In my experience, the term “harmless drug” is an oxymoron, an expression meant to convince someone that the use of a certain substance is perfectly acceptable because of the low possibility of damage the drug may cause to one’s body or mind. The problem with this line of thinking is that most drugs are considered toxins to your body. That is, as soon as a drug is ingested, your body’s natural defense systems will kick in an attempt to eliminate the substance as quickly as it is able to.
Take alcohol, for instance. The process of elimination begins very shortly after one has taken a drink. That is why you can smell alcohol on the breath and through the skin of someone who has been drinking. And your body will use every method of excretion to rid itself of the substance – breath, sweat, urine, and feces. The various reports that come out from time to time about the “healthy” nature of alcohol are almost always referring to the anti-inflammatory effects and as a means to lower stress. The research always emphasizes that these effects are at LOW DOSES “i.e. one or two 6 ounce glasses of wine per day – taken with meals”. These reports usually claim that the same minor “healthy” benefits can be obtained through 5-10 minutes of walking each day. But most of the people who quote these findings on alcohol and how healthy it is never seem to read these details – they must miss the small print.
It is important to note here that when I talk about drugs, I am not talking about medications which are prescribed by a doctor. There is a difference between the two, and in my opinion the semantics are important. Some medications have a potential for negative effects, but they are prescribed at a given dosage to treat a diagnosed problem, and they are meant to be taken as prescribed. The majority of people I have seen over the years who became addicted to medications almost always did so when they began to take more than was prescribed or in a higher dosage – they “abused” the medication in these ways.
Another danger of prescribed or over the counter medications is the mistaken belief that they are relatively harmless – even when mixed with other substances. This belief continues despite the legally required, rather large, and usually boldly fonted messages on these medications warning the taker NOT to mix the medicine with ANY other drug! I continue to marvel at the fact that so many people ignore these warnings. I am not sure why people do. Perhaps it is for the same reason that a majority of people keep prescribed medications that they have not finished “because they did not follow the doctor’s orders,” or that have gone past the expiration date around the house in places which provide easy access for others to use and abuse. I have written before about the rising numbers of adolescents that are abusing these medications, and why they are doing it – because these substances are easy to get, and they are free!
Other reports have shown that people do not perceive medicine that is bought from a store shelf as dangerous. The general public seems to view prescriptions from a doctor or dentist as safe and harmless as well. How can something in such a cute, small little bottle, or vial, or pill possibly be bad for me, especially if Dr. Jones said I should take it? My experience has been that most doctors, and even more dentists are very unlikely to ask a patient if they mind taking a medication that has an addictive potential. I have had to remind my dentist several times over the years that I will only take ibuprofen or aspirin for pain management after a procedure. I don’t take this practice personally – I know that he has many patients and apparently gives more attention to the x-rays in my chart than to the information about my medical history. I accept and expect it now. But I need to remind him about the medications because of the vast number of stories I have heard from people in recovery whose relapses into active addiction started in just such a situation when they did not remind the person with the prescription pad of their disease at such times.
Advertisers know the value of making a drug appear benign. Some companies are really, really good at it. Can you guess which class of drug America uses and abuses the most – in great part to this advertising? Not a specific drug, but the class of drug? I’ll give you a hint: One well known franchise tells us that we Americans “Run On” this class of drug. Got it yet? It is the stimulants, and we “run on” the coffee sold by the business I mentioned. We like our caffeine. I know that I do. I drink too much coffee – a trait that I have noticed in many others in recovery. Many Americans and people in recovery from other drugs also like nicotine – which is classified as a stimulant but also has a relaxing effect on the user. The use of “energy drinks” has risen dramatically in the last few years, and these clever advertisers have found a market that enjoys the extra “boost” – young people. This is a good market to reach, because most young people have money from their part time jobs and they are not yet spending it on boring things like a mortgage, the heating bill, or property taxes. This “target market” has made the use of stimulants, especially these energy drinks, so common and lucrative that new alcoholic concoctions have come out in recent years that contain high levels of caffeine and high levels of alcohol. This mixing of drugs – especially drugs at complete opposite ends of the spectrum “stimulants and depressants,” is extremely dangerous and has had deadly results. Does anyone else remember when the drink “Four Loco” was made illegal in New York State? The effect I am talking about explains why. Caffeine masks the effects of the depressant, making the user believe they are less impaired than they are. Studies on the use of these “speedball” drinks have shown that people drinking them are three times more likely to underestimate their level of intoxication and to participate in risky activities after drinking “like driving a car.” France, Denmark, Norway, and Canada had such concerns over certain energy drinks that they banned the sale of them. But not in America. There is too much money to be made.
Education on these drugs, and the risks of using any substance is always going to start at home. My hope is that these few words will increase your awareness of the marketing, money, and manipulation that is going on all around us regarding these things, and that you will pass this information along to the young people in your life. Making informed decisions about the chemicals we put in our bodies and the effects that they have is important – we need to find out this information and pass it along…
So many people refuse to feel anything negative. Feelings are part of life, and don’t need to be drugged. The older I get, and lose people I love, the more vigilent I am in taking care of my body. Accept the difficult feelings. They don’t last forever, and make you enjoy the positive feelings even more.
You could definitely see your enthusiasm within the paintings you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.