Everything 'steals time'... watching TV, reading books, listening to music, working a job, etc.
> Life is the best teacher and recreational drugs are how you forfeit that precious, amazing, education.
Not at all. It really depends on which drugs, how you use them, etc.
> You don't have to go far to see this in action. Think of someone who is a habitual drug user and ask yourself 'are they emotionally mature?'. They aren't. They are taking an escape. Recreational drugs are antithetical to emotional growth.
I've met plenty of people who regularly use recreational drugs and who seemed wise, calm and content.
> I wasted 20 years of my life 'partying' even on a casual basis.
Cannabis is not really a party drug.
There are vast differences between various 'recreational drugs'. It's how you use them that matters.