“Uppers”? I thought the leading theories were MDMA and Ketamine (and recovering from neck surgery), neither of which are best-described by the word “uppers”, nor is that behavior an effect that “uppers” generally have (e.g. cocaine, (meth)amphetamines).
I don’t think it has empathy-promoting properties when abused heavily and chronically. As I recall, the empathy-promotion is highly dose-dependent to begin with, and can even reverse due to extended misuse.
I think the more important point is that most people were not born yesterday. Some very rich people are either mentally ill, or on drugs, or both. Or enough drug abuse (off camera) caused long term ego/brain changes.
You can barely tell a poor person to change their life, imagine the discussion with a multi billionaire. There's no discussion.
That’s not how chemicals work. It’s not “methylenedioxy” mixed with methamphetamine, it’s an entirely distinct molecule. MDMA is an enpathogen, an aspect which contradicts OP’s key point.
Some might say he was just stretching his neck, but personally I love an electronic music gigs, and I've seen that behaviour enough times before. He's not quiet about his ketamine usage either (not an upper per-se, but close to an alcohol-like hallucinogenic from my experience).
