Drugs...

"The basic thing nobody asks is why do people take drugs of any sort? Why do we have these accessories to normal living to live? I mean, is there something wrong with society that's making us so pressurized, that we cannot live without guarding ourselves against it?" -John Lennon

I feel that people take drugs to feel better. First off there are many different levels and categories of drugs. So what drugs is John Lennon talking about here? There are prescription drugs and illegal drugs. Within illegal drugs there are: depressants, stimulants, opiates, and hallucinogens. And obviously these can be broken down as well.


When it comes to prescription drugs, people take these to feel better. Meaning, to get over a sickness or to boost their immune system to fight off a disease. In a sense these drugs are okay and that is their reasoning to take them. However, people can come to a point where they can become addicted or dependent on the prescribed drug. For example, even though the person feels better and everything has gone back to normal, they feel as if they still need to continue to take the drug. This is commonly found with those who have colds. For example, some people take Nyquil to help them sleep at night during cold season. Maybe they stop using Nyquil for a while, but begin to find that they cannot sleep or having trouble sleeping. So they soon feel as if Nyquil is the only way for them to sleep through the night. 


Then we have the illegal drugs, which are simply...illegal. In most cases, people use these drugs to help them cope with their life. People tend to turn to drugs when things are going downhill or they feel as if their life is in shambles. For example, when someone catches a bad break and loses their job and is suddenly going out of money. They may turn to marijuana or cocaine as a comfort to help them heal through the pain. 


In another instance the use of illegal drugs is commonly used amongst young teens and college students. For some reason they feel as if by using these drugs the stress of school and becoming an adult can be lifted off of their shoulders. Does it really? I feel that it should add pressure and scare teens because of the lurking feeling that they are going to get caught by someone. If it were me, I would be completely paranoid all the time. 


Let's go back to John Lennon. What are the drugs that John is referring to? I feel that John is referring to the use of illegal drugs. The key word that leads me to think this is the word pressurized. He is saying that people use drugs as an escape from society. He says that people are becoming so pressured by society (maybe jobs, family, relationships, school, etc.) that the only escape they can find is by using these drugs. He questions why they cannot face society. 


We do not ask people why they take drugs because there are a multitude of reasons why a person can take drugs, whether it to be to look cool or as an escape from pressure. I don't know why people claim these drugs as accessories to life. I don't know why people carry drugs in their "back pocket" so to speak. It amazes me how many drug addicts there are out in the world and how many drug addicts you walk by on a daily basis. 


However, it is an evil evil world out there. Some people just don't know how to face it while others grow and learn how to tackle it head on.