PJ, your comments on the need to pay money in order to get high is the main reason I don't smoke reguaulry myself. It's just to expensive. And yes, pot helps people escape. Nothing wrong with that, as long as it isn't all the time.

Some people feel socially pushed to indulge in those activities. I know for myself that I felt a strong urge to drink myself silly because ALL people talked about after weekends was how drunk they got, and how cool it was. Even if you are intellectually superior to these people, which I feel I was, they're going to have an influence on you.
Mabye, but its the persons choice. I probably wouldn't have tried pot if my friends didn't smoke, but they didn't force me. Peer pressure is a too often used excuse, and I find it BS.