DRUG PROBLEM GOES DEEP INTO WHAT MAKES US A SPECIES

When any species aggressively consumes the ecosystem it relies upon, the
scarcity of resources created by unchecked consumption automatically curtails
expansion of the species. Humans are not beyond this process.

While we convince ourselves of intellectual superiority over the rest of
creation, we use the intellect to promote the survival instinct, consuming
resources necessary for survival into the future.

Dwindling resources encourages a species to turn upon itself, competing for
survival in a slow rebalancing act of self-destruction. As we struggle to
cooperatively and consciously manage our lives, survivalist tension
accumulating in the subconscious collective mind manifests as predatory
aggression, undermining cooperative activity. In individuals, this tension
erupts as emotional dissonance.

The kind of drugs becoming increasingly popular in American culture indicate a
desire to anesthetize awareness from the constant and increasing tension
emanating from the subconscious. This is an understandable reaction to a
culture that promotes individual success over social well-being, profit over
people, obscurity over honesty.

If we are serious about addressing our drug problem, we had better take a good
look at ourselves. The core of the problem goes much deeper than economic
inequality or family instability. We must penetrate our hypocritical
complacency, examining the corrupt values our culture entertains. We must
become honest about our excessive predation as a species and work cooperatively
to assure a life worth living for all. Every individual must be willing to
become aware of his own motivations before effectively influencing the
motivations of others.

James Miner

Haiku