I’ve been writing about addiction recently; more specifically addiction to drugs, and even more specifically, weed addiction, which is not known to be a particularly heavy addiction, but which more and more people are starting to realize is real nonetheless, and should be discussed. I would classify myself as being addicted to weed, but not really being too concerned with it because I feel I truly enjoy it and it adds to my life, for the most part. I wrote in a recent post about this, that one can really become addicted to pretty much anything in this life, and that that includes weed, even if it’s not actually physically addictive to our bodies. Our brain itself runs on chemicals, things like endorphins, oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin, and whatever else there is running through our veins. Whatever feels good to us can become an addiction, especially since most of us are driven by habits, habits that slowly build up over time in our subconscious minds. Activities can also turn into addictions because of trauma which leads a person to escapism, then escapism and solitude lead to further drug use and the cycle continues. If the fantasy world that drugs offer seems more real or worth exploring than the real world itself, then one runs a high risk of becoming addicted. Since every person’s life is so different from the next, each life differing from the other down to the smallest detail, we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that we really don’t know exactly how much it takes for any one person to become addicted to any substance, it’s all extremely relative to each person’s situation, to their temperament, and to the substance at hand, not to mention countless other factors. So, should all substances simply be avoided then? Is total sobriety the answer? Well, it’s possible, but I personally don’t live in such a way so I can’t say I really believe it. This might not be the popular answer but, although I don’t think drugs should be completely avoided, I really think we would all be wise to stop looking at drugs as entertainment, and start looking at them as tools rather, tools to help us improve our lives. You might complain and say that’s ridiculous, that I’m trying to take the fun out of drugs, when that’s all they really are in the first place, and that there is no way to really improve one’s life with drugs. Let me ask you though, don’t you drink a cup of coffee, or even two or more, when you want to stay awake throughout a boring workday? And don’t most of us celebrate with a drink when we get together with good friends and family for a special occasion? Alcohol helps us loosen up, which makes us feel good and warm around people we’ve known for a while and who we’re comfortable with, who we’re maybe catching up with after a while apart. It also helps us loosen up around new people we are meeting, whether at a party or even a professional setting, depending on the dose. Because of its specific effects, alcohol is tolerated and even promoted and celebrated in our society. Coffee addiction is shrugged off with a chuckle, since everyone’s addicted so it doesn’t matter. Why is it that these are the only drugs that have their place in society though? Just because they’re legal? Because they’ve been deemed safe by the government? Again, we are all very different, and we have different ends we would like to reach. If I find a tool to help me achieve what I want, and I’m not hurting anyone else with it, then it should be my decision to use it, and no one should try to stop me. If I were to grab a hammer and, instead of using it as a tool, start beating people to death with it, then I would expect someone to take it from me, and to receive some sort of punishment for what I did. It’s the same thing that happens when we take something that should be a valuable tool, and we use it in the wrong setting, with the wrong mindset, when we’re irresponsible and we don’t do our research, and we end up hurting ourselves or others. We’ll continue this train of thought tomorrow though, I appreciate you reading.
If you have a few minutes check out my song ‘somewhere out there.’ I appreciate you listening.
rebel eye 