Especially among contemporary youths, many individuals struggle to relate to peers. The stress of socializing can be a major reason why individuals turn to intoxicants as a means of curbing social anxiety.
Alcohol, sometimes called the “social lubricant,” has been used this way since wine was first produced in the late Neolithic Period (circa 10,000 B.C.). It is now commonplace for groups of friends to plan social gatherings around the presence of alcohol, such as meeting for happy hour at a favorite bar. Being under the influence of alcohol makes peer interaction much easier; people feel more confident, are quicker to crack jokes and speak up, feel less self-conscious, and worry less about rejection.
There is a downside to being so socially uninhibited. People who are intoxicated can become loud and obnoxious, offensive, and are sometimes difficult to handle.
Similarly, marijuana has the effect of relaxing and mellowing users in a social setting, but at the risk of increased paranoia, pronounced lethargy, and the tendency to get lost in one’s own thoughts.