I think I'd rather mine used drugs socially (and infrequently) and had a social life....

Both of these answers are overly simplistic however.

You can have a social life while having a "digital addiction", with fewer risks to your health than a drug addiction, social or not.

I'm not sure you can, and there are health risks from digital addiction too.

My point was that the original statement was overly broad and simplistic.

Unless “social life” just means “physical proximity to other people” for you, social interactions over the internet while having a “digital addiction” can be more meaningful than social interactions with fellow drug addicts.

> Unless “social life” just means “physical proximity to other people” for you

It would certainly be part of it, interacting IRL, yes.

> can be more meaningful than social interactions with fellow drug addicts.

Can be, sure, but aren't necessarily, and people with digital addictions can become very isolated and have health problems from inactivity.

I'm not trying to say drug addiction is a good thing, but that the initial comment was silly. Not all drug use is problematic, and digital addiction can have a real impact.

Surely this depends on the drug?

Indeed, and how often/under what circumstances.

Gaming can be perfectly a healthy hobby as well, when not done to the exclusion of all else.