Time To Stop Accepting Mind Alteration?

[andy-hughes]

I have been considering the effects of drugs - all drugs - and the reason people use them.

The conclusion I have reached is that every single person who uses any kind of drug - tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, does so in pursuit of a level of mind alteration.

Only the amount consumed, and the desired effect vary, the initial reason is identical throughout - to alter the mind's perception of the present.

Now this can vary from a glass or two of wine at the end of the day, or at a party, or a cigarette to 'calm the nerves' right through to the desired temporary oblivion of a large dose of heroin.

Of course, as a culture, we have absorbed the first examples as simply cultural norms, accepted and even encouraged, less so the last one which remains illegal.

But my point is, the subliminal desire to alter the mind to whatever degree is present in all of them.

Now the first argument would be - 'I drink because I enjoy the taste ...'.

Fine, then you can drink non-alcoholic wine or beer and not notice any difference can't you.

But no, we persist with 'acceptable' drugs because we, as a culture, accept that mind alteration is an acceptable thing to have in our society.

My question is - is it acceptable?

Should we not look at educating children and young people - the adults of tomorrow - that mind alteration is actually not a good thing at all, and is in fact creating a false reality, and leading to death through dangerous driving, liver damage, psychosis, and all the other results of ingesting drugs.

Drugs are not good, and we should be looking at getting rid of them as acceptable in society.

Thoughts please?

[royfromaus]

Wow...someone is busy.

''But prescription drugs are in no way connected with the intake of 'social' drugs, for which the purpose and intent are entirely different, for entirely different reasons.''

You may want to think about that one.

[andy-hughes]

choux - // "Like all threads on AB, it will have died a natural death long before then."

You did it again.

all threads ???

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1066858.html //

The last post on that thread was over a year ago, which does rather prove my point.

[andy-hughes]

roy - // Wow...someone is busy.

''But prescription drugs are in no way connected with the intake of 'social' drugs, for which the purpose and intent are entirely different, for entirely different reasons.''

You may want to think about that one. //

I have thought about it - and your point is?

[andy-hughes]

choux - // (This is hard work, even in ChatterBank.)

OP, you wrote "I have been considering the effects of drugs - all drugs - and the reason people use them."

I responded ""...- all drugs -..." really?
All of them?
Seriously? //

You have a point - I should have expressly referred to all 'social' drugs, rather than 'all' drugs.

[choux]

Good grief. The OP now says that 3 to 4 months is a longer period than 5 years plus.

(I said this was going to be hard work) :D

[andy-hughes]

choux - // Good grief. The OP now says that 3 to 4 months is a longer period than 5 years plus.

(I said this was going to be hard work) :D //

Most rules have exceptions.

Shall we get back to the discussion now?

[choux]

That beggars the question "Why post in ChatterBank" ?

[pastafreak]

^^^^ I did wonder...

[andy-hughes]

What other section would you suggest?

[royfromaus]

Natter and nonsense seem quite apt to me.

[tomus42]

I assume you are talking about recreational drug use only.

Either way, I think it's fine in moderation. I like a cup of coffee and a glass of wine.

[davebro]

I did read the OP -

//I have been considering the effects of drugs - all drugs//

ALL DRUGS - yes?

[naomi24]

I'm rather partial to a hot cup of tea when I come in from the cold because that makes me feel better. Does that count?

[archibaldy]

I like my drugs thanks and so do plenty of others, so yes they are perfectly acceptable and no they shouldn't be got rid of.

[douglas9401]

Love is the drug, got a hook in me.

[davebro]

doesn't seem to have done Ringo/Paul much harm

[chelle7272]

//that mind alteration is actually not a good thing at all, //
Why not? mediation is mind altering - that's a good thing.
Food can alter your state of mind, chemicals released in your body do it, for good reasons!

//nd is in fact creating a false reality, and leading to death through dangerous driving, liver damage, psychosis, and all the other results of ingesting drugs.//
Those are extremes. Lots of things in life can be misused with bad consequences.

//psychosis// treated with um, drugs?

[douglas9401]

The prosecution cites Yellow Submarine, Snookeroo and The Frog Chorus. :-)

[Patsy33]

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.. :-)

[tiggerblue10]

I tend to eat a lot of sweet things when I'm feeling down.......to the point where I'm bouncing off walls!

Strawberry Fields Forever :o)