuff is both brutal and lame in my opinion. Anyways, for $40 you can get a mushroom chocolate bar with 6 doses. For me 2 doses is the way to go, and that lasts about 3-4 hours. Really enjoyable if in the right mood and situation.

[Ducay]

I'm honestly shocked at the % of respondents who don't drink or drink very very little. For a hockey forum I would have thought regular beer drinkers would the rule, not the exception. TIL

[The Big Chill]

I usually have one beer Friday evening, and one Saturday. That turns into two or three in a social setting, so I’m not drinking much lately with the lack of social gatherings.

I drank more in my early 20s, but I rarely get drunk anymore. I don’t like the feeling of being too drunk to be responsible for my daughter, and I hate hangovers.

[Matata]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I'm honestly shocked at the % of respondents who don't drink or drink very very little. For a hockey forum I would have thought regular beer drinkers would the rule, not the exception. TIL

It's still an internet message board.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I'm honestly shocked at the % of respondents who don't drink or drink very very little. For a hockey forum I would have thought regular beer drinkers would the rule, not the exception. TIL

meh. still might be the rule.
They probably don't want to be judged and are not posting here. This seems to be a thread for people who don't drink and mostly quit drinking.

the beer drinkers and people who like drinking will later be posting in the game threads.
for me, It's party that I don't much want to share my drug & alcohol habits with near strangers in a public forum, no matter which way my usage leans.

[MacDaddy77]

I drink a few drinks every night unless I'm camping or out with friends (not lately)then its a few drinks every hour . nothing major and it's typically beer. My wife and I like to relax and have a couple drinks in the evening and relax with each other.

I also take CBD tincture in the morning and one 10mg THC gummy + Ibuprofen right before going to sleep. I have shoulder Bursitis in both shoulders and I've found that this allows me to sleep and helps with the inflammation.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

I also take CBD tincture in the morning and one 10mg THC gummy + Ibuprofen right before going to sleep.

Does it take about 2 hours to feel it?

[MacDaddy77]

^ that's why I take it before bed. I usually go to sleep around 11 so I've been taking the gummy around 10pm and it works while I'm sleeping. It's not about "feeling it" as much as the relaxation and anti inflammatory properties over night.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Nyah

I've always been a drinker. Before the pandemic I would have a couple glasses of wine a night, more on the weekends. I've gotten to the point where I feel I will need to reach out for help once this is all over to get it under control or stop altogether. I wake up hungover more mornings than not (on the nights I sleep at all), and while I'm totally fine up until 4 pm or so, I think about it non-stop after that and typically give in and have a drink. So unfortunately I have developed a really unhealthy relationship with alcohol. And even though I know it makes me feel like garbage, fuels my insomnia, it's expensive and incredibly unhealthy in the quantities I drink it, giving it up scares the hell out of me

I haven't used this particular book but I am a big fan of Allen Carr's methods to help people quit addictions of all kinds. I often credit his stop smoking book as the biggest reason I was able to quit so many years ago.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

What an interesting thread. Huh.

I'm a beer drinker, but also a social drinker. So I've actually drank significantly less during the pandemic. At first I was going on House Party and getting wasted with the boys, but that only last a week or two.

My weed intake is about the same. At first, I would smoke during the day while working but that proved to be very unproductive as Netflix, DIY house projects, Xbox, doing anything BUT work seems a lot more fun while high. So now its the odd beer when watching what little sports there are, and evening marijuana usage. Typically a couple bong rips (big bong full of ice is a game changer for those who don't like to smoke).

As I've gotten older, I have drank less and less. The hangovers, dehydration, etc all just get worse. A night of drinking is a guaranteed wasted day the next day and that just bothers me. Where as with weed, both the benefit and any downfalls are the same as when I was 20 years younger.

One thing that I've discovered during the pandemic is Psilocybin mushroom edibles. While not legal, I believe its only a matter of time. But I've always thought Mushrooms were the best drug out there. All the hard stuff is both brutal and lame in my opinion. Anyways, for $40 you can get a mushroom chocolate bar with 6 doses. For me 2 doses is the way to go, and that lasts about 3-4 hours. Really enjoyable if in the right mood and situation.

I believe that one day Psilocybin will be widely used and available. It is being tested in micro doses as an aid in helping people kick all kinds of habits. Not to mention it can be a lot of fun in slightly larger doses.

[Kiran403]

I was a pretty regular drinker in my 20's but my consumption decreased in my 30's, especially after I had kids. I couldn't deal with a hangover while trying to parent so I really pick my spots to get drunk. Even having 3-4 drinks in a night will leave me feeling a bit off the next day. Nowadays, if I get drunk 5 times in a year, that was a big year consumption-wise.
Most of my drinking now is done socially and with Covid, that has pretty much stopped. I usually keep beer in the fridge during the summertime and will drink that by myself as I love it after yardwork or while BBQing. My wife doesn't really drink and when she does, it's usually wine which is not my thing.
I am a pretty heavy weed smoker and have smoked daily for almost 20 years. Usually it's in the evening but on the weekends I'll have a buzz on for most of the day. I found with Covid that my daytime consumption has gone up simply because of boredom. I've also been eating edibles more often now that regulated dosages actually exist.
I did mushrooms over the summer for the first time in 15 years and it was fantastic. I will definitely do some again if I can get my hands on them.

[guzzy]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I believe that one day Psilocybin will be widely used and available. It is being tested in micro doses as an aid in helping people kick all kinds of habits. Not to mention it can be a lot of fun in slightly larger doses.

If anyone is looking for a truly educational experience regarding psilocybin and mushrooms in general, there are two great episodes of Joe Rogan Experience with Jeff Stammetts as the guest.

The first episode he talks largely of the global benefit of all mushrooms. The second episode is largely talking about psilocybin studies at major universities and treatment of addiction, depression, PTSD etc. The Canadian government is currently spending a ton of money in researching psilocybin benefits.

[Matata]

I think having a psychedelic experience every few years is really healthy. I think you need to have a lot of life experience between trips to really get something out of it.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by guzzy

If anyone is looking for a truly educational experience regarding psilocybin and mushrooms in general, there are two great episodes of Joe Rogan Experience with Jeff Stammetts as the guest.

The first episode he talks largely of the global benefit of all mushrooms. The second episode is largely talking about psilocybin studies at major universities and treatment of addiction, depression, PTSD etc. The Canadian government is currently spending a ton of money in researching psilocybin benefits.

I read this book, which was interesting, though a bit too anecdotal and spiritual at times.

[Esoteric]

I'm been drinking more than normal in the pandemic. At the start of the pandemic, it was a way to signal the end of the work day - I'd have a couple beers every night. We started having online social gatherings too (game nights, video calls), in which I'd drink pretty heavily (4-6 tall boys). I'd then have leftover beers in the fridge from a Friday, and those would be drunk over the next weekend. Rinse repeat every week, and it's anywhere from $40-$100 per week in craft beer. I've started to cut back though - kept it pretty junior high on my last games night and just drank some pop. I've actually started getting bored with the aspect of drinking heavily lately, but still enjoy craft beers and the unique tastes that they have. I'm going to be cutting it out completely in 2021 (need to lose some weight, and cutting carbs is my easiest way to do so).

Weed is more or less used a sleep aid (couple times a month), but I might give some more edibles and drinks a shot. Seems to be a more healthy alternative to alcohol.

[Scoopdogg]

My at home drinking has increased since the pandemic, but I feel my overall alcohol intake hasn't increased, it's just spread out more.

Pre-pandemic I would go to the pub once a week and drink ~8 pints as well as smoke weed. Now I have 1-2 beers a night in the hot tub to relax. I do drink maybe 4 beers on Friday and Saturday, but no where near getting drunk.

I'll usually have a couple pulls from my vape on friday and satudays as well, I don't smoke flower weed since the pandemic. I like the vapes as it's easier on the lungs and low key.

I'd like to only consume on weekends, so I'll be working on that and the big thing is to not always grab a beer when I head to the hot tub, I need to replace that habit with water or pop.

[brocoli]

So through COVID I have actually tracked my drinking. I did one sober month, and did some rounds of golf without any alcohol as well. My average now from March to today is 1 drink per week. With less social engagements and living alone I have not found the need or the desire to drink

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

Red wine is the glue holding the good ship Covid together at this point.

Looking forward to hockey returning, so I can start hammering beers with regularity again.

(win or lose)

Hahaha! Preach brother!

Lockdowns without Red Wine? I think my wife may have murdered me by this point and they'd never find my body.