Confronting death. Society and drug addiction
What is “clean”? Everyone will say: “without dirt, without stains”, “washed” and so on. That is true. But “clean” is used to mean someone who has quit using drugs...
Every year at the beginning of spring, the world’s attention focuses on the problem of drug addiction. The UN has declared the 1st of March asthe International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Of course, this fight is not waged on just one day of the year. Moreover, it began far before the 20th century.
The global history of the confrontation
According to history, drugs as substances that alter a person’s state and consciousness were known to many ancient peoples – the Sumerians, Scythians, Chinese, South American Indians, ancient Greeks and Romans. At that time, preparations based on substances such as hemp seeds, poppy seeds and coca leaves were used for medicinal purposes or as part of religious practices.
But then people gradually fell into a “stupour” (from the Greek word for “narcotic”). A connection was noted between its use and increased productivity, improved mood and pain reduction. The harmful effects of drugs went largely unnoticed until they began to be manifested in large groups of people.
By the beginning of the 19th century, the volume of opium illegally sold by England to China reached two thousand tons annualy. Millions of Chinese of all classes were drawn into its use. Opium smoking became rampant among soldiers and officers in the Chinese army. The people were almost completely demoralised.
To address this scourge, in 1839, the Chinese emperor of the Qing Dynasty launched an operation to confiscate and destroy opium stockpiles in the port city of Guangzhou. English ships carrying contraband cargo were sunk at sea. Historians refer to this event as the first state-sponsored anti-drug operation in human history.
In 1864, Egypt banned the use of cannabis. In 1890, hashish was declared illegal in Turkey and Greece. In 1912, the International Opium Convention was signed. Member countries committed to making every effort to stop the trade in opium, morphine and cocaine.
In the mid-20th century, the industrial production of synthetic drugs began, many of which proved far more potent than their natural predecessors. Unfortunately, the production of such synthetic drugs can be set up in small laboratories, completely eliminating the need for natural sources of raw narcotic materials.
What kind of beast is drug addiction?
Just the facts:
– Drug addiction is a “chemical” type of addiction, along with alcoholism.
– Initial use can be accompanied by pleasant emotions and states and a feeling of ease in solving any problem. This is what becomes the “hook” that hooks newcomers.
– The duration of the alluring states caused by the use of toxic substances quickly decreases. They are increasingly replaced by heaviness, hopelessness, fear of life, etc. The person begins to see a “way out” only in a new dose. This further sinks them into drug addiction.
– On a physical level, drug users become carriers of a variety of diagnoses: tachycardia, ischemia, gastritis, ulcers, diabetes, etc. Viral hepatitis types B, C, and D, tuberculosis and HIV are separate resulting problems.
According to statistics, drug addicts cope with diseases with much more difficulty.
– Specialists in the field of drug addiction treatment call addiction a “bio-psycho-socio-spiritual” disorder.
This means that addict expose themselves to memory loss, confusion, psychosis, mental shifts, etc.
Furthermore, they gradually lose self-respect; they destroy themselves as a person; lose friends and family; cannot acquire a profession or lose one previously possessed; become involved in criminal activity; bring misfortune to themself and others and, finally, slowly and surely destroy their body and their life.
A fight at all levels
Drug addiction is a real disaster: for the addict themselves, their immediate circle and for society as a whole, whose grave consequences manifest themselves in rising crime rates, a demographic crisis and other negative consequences.
Therefore, the fight against drug use is waged at the state legislative level. In addition, specialised drug addiction clinics and public organisations (such as Narcotics Anonymous) operate and preventative work is conducted in schools and universities.
By and large, every person can be instrumental in combating this scourge. Kind attention to loved ones, acquaintances and neighbours. Maintaining trusting relationships within the family circle, empathetic participation in each other’s lives, and caring for the feelings of others.
All of the external tools listed above are useful and important. Nevertheless, the internal ones remain. These include repentance, turning to the Creator for help, and, most importantly, a sincere renunciation of violating His Laws. After all, it is precisely these violations that lead to problems, including addictions.
A conscious turn toward Divine norms (against the backdrop of medical treatment) can mean liberation from the destructive filth of drugs. Slowly, but surely. This is confirmed by the “pure”...
