In my sophomore year of college, I attended an unofficial party for newly accepted members of the entrepreneurship program hosted by an upperclassman. I tried a new drink that night, an appletini. Three of them. Then, I tried to drive home.
I woke up in jail. I tried to drive on the wrong side of the highway.
So stupid. So avoidable. Such a dumb risk that could have ruined my life or someone else’s.
At that point, I cut my alcohol consumption to almost zero.
In the 20 years since, I’ve been pressured, criticized, and made fun of for not drinking more or not getting drunk. “Matt, I’ve never seen you drunk”, some friends said. Good, that’s my goal.
In high school and early college, I almost killed myself — or someone else — dozens of times drinking and driving.
With social media and smart phones, kids these days have it hard. But, at least they have Uber. A 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed a 23.8% reduction in motor vehicle traumas in Houston, Texas (my hometown) following the introduction of Uber in February of 2014.
The Risk Isn’t Worth It
When you drink too much or do drugs, you take risks that aren’t worth it.
People take drugs and drink because they want out-of-body or out-of-mind experiences. They want to escape normal day-to-day life. They’re frustrated, sad, overwhelmed, lonely, stressed, confused.
I get it. Sometimes life feels like too much and you just want a temporary release from reality.
However, the risk you take by consuming substances to change your mental state isn’t worth it. You lose your decision-making ability. You might drive drunk, take a physical risk like jumping off a cliff, fight someone, or have sex you’ll regret or not remember.
In junior high, my friend Mark was the nicest, most fun guy to hang out with. Despite being only 14 years old and eating the most unhealthy lunch imaginable, Mark was built like a NFL defensive back. He could jump higher and lift more than anyone his age in our school. During his freshman year of high school, Mark took Xanax and had a few drinks. He started running around in the street and got arrested. Handcuffed, Mark kicked out a police car window and ran into the highway. An 18-wheeler hit him. Mark died within minutes.
The risk isn’t worth it.
Better Alternatives
You can have mind-altering, out-of-body fun without substances. The best part: no hangover.
Try these:
- Meditate
- Practice breath work (look up Wim Hof breathing, for example, on YouTube)
- Exercise (lift weights, run, swim, bike ride)
- Dance with friends
- Play a sport, ideally with friends
- Get in nature (walk, climb a mountain, white water raft, ski, snowboard)
- Take a class (I get fully absorbed and recharged taking classes that channel my inner Jason Bourne such as tactical shooting, evasive driving, and helicopter pilot training)
Use the following schedule as a minimal effective dose:
- Daily: One activity for one hour per day
- Weekly: One longer, two to three-hour activity per week
- Yearly: One multi-day trip, class, or adventure every 6-12 months
While engaged in the activity, leave your phone behind.
“Plant Medicine” is Still Drugs
At every business event I attend today, I hear at least one conversation about “plant medicine”. A lot of business people, especially online entrepreneurs, smoke weed, do ayahuasca, take psychedelic mushrooms, and consume other drugs as forms of “plant medicine”, claiming doing those drugs improves their lives.
Some traumatized people, such as those with sever PTSD, might benefit from psychedelic interventions under the care of a medical professional.
Most people, however, just like doing drugs. It’s more acceptable to say “I did a plant medicine retreat” than to say “I’m a 40-year old who just spent three days out of my mind doing drugs”.
Some of those I know who have done drugs supposedly for self-improvement say it worked. However, when I look at their external circumstances such as the quality of their relationships, business success, and overall happiness, I’m not convinced. Most of their lives got worse. I think most do drugs for the same reason people have always done drugs: for fun or to escape life’s problems.
Maybe I’m wrong.
Either way, to me, doing drugs and drinking alcohol excessively isn’t worth the risk. There are too many ways to alter and temporarily escape life’s worries without risky external substances that can damage my life, body, and mind.