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"THE ALLURE OF DRUGS, [Is Intoxication A Basic Human Need?]"
The human pursuit of intoxication -i.e. drug-induced altered
consciousness is a universal drive as basic as hunger and thirst. In fact,
people of all ages throughout history have enjoyed altering their
consciousness, both naturally and chemically, just as little children like
to play spinning around until they are dizzy and disoriented. Some
scientists believe and opine that humans have a natural need to change
their awareness from time to time, in response to a harse or boring
environment or an effort to decrease feelings of fatigue, tension and
anxiety.
To consider intoxication as desirable and basic need is not only
ridiculous but tragic as well because to become intoxicated with drugs
naturally impairs human abilities. Major religions of the world [ie.,
Seventh Adventist, Mohamedanism,etc.] oppose intoxication and drunkenness,
because such conditions of impairment interfere with the creator-creature
relationship. Medically, also, there is that potential danger that any drug
used continuously to achieve intoxication for whatever reason will threaten
psychological and spiritual growth and possibly end up in drug
dependence.
Primarily, many people seek out and take psychoactive drugs
to change their conscious-experience. In fact, drug use generally
originates in the search for pleasure or the relief of from pain in a harsh
environment.
Typically, people seeking drugs want to feel better, less
worse, or just different. Psychoactive drugs provide an easy and relatively
quick way to achieve this goal. This changed consciousness is typically
described as "mood modification" consisting of some alteration in thinking,
feeling, or behaving. Mood modification is often associated with "altered
states of consciousness "... marked by feeling of euphoria, ligthness,
self-transcendence, concentration and energy.
But this unwanted move may
end up in addiction, dreaded by all, to include the addict himself.
Drugs Among the Youth
Divine healing recognized and legalized by Rep. Act No. 8423
[Alternative Traditional Medicine Act of 1997] discovers that the "back
misalignment" making our youth prone to addiction is being incurred between
1 day to 3 years old due to these recognized root causes: sin [absence of
love] pride and ignorance. Beware of this dangerous back misalignment for
it has linkage with addiction.
As observed, youth often take drugs in
imitation of adults, many of whom are convinced that an appropriate drug
treatment exists for every ailment.
Youth rebellion, often viewed as a
contributing factor in the drug-abuse epidemic was both a rejection of the
traditional values and a generational conflict between parents and
children.
Youthful drug users[addicts] started the use of drugs due to
bad influence or in company of their friends. Drugs are shared in "pot
sessions" in secluded places, inside the rooms or inside the car in
accompany of their so-called "friends". Some groups have considered smoking
the prohibited "grass" as "status symbol" of their group. To be "in" in the
group one has to smoke or use prohibited/regulated drugs. This, however, is
nonsense or ridiculous to many but "a privilege" and "status" for
others.
The Bible warns the dangers of having bad companies and bad
friends. To quote some pertinent scriptural passages illustrative of this
point:
(1) "Be not be friendly with hotheaded man, nor the companion of a wrathful man, Lest your learn his ways, and get yourselves into a snare."[Proverb 22:24-25];
(2) "He who covers up a misdeed foster
friendship, but he who gossips about it separate friends." [ Proverb
17:9];
(3) "Some friends bring ruin on us, but a true friend is more loyal than a brother ."[Proverb 8:24];
(4) Wealth adds many friends,
but the friend of the poor man deserts him."[Proverbs 19:4].
On the
other hand, the Book of Sirach speaks of "true friendship":
"A kind mouth, muliplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly
greetings. Let your acquaintance be many, but one in a thousand your
confidant. When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not be to ready
to trust him. For one short of friend is a friend when it suits him, but
will not be with you in time of distress. Another is a friend who becomes
an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your share. Another is a friend, a
boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes. When things go
well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants; But if you
are brought low, he turn against you and avoids meeting you. Keep away from
your enemies; be on your guard with your friends. A faithful friend is
beyond price, no sum can balance this worth. A faithful friend is a
life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; For he who fears God
behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself." [Sirach 6:5-17]
Speaking of some counselors and advisers to you, please note of this
warning in the Book of Sirach:
"Every counsel points out a way but some counsel ways of their own: Be on
the alert when one proffers advice, seek out first of all what he wants.
For he may be thinking of himself alone; why should the profit fall to
him?
He may tell you how good your way will be, and then stand by to
watch your misfortune. Seek no advice from him who regard you with
hostility; from those who envy you, keep your intention hidden." [ Sirach
37:7-10].Therefore, don't let your friends influence you. On the contrary
let your goodness be an influence to your friends so that they may give up
their bad habits and lead them away from the dreaded effects of the
prohibited/regulated drugs.
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