Have I been indoctrinated?

Also, don't worry too much Ronan, you're still a student. It's natural. :)

With alcohol, certainly -- not in the same way that heroin and other opiates function, but yes. Cf. the DTs (delirium tremens), among other things.

As for stoned/whatever else: Marijuana: I don't think so. LSD: no. Cocaine/crack: yes. Crank: yes. PCP: not sure. Barbituates: yes. Speed: yes. E: I don't think so. Heroin and its relatives: of course. GHB: don't know. Mushrooms: no. Ketamine: don't know.

does alcohol have long term depression effects?

Yes, it can certainly contribute to depression and other mood disorders, especially when repeatedly consumed to excess. Not to mention the brain damage that can result from moderate to severe intoxication.

I hear and understand you. I think you need to ask yourself a few questions. Like "Is my partying interfering with my life/school/job?" "Is it damaging my physical or emotional health" "Do I value getting high above all else" I don't really want to be explicit about what kinds of things I do and have done, but I party a lot and have had to face some unpleasantness as a result; but I'm still doing it. I have an occaisonal Monday where I'm pretty bleary, but over the last few years I've managed to know just how much is too much. Yeah I wonder if I'm becoming dependant in a way; but I'm also having fun. I'm in no way saying "yeah man keep drinking and getting high! party on!", but I can't advise against it either because I think if you know what you're doing it isn't so bad. Yes, yes I know, how many junkies, how many people who ended up dead thought they knew what they were doing. Am I superior to them? No, maybe I have a better sense of balance, who knows.

If you'd rather be in bed than awake and sober, you may have some serious issues, and yes, if you're drunk or high all the time, coming down IS depressing. I know that if I do too much for too long a time, I'm gonna want to throw myself out a window I'll be so depressed. But it took me a while to find out just how much. And like I'm never gonna f*ck up again, right?

Ronan, you may just be upset for a moment, I don't know you and don't know. Try going for a couple weeks not doing any drink or drugs and see how you feel. Get a little exercise (this one may be hard, I know it is for me). Eat some healthy food. Do you feel better? Maybe you need to evaluate how much partying you're doing. But if you still want to stay in bed all day, maybe you should talk to someone professionally.

Good luck, in any case.

Sadly.