The purpose of this blog entry is to gauge other bloggers' opinions about drug use -- particularly that of alcohol as it relates to other forms of drug abuse.
Since alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine are all legal to purchase, possess, and consume, these substances are rarely classified in the same group as illegal mind-altering substances such as marijuana, LSD, and heroine. Nevertheless, all of these substances have in common the ability to significantly alter the mind of a user. And yet, despite this rather obvious similarity, alcohol abuse is less commonly cited as a social ill, whereas illegal drug use and abuse are often blamed for all manner of society’s problems.
Alcohol abuse and dependence are as much of a problem to society as abuse and dependence on illegal drugs. And because alcohol is legal, it is much more readily available, making it that much easier for someone to start abusing the substance. But just because it is legal, with certain restrictions, of course, to purchase, possess, and consume alcohol, this fact does not offer an explanation as to the acceptance of alcohol abuse as compared to other forms of drug abuse.
So what, then, has led our society to consider alcohol abuse less of a problem than abuse of illegal drugs? Has the U.S. government’s anti-drug campaign been that successful? Or, perhaps, has the propaganda of the alcohol companies convinced us that alcohol abuse isn’t that serious?
Please share your thoughts and comments.
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Alcohol companies haven't convinced us that abuse isn't that serious, they just advertise their drinks, and i have yet to see a commercial where a group of college kids are binge drinking at a kegger.
here are some starting points on your inquiry:
1) The Alcohol Lobby gave nearly 10 million dollars in donations to Congress memebers for the 2007 election cycle [aprrox. 40% to Dems, 60% to Reps.]
although this is relatively low (35th ranked corp donor) it still gives them plenty of leeway. So dont expect much legislation in the way of prohibition.
2) The Partnership Anti-Drug Campaign (Funded with FED tax $$) has shown some effectivenes when broadly observed (23% decline in AlcCigDrug use in 20 years) But if we look at their biggest target, Marijuana, their methods have consistantly shown, "no statistically significant decline in marijuana use or improvement in beliefs and attitudes about marijuana use”. Nor has the ever-shockinf ads worked. A jan. TexU study on addicted behaviors actually found the opposite occuring, "It appears that ... anti-marijuana public statement announcements used in national anti-drug campaigns in the U.S. produce immediate effects opposite [of those] intended by the creators of the campaign.”
3)Why is Drug use so Abbhorent ot society? Its a cyclical probelm few would like to recognize. Drug Use is seedy becasue its illegal, thus seedy people often use drugs. Drugs stay illegal becasue such seedy characters and actions surround it. Where it legal, like Alc or CancerStix, few would have a serious problem with it and glitzy ad campaigns would gloss over the less appeasing side effects of drowning yourself in such poisons. Also, it would stop being such a "rebellious" thing to do, and more than likely go away amongst teens.
"Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
---Nietzche
R. Sam Chaney
First off, it's heroin.
Secondly, I got drunk for the first time on Friday night, and I have decided that I much prefer pot to alcohol. I think most of the reason is because when on weed, you're still a functioning human being, which I have found is not the same for alcohol.
I can't think of any legitimate reason why alcohol would be legal and marijuana not, other than that the former has been a part of Euro-American culture for longer than the latter. Alcohol is far worse for you both physically and mentally, so I don't understand why marijuana (which is both not physically addictive and is gaining legitimacy as a medicinal drug) would be a schedule I and alcohol (which is physically addictive and hasn't had a medical use for a good century now) is unscheduled.
I was imagining getting caught smoking on Saturday, and presenting my case to a court...
--Mike
Alcohol, while damaging and horrific when abused, can be a heck of a lot of fun, too. The reasons that it is accepted and marijuana's not are probably all historical in nature. I can't see any other reason why it would be illegal.
(if you can't see the fnords they won't eat you)
i just live my life straight edge. theres no use in harming one's body. there's no use in being mentally addicted to anything. others are so unbelievably hard to control. you cant tell people what to do even when its in their best interest. everyone lives differently... i mean this (these) issues can be looked at as being a local, state. national, and global, as well as domestic problem. so many variables. i just say live like a crunchy and dont put bad things into your body... hope that makes sense. peace
this is my music for change: http://www.purevolume.com/rosie
Alcohol is an accepted part of mainstream culture, both blue and white-collar. Illegal drugs, by simple virtue of being illegal have been driven out of mainstream, acceptable culture.
LSD was made illegal when common people began taking it and they began to develop counter-culture leanings. When rich therapists were happily handing it out to neurotic housewives in therapy sessions it was fine. When it was being used to promote the status quo and wasn't threatening then there wasn't an issue. When it became associated with protests and hippies it became a dangerous drug.
It mostly comes down to enforced cultural intolerance. Weed smokers are naturally excluded from mainstream culture and villanized by virtue of their intoxicant being illegal. Alcohol on the other hand is a promoted social activity/inebriant. Caffeine and coffee are natural parts of the work world, but amphetamines and cocaine are kept outside mainstream culture and relegated to party drugs.
Res ipsa loquitur.
memor mori, mahalo.
Alcohol used to be viewed the same way weed and other drugs r today. The Gov. did try to outlaw it remember? But ppl just found ways to sneak it - ppl *refused* to stop drinking. Given enough time I think weed will be handeled the same way. It will become a mainstream substance. Not that most of us will mind :D But I don't think that all drugs will be as easy to legalize. I don't know a whole lot about diff types of drugs - but I do know that drugs like coke will probably become a thing of the past once we're allowed access to illegal drugs. A lot of ppl will probably stop smokeing . . for the simple reason they just like doing things that their told not to.
I don't understand why it hasn't been legalized yet anyways. The Gov. could stand to make a hell of a profit, less ppl in jail so we're not waisting as much tax money and more jobs would be easier to acsess - though I will agree that everything has a limit.
If the Gov. were to outlaw the more common substances it would just be pointless - but they try. Like raiseing the tax on cigs. Their trying . . but ppl r still going to smoke. Take away ppl's coffie and pop and isn't their caffine in cholocate? . . . talk about a riot. The reaction would be like telling ppl that their takeing away freedom of speach or religion.
I think you correctly group all drug usage into the "mind-altering" category; there is no reason to use drugs other than to inhibit/alter your mental capacities.
I think alcohol is excused on this account partially because it takes more to actually inhibit a mind, and partially because it's been with us for so long.
I don't think you know the definition of inhibit.
I use psychedelics/hallucinogens to "expand" my mind. At least with mushrooms (I don't know about the others), my thoughts and memories empty out at once and I go on this tangential thought journey.
--Mike
I really don't see how the necessary dosage should effect whether a drug is legal or not. People are willing to get enough of the drug to get extreme effects, so who cares how much you actually have to take. It might make a difference if the lethal dose is close to the dose needed to gain effect.
What's wrong with altering mental capacity/processes anway? It isn't all inhibition. Reasonable amounts of stimulants don't inhibit much at all, and I wouldn't call psychadelics inhibiting, more a re-direction of focus. You can't drive a car, but there are plenty of things to be done that you couldn't do sober, or at least not as easily.
There are also plenty of drugs that have been around just as long or longer than alcohol. Alcohol must be manufactured, things like mushrooms, mescaline and weed need only to be grown. Alcohol is legal for expressly cultural reasons.
Res ipsa loquitur.
memor mori, mahalo.
Peyote/San Pedro cactus, not mescaline.
--Mike
I figured that that would be understood. I guess not everybody knows where mescaline comes from though. I am too used to hanging with people who know their drugs. Thanks for clarifying.
Res ipsa loquitur.
memor mori, mahalo.
It's just that you can't grow mescaline inasmuch as you can't grow THC or Psilocin/Psilocibin. In an abstract sense, you can 'grow' alcohol, as it's the waste product of yeast bacteria.
--Mike
I think weed will be legal very soon. I also don't see why things that grow naturally are illegal yet alcohol is fine. I don't really like driving while under the influnence of either drug but driving high is much easier (less dangerous). Smoking helps me to concentrate on things so what's wrong with that?
~Jasmine~
Whether a drug is natural or not is completely beside the point. There are many natural drugs that are far more dangerous than alcohol, and plenty of synthetic drugs that are safer than natural drugs.
Rattlesnake poison is perfectly natural. Just cause its natural doesn't make it better. Opium is perfectly natural. Just because it grows in the ground doesn't make it immediately less harmful or more acceptable. Weed is much safer than alcohol, but it isn't because it grows in the ground and alcohol is generally manufactured.
You shouldn't be driving on either. Behind the wheel of a car you should be sober and alert. Driving high or buzzed just contributes to the poor image of people who do these drugs. If we want them to be legal we must use them responsibly.
Res ipsa loquitur.
memor mori, mahalo.