Sometime in the course of human existence someone determined that altering the human experience was preferential or added to the fun, took away from the pain, or just plain made things better. Originally, these drugs came au natural, but by circumstance, dumb luck, or genius, people began to reenvision the process of chemical alteration. This isn’t a bad thing always. In fact, in may ways it’s a wonderful thing, as diseases have disappeared or can be controlled, psychotic episodes can be alleviated, people can often generally live better lives. No one is finding fault with Alexander Fleming and his discovery of penicillin or the development of literally thousands of other drugs that help and heal. Hell, heroine and cocaine were originally used for legitimate medical purpose.
But, there’s always a dark side with the light. It’s the yin and yang nature of the world. And drugs can be horrible, though the arguments made by users can be really convincing in favor of altered states. “Natural drugs are good for you and don’t harm your body.” “It’s not hurting anyone but the person who is using.” “Why can’t I do what makes me happy and free?” “I’d rather use drugs than do anything else.” “My life is hard, and it’s better when I’m using.” To their point, if you’ve never experienced drug use your platform is a little slippery. But experiencing drugs doesn’t mean you’ve used them or abused them and that’s where this argument fails. Experience is a polyhedron. Using isn’t the only drug experience one can have. You can be the buyer, the seller, the politician, the mother, the father, the sister, the teacher, the best friend, the girlfriend, the victim and so on.
The control of drugs (or lack thereof) has become an integral part of the discourse in the United States. Big drug companies are heavy-handed donaters in the political arena and their choices drive political decision-making, especially healthcare lobbying. Don’t think for a second they don’t. Big drug cartels have a huge hand in what happens at our borders, decisions about immigration, and choices about gun laws. Those same politicians who promote God and family and detest abortion, are all approving of allowing guns in the hands of civilians, which means cartels get guns too. It makes you question who they’re Skyping at night. They even try to blame the left by promoting that liberals want to remove guns from citizens and put them in the hands of cartels. As if they don’t have them already. And wouldn’t it be easier with gun laws relaxed? More regulation means more control over who gets what and where. And the American people have a say too, when the regs are public domain.
The trouble with drugs is that it isn’t mature individuals making decisions about using them. The mature individuals are often the ones making decisions about their distribution and the economics behind the business. But that’s where the buck stops. They don’t want to get their hands dirty with the controlling, so where the drugs end up is often a sad sad story. And it isn’t just illegal drugs that are the problem. Even over-the-counter meds can be abused. A common cough syrup for children, illegal in many European countries, is drug of choice for many teens in the U.S. Perscription drugs are no different. Xanax, Oxycontin, Hydrocodone, and so many more are commonly sold and shared amongst users. After they leave the distributor, it’s anybody’s game.
Try to think of drugs this way: marijuana in the hands of someone who has finished their schooling, holds down a job, and is responsible, should not be considered a deteriment. Marijuana in the hands of a fourteen-year-old is dangerous to the child, their parents, and the society in which they live. At an early age, marijuana changes brain fuctions and shifts motivations. Yeah, yeah, marijuana is “natural”. Well, so are cyanide and tornadoes. Tornadoes. They may not always be deadly, they may not even touch down, but when they do, they’re a sonofabitch.
This is how all drugs should be treated, like a storm arriving with some rotation at it’s center. And like in the movie Twister, we need to send up some of those little balls into the center of the monstrous funnel cloud. The more that can be tracked, the more chance to predict behavior. It seems that legalization and regulation are a viable answer to getting rid of a major blight in our society.
Ok
Yeah decisions are ruled by the drug companies, giving payoffs err umm donations to the politicians to get their crap out there. Yeah some is helpful and has it’s place but much of it is crap, you can control most anything through diet and exercise, but people just want to be lazy, sit on their widening arse and pop a pill. Legalization may work, but it will never solve all the issues, as just like alcohol there will be idiot people who drink and drive, or get high and drive and all that stuff. And the youth will find a way. Starts at home, if one can create a drug to help morons that would go a much farther way lol
Ha ha! This is funny, a drug for morons. What a concept. I would buy that and slip it in drinks like a rufie. It does start at home, but when home fails someone else has to pick up the pieces. This is where society gets hurt. And of course, legalization won’t be perfect but it certainly would make it harder, which is true of alchol illegality for those under 21.
No wonder I don’t smoke. Being dangerously allergic to it, I can’t even use penicillin. I’m drug-free on account of the world’s worst immune and nerve system.
John at The Bathroom Monologues
I’m very drug sensitive too. Am allergic to several. As for the illegals, have never done one in my entire life. Well, aside from alcohol. I’m glad to hear I have a kindred spirit.
I don’t smoke, but am not against the use of marijuana, as you say in the hands of responsible adults, not to mention for medical purposes. Our neighbor helped his mother quit alcohol, which was killing her, with the use of marijuana. But … must be responsible. As far as the other drugs … anything that’s badly addictive (either legal or illegal) carries too many problems by association, in my opinion. And drug companies … I should probably don’t even get started on them … 🙂
Silvia @ Silvia Writes
I agree 100% Silvia. And drug companies, well, we all know their agenda.