Can I drink alcohol or use recreational drugs when I have depression?

No, its not a good idea. it could lead to more depressing thoughts.

Legally you can do anything you want (Assuming you are of age in your country) in practice NO!. Both drinking and drugs have a temporary boost followed by a down, essentially what you would be doing is feeling good for a short period and paying for it by feeling worse later.

I strongly recommend not to, especially when you are on medication for your depression. Alcohol and recreational drugs may interact with your prescription drugs in unexpected ways. Although I understand you are seeking for ways to seek temporary relief of your feelings of depression, I would suggest finding other ways to do so, especially alcohol and drug use often cause an emotional backlash a couple of days later. If you should use alcohol or recreational drugs do so in a social context and not alone by yourself. Perhaps you can discuss with a friend to keep an eye on you.

It’s not the best solution to depression. If you start on these substances they may become addictive and cause your depression to deepen, and the harder it will be to recover from them, making it difficult for you to become happy or have joy. Maybe try being in an environment or place that’s brings you peace and hope for you. Ax

Mixing any kind of drugs with depression is dangerous. When we are depressed, we look for ways to escape reality. "Anything is better than feeling nothing, right?" The problem with this is you begin to crave it more and more. Its a way to avoid your isuess.

For alcohol It's strongly advised not to, as alcohol has hypotonic and sedative proprieties that will exacerbate the symptoms of your depression. For other drugs: Drugs can have a wide variety of effects on your body and mind. If you are being treated for your depression by pharmaceutical drugs, then anything recreational is a no-no since they may alter, negate and even reverse the effects of your treatment. See your doctor for more information about the interaction between your condition and recreational drugs.

Alcohol is a depressant, so you may feel worse afterwards. And I cant say recreational drugs are the answer either. Someone once said to me "if you want to get rid of a problem, get yourself another one" Meaning that the depression may be masked by the addiction.

It is better not to drink alcohol or use recreational drugs, in some people's opinion as it can be harmful.

No because that may make you tempted to do harm to yourself rather than good. It could lead to overdose or alcohol poisoning which both are very dangerous.

If the answer had to be simple, which it never is in Mental Health, it would be no. Alcohol is a depressant to your Central Nervous System in its own, so it's only good for avoiding your problems or causing more long term medical/mental health issues. As for recreational drugs, most happen to be illegal in most areas of the world as to the ones most refer to, and it goes beyond alcohol. Going down the general list. Marijuana for example, if you get one bad high, you can go into a permanent psychotic state. And usage of bath salts will lead to schizophrenia typically. Methamphetamine is also a way to get many psychotic symptoms, and good way to get psychosis. So in general, should you do any of these ever at all? Probably not, and given that they all are usually highly detrimental towards anyone's mental health. You'd be best off avoiding these all together. Psychiatrists are specifically trained in finding proper psychotropic medications that are capable of more clinically managing symptoms, and remember. There's no such thing as a Magic Pill or Drug in Mental Health.