Maybe the question should be, why does anyone do drugs? I wish I had an easy answer to it, because then maybe things in the world might be different. See I have this notion that you need to treat the Cause not the symptom. Guess that makes me odd because even in medicine today it isn’t that way. They treat symptoms more than what causes it, like say High Blood Pressure. They give you a pill and monitor the BP and that’s about it. Goes up later on, well they up the dosage of pills, but then that seems how we approach things today.
Kids are seeing it and today the studies say drug use among teens is down, except for prescription medications. Course I wonder, how accurate is this study? I mean seems to me more kids are shooting up schools, arrested for plotting to bomb their schools, than ever. Seems that you hear about more people being raped while under the influence, more frat houses suspended for rowdy parties or such. Yet the study says illegal narcotic use is down a bit across the board. (story) Like where do these kids live that are responding?
In the Vatican City State?
I shouldn’t be surprised though. I mean Illegal Immigrants come in aren’t effecting wages one bit, plus they do jobs the average citizen supposedly won’t do. So how come there is unemployment? I mean it does exist, so obviously there are able bodied people not working, so guess this is just another example of politicians justifing their inaction. And I wonder, is that also why this study shows continued decline in hard drug use, except for prescription and over the counter drugs? (story)
When schools advertise for Joe & Jane Average to finance text books, and then a study comes out saying drug use is down, I have a hard time buying it. I just don’t see it, and given the constant barrage of news reports talking about drug deals going bad, of tons of drugs entering the country almost daily, I find it hard to swallow that this study is even close to reflecting reality.
What gets me though, is why do we do it? I mean it isn’t just the kids turning to drugs, but many adults as well. It is in fact a major industry of its own, but why? Are we looking for cheap thrills, or do we somehow think it makes us perform better in life? in the sack? Is it to fit in or does it go deeper than those superficial explanations?
For myself, I believe it is deeper. I think it comes from dissatisfaction from our lives, from our own inabilities to advance ourselves, or as an edge to advance. Whether it is to get ahead in our career or to have unrealistic goals set for us, we feel the need to get an edge, by the use of drugs. Sure it might be shown to us from our role models and peers, but surely we have our own ethics? Or do we? Are we so enamored with the hype created by Madison Avenue that we have forgotten the principles that truly do mean things? Have we traded our self respect for a shiny new car with 8 sub speakers and a dvd player?
Is this perhaps the real legacy we are living and about to pass on to the next generation? One of being sheep and followers of those who shout the loudest? Is it even possible to change back or have we lost our way too much already? I don’t know but when I look at kids today, at the essentials they claim to need, I cower a little. I mean kids today can barely figure out if they got the right change from MacDonalds, assuming the kid behind the till can figure out the cash register system to make change.
Schools have a lack of books, but does it matter? I mean most can’t read anyhow so why spend money on books. Teachers say they’ll teach better if they get paid more, but they agreed already to do that last contract time. What messages is that sending our kids? Or when Politicians and Religious leaders line up and say you can’t have sex until you are married, but 95% say they had sex before marriage. So was it that bad that now they don’t want anyone else to do it? or was it that good?
Perhaps it is this double standard, this total lack of consistency that has confused an entire generation. Perhaps it is this mantra that in protest of politicians voters will stay home, that has the next generation tuning out and turning on. Is it their way and ours too, of relieving the stress of living in a society of total hypocrisy or is there more to it? Is it a lack of hope that they can make a difference when they see voting machines fail but results are unaffected?
The elders of society, the brains and leaders talk about family values, about ethics but refuse to limit campaign contributions or support those who are under invetigation by giving them key appointments. It makes no sense when they shout how someone can’t do this or that, then turn around and say it should be discussed.
Maybe the question shouldn’t be why do they do it, but why don’t they do it sooner.