Various bike types are optimized for various activities, but you can use any bike for anything. So if you really want/need a road bike, yes, you will be able to go off road on it. I go off road on my road bikes. I ride very narrow tires at high pressure. It's fine.

How old are you? The older you get, the less you'll like drop handlebars. I'm 48 years old and am about to give up on them. It's been a fun 34 years of riding them.