Learning the wrong lessons

LEARNING THE WRONG LESSONS FROM DRUG REHAB

 

            The biggest problem with drug abuse and chronic use has little to do with the actual harm that is caused by chronic use and/or abuse. Contrary to popular mythology that harm is confined exclusively to physical impairment and deterioration and it is manifested in health problems and accidents. The biggest problem has to do with the widespread acceptance of drug war mythology.

There is absolutely no such thing as a mind altering drug! There are drugs that cause impairment of mental and physical facilities. There are even some stimulants that can cause hallucinations. However, there is no such thing as a drug that can cause someone to steal, abuse others, lie, intimidate others, or initiate sexual conduct – unless one is already so inclined and believes that they will be less accountable for their behavior. There is good reason for this misconception. We have thousands of convicted felons, police officers, clergy, teachers and politicians who will insist that using some drugs actually causes these problems. We don’t have nearly as many pharmacists or medically knowledgeable people willing to whore their principles and professional integrity to make such absurd pronouncements. There is a matter of professional credibility that politicians, educators, law enforcement people, clergy and felons lack.

The most embarrassing problem for those who create this dangerous drugs mythology is the reality that the overwhelming portion of drug users do not engage in antisocial behavior. It’s closer to 95% for legal drugs and well over 80% for drugs created and sold by criminals for people inclined towards antisocial behaviors. Drug war advocate/liars gloss over this with the preposterous supposition that a significant minority of people are more susceptible to this “mind altering” characteristic than the majority. It is important to maintain prohibition to protect this minority from themselves and to protect the rest of us when they fall under the drug’s spell. This is closely akin to the obesity syndrome: certain people are genetically inclined towards being fat.  They should not be unfairly stigmatized for unhealthy diet, exercise and rest routines. Drug companies tell us that this is a societal problem: no one has time for diet and exercise regimens with results limited by genetics.

It would be misleading for me to suggest that the dangerous drugs mythology was invented by the DEA and drug warriors to justify a policy that so obviously targets user classes. We had “demon rum” in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Our society isn’t even the only society to ban drugs and blame them for misbehavior. Despite the total lack of scriptural authority churches and mosques have led the charge to blame drugs for problems. No where in Christian or Islamic scripture is drug use considered sinful – and Leviticus has over 600 different sins enumerated.

It is no coincidence that ritual drug abuse has been central to so many cultural bonding rituals. It’s probably because the use of certain drugs like alcohol, cocaine or marijuana tend to impair mental function and the first function to go are socially imposed inhibitions. If one is full of anger and frustration those inhibitions deter expression of socially prohibited expression. One could argue that drug use has been utilized because of its “mind revealing” qualities. Get a bunch of gang members or military people wasted and expect some violence and mayhem to result. Get a bunch of monks wasted and you’ll likely hear some pretty bad vocalization of Christmas carols.

I have little doubt that Jesus used alcohol with his disciples for precisely those reasons. The use not only revealed frustrations and insecurities but noble impulses and ideals. Jesus used these lessons from drug use to tailor his message to mold his disciples into dedicated servants of God. They revealed their concerns, pettiness and nobility to Jesus and Jesus revealed the intensity of his dedication to following the paths of righteousness and doing God’s will. Other groups use similar bonding rituals to learn the basic motivations of its members. It’s not about “who can handle their drugs”. That is a purely physical aspect.  Peoples’ action under the influence reveals a lot about their core values.  It can provide useful information to righteous leaders; it can provide leverage to those leaders with less than optimal integrity.

One huge problem that we have when we blame outside influences for misconduct is that the core problem is deliberately left unresolved. While many rehab counselors will disagree with my assertion most will not openly contest the dangerous drugs mythology. When that mythology is uncontested the antisocial tendencies just transfer from a “drug lifestyle” to a “work lifestyle” or a “church lifestyle”. Some outside source will be responsible for abusive behavior. If a rehabbed drug addict learns the wrong message they will lay the blame on coworkers, partners or family members for their continued abusive behavior.

I’m not saying that religion is just a substitute for drugs when it comes to abusive behaviors. Someone who is truly “born again” does sincerely repent [acknowledge personal responsibility for sinful behaviors] and is committed to following the paths of righteousness. Many will quit using drugs while others like the Apostle Paul will continue to use secure in the knowledge that they are in control of their own lives. Such a commitment to righteousness gives a feeling of intense freedom. Success and happiness ceases to be linked with outside factors. Born again people do not use false associations – especially with the frequency of our current president. Born again people measure their conduct on righteousness – not the misconduct of others.  There is no “greater evil” for the born again. There is only truth, love and doing what is right.  Born again people do make mistakes and occasionally sin or commit personal abuse. They don’t try to justify this behavior and compound their error.

 So obviously there is a LOT of people claiming the born again experience whose behavior hasn’t changed one iota from prior misconduct. They have merely superimposed religious dogma and zeal on an abusive lifestyle. They feel a strong need to justify themselves over others and doctrine works in this regard. Jesus and Paul repeatedly warned about this aspect of false religion even if they neglected the core principles of today’s Christian political agenda. Sadly these impostors seem to be the most visible and give religion and its personal discipline a very bad reputation. Oh to be judged by the statements of Pat Robertson and Osama Bin Laden…..