I read about a research which compared the dangers of drugs with each other. Scientists examined the effects of various legal and illegal drugs. They counted the damage that is done to the one who uses the drug and they also counted harm that is done to his or her surroundings. The damage to oneself includes diseases that one can get, addiction, loss of concentration, economic loss, social difficulties and more. The damage for others includes their health, financial consequences through the use of the drug and environmental problems that result.
The interesting thing is that the top result, the drug which is the most harmful for any person is a legal drug: alcohol. Alcohol ranked as the number one, heroin and crack cocaine made it to rank two and three. Tobacco was also among the higher numbers, at about the same danger level as cocaine. Drinking alcohol is thus one of the most dangerous things that you can do. There is a reason why the use of alcohol is the third most frequent cause of premature death or disability! You harm your body, you harm your mind, you harm the people around you, you become violent or depressive and you bring yourself and others into danger.
Still, however, alcohol is a legal drug! It is advertised, it is sold openly in many countries, it is allowed even for children in many places of the world and in so many societies it is openly accepted and you are even encouraged to drink! Why is it that governments do not ban these drugs as they did with cocaine, heroin, cannabis and so many other drugs? Do not understand me wrong, I don’t want to legalize marijuana, ecstasy or any other of the illegal drugs! I would like to make alcohol illegal or at least see that governments stop promoting it!
Why is that not happening? You don’t believe that governments have not heard about these studies and researches, right? They know better than most of the population that alcohol and tobacco are drugs that are very harmful but still they don’t ban them or call them illegal. When you cannot think of any logical reason anymore, there is always one more answer: money interests. Governments make so much money through taxes on alcohol and tobacco that they would lose a big source of income if they suddenly banned them or stopped promoting them. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world, otherwise governments would rather save the health of people in their country instead of selling them things that make them sick. But in this world we need to be ourselves responsible about our actions and what we do to our body.
Don’t drink, don’t smoke and don’t use any other drug, you will feel that this is the best for your body, mind and soul!
Details: http://www.impactlab.net/2010/11/01/alcohol-more-dangerous-than-crack-or-heroin-say-drug-experts/
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Well said swami Ji!
Thanks for writing on the topic of Alcohol, drugs, and smoking.If people do not respect their bodies, than they will continue abusing it. People love their cars and other things more than their body. They take good care of things , but sorry to say not their bodies. They will use good quality gasoline intheir car, but what do they do to their body they destroy their organs with all these substances. All these substances is a sign of destruction in ones life. One can buy another car, tv, cell phone, house, etc. but they do not realize that we have only one body and one life.
People out there, take care of your body, make good choices, enjoy the one life you have …wake up and be mind full and be compassionate to yourself ………Peace and love.
I agree. coffee is drug too
If you have never smoked weed like a (small) portion of the people making these laws you don’t know what a mild drug it is (and for many people it is a only a medicine taken in small doses like tea and honey). It is far less harmful than tobacco. This can be realized through smoking it or ingesting it and confirmed by any appropriately conducted scientific study. Most of us know that it was outlawed in the U.S. due to extreme racism and clash of civilizations. I don’t smoke weed because I don’t really like it. I smoke cigarettes and that is going to kill me. This is destroying my lungs. I am really addicted to nicotine and this is legal of course, in spite of its harm because of the power of the tobacco industry (as you said Swami Ji) this terrible drug is legal and marketed to kids.
Prohibition was a failed experiment in the US. Recognizing the harmfulness of alcohol it was outlawed in the late 1920’s and of course people kept drinking. Overnight the States were transformed into a nation of criminals. I don’t think that people can be easily controlled with laws, especially not one that pushes against the grain of deeply embedded cultural practices. The health and happiness of someone will determine how they treat their body and treating the body well means drinking less alcohol and maybe none.
I don’t doubt that alcohol is considered on someone’s list to be one of the most dangerous around. I am not surprised because I drink it! But I am curious about this study…I don’t know what the information you gave means because it is not in an appropriate context (which I know can’t fit in your diary!). Would you mind providing a link to it? I would really love to read this! Thanks for another great entry Swami Ji!
You’re so right Swami Ji! You tell em!
Even a huge dose of emotions can make someone act this way. It’s all about balance and being responsible.
I see what you saying but… I do kind of think people should be able to poison themselves if they want to. It’s a hazard of life that things like that will happen, and imagine how much more responsibly they’d be used if they weren’t stigmatized with bans!
I forgot to give link. Thank you for asking and reminding. I updated article with link. Love
Alcohol may be harmful for your body in large doses, especially if it causes you to be irresponsible. But even something like, choosing to live in a big city where there is lots of polution is bad for your body.
Dear Dharma,I understand your point and I think this applies to American culture. Cross culturally it may not. I imagine a place like India where the recent di-stigmatization of drugs and alcohol due to western influence is actually increasing usage of these harmful substances. Also, not being from India, I cannot understand the cultural subtleties that would shape someone’s behavior in terms of rebellion and conformity. In the US, when someone says “no you can’t” you say “yes I can.” I have never been to India but I have seen this being very different many other places.
Guys, can you hear what you are saying? trying so hard to hold on to the idea that any number of things isn’t that bad for your body just because some other things are bad for your body too. Does it HELP your body to put these things in it? (definitely not) Are there ways that it could HURT your body and those around you? (Yes, and the list goes on and on.)Then that’s the end of the discussion if you are someone who cares about their body and the health of those around them.
It’s a part of enlightenment to choose good things for yourselves.
I won’t get into whether or not I think it should be legal. Choose for yourself.
If they are going to outlaw thigns like cocaine and alcohol then they better outlaw anti-depressants and pain meds too. Antidepressants (SSRIs) function the same way cocaine does and will eventually train your brain not to be able to make itself happy. You don’t go crazy when you take a dose, but over the years it destroys your ability to feel happiness. then you just have to buy more expensive drugs, that sounds pretty criminal to me. People aren’t even aware they are harming themselves when they take a pill to try and get happy.Hell- outlaw everything while we’re at it.
Very fair point, Anonymous.
All drugs are bad.
If by coffee you mean “caffeine” Then yes, but so is tea and diet coke and chocolate.
Swami Ji,I think that what you are saying is very wise and we have similar opinions. One of the differences is that I drink alcohol and I come from a culture where this is fully excepted. Drinking a glass of red wine with dinner is like eating a piece of chocolate after lunch where I come from. Scientists are finding that drinking one glass of red wine a day may prolong your life span and help reduce health issues like high blood pressure among other things. There is of course a way to scientifically support or bash anything (not that I think the above mentioned study is misguided) and I would like to base my own health decisions on what I observe from inside of me.
The U.S., the place I was born, is a land of alcohol abuse. Many people depend on it to have fun. People won’t dance if they aren’t drinking, they won’t talk about their emotional pain unless they are drinking. People put so much undeniable stress on their body while drinking that they wake up after drinking feeling very ill. They are making themselves sick physically and emotionally. There is no social stigma attached to this. In fact, it is encouraged. And it is sad, very sad and it is a reflection and behavioral manifestation of human unconsciousness and insanity.
Why do people love alcohol? It is very hard to describe the experience of drinking alcohol to someone who has never tried it. I cannot really conceptualize how seeing someone intoxicated would translate to someone who has never been in this state. Alcohol calms down the mind. It is like watching tv. Thoughts in the head are quieter; diminished and dissolved. And so a person feels a little better. They are not so tortured by their thoughts. Meditation clears the mind as well, but instead of clearing it by sinking further into unconsciousness you become the observer of the unconsciousness. You rise above it instead of below it.
Sometimes I feel very happy to have a beer after work or a glass of wine with dinner. I feel like it doesn’t harm me. However when I feel awake to the world, when I am noticing the beauty around me…when I’m brushing the sky with my mind, joyous, delighted to be alive, I would never want to drink a beer or glass of wine. It obscures my vision. It makes everything less beautiful. I do not believe in rules about drinking that extend beyond fundamental safety measures. I think the abuse of alcohol is very sad and that this drug can be very harmful to people and I would night mind living in a place where it was illegal. I guess I think, if it is illegal so be it and if it is legal so be it. I see unconsciousness everywhere and it always finds a way to express itself (I am not saying that laws aren’t important). I really like what you have said about drinking and I thank you for your entry. A usual it was a pleasure to read.
Think of how many lives Mohammed and Jesus have influenced to ruin or end. How many murders, bad behavior and injustice. Many more than alcohol. People get high and stupid off religion all the time. I think THEY should be made illegal. I am not joking.The prob is, you can’t just run around making all terrible things illegal.
We have a big Problem with our Teens here in Germany too …they have a new Hyp coma drinking … did you heard about this ??? It means one drink as much as you can in short time and get full drunk… this they call being cool ! At School …they then make one`s mark by telling all who was more drunk and what they did …. they was even some death case !
The law for the protection of the children and the youth in Germany says :
1. it is not allow to sale Children and Teenagers distilled in drinks or in food
2. it is not allow to sale other alcoholic drinks to Children or Teenager under 16 years.
which means that for the age of 16 they can get soft alcohol drinks like Beer and Wine and from Age 18 they can get even the Hard Distillation drinks!!!!!!!!!!!!! To me this law is no protection at all but e inviting!!! So may times I see a group of Teens going to a Super Marked, one they send in that’s the one who turned already 18 year.He or She buys then Vodka or what ever but mostly I saw Vodka bottle’s. Even if the Seller ask for the ID they cant do nothing if the Teenage is 18 years old. They have to sell it to them even if they know they will go out and share this with they not 18 years old friends!!! I did ask one of the Seller why you do sell this to this Kid you would also not like it if someone will sell it to your kids ?! She then told me she will loos her Job if she says something. Outside people passing them do like they have nothing to do with it or like it is very normal or like they did not see it …. it is frustrating seeing all this and cant do nothing ! Today it is also dangerous to say something to this Teenagers cause they are brutal aggressive …in the last 2 years we have here many case they bit Peoples to death !!!!
Yes it is our fault… children see they parents and the grown ups drinking alcoholic drinks all the time when they come together in all kind of celebrations. Children mind sees and observe us to learn about life and if they see Elder are drinking Alcohol like normal they think that’s what you do when you are grown up !!!!
Every single one of us has a big responsibility for every Child in this world, we are they teachers … we teach them even if we do not interfere we teach them that it is ok to do what they are doing other ways we would have said something and stop them ! I mean tell me one parental who will let the kid harm them sale , they will stop and protect them right? So if we don’t do nothing we tell them it is ok what you are doing … its maybe not nice but no harmful thing also ! We really need to wake up and be aware of what signal we are giving to the world and our Children ! Be mind full 🙂
And A BIG part I see in Government Responsibility to even allow to sale to teenager Alcohol !!!!! But yes if there is no logical reason behind it its about money !!!!
Peace and Love … :))
Prohibition was a disaster in the US and clearly did not work. Marijuana is harmless (except when used at times when full rational concentration is imperative, as when driving) and should be legal and freely available. Many other illegal drugs have wonderful untapped shamanic potentials and should be legal for these purposes. Even conventional Western science is coming to more and more understanding of this. The rational solution is to legalize and regulate these drugs. This would also destroy illegal drug trades and create revenue for governments. Legalization and regulation has been a success everywhere it has been tried. The hemp smoking ascetics and yogis are a wonderful part of Indian culture and tradition. There are over 100 hymns to Soma in the Vedas, so shamanic use of enetheogens is clearly an important part of wonderful Eastern spiritual traditions. All addictions should definitely be avoided, but making alcohol or other drugs illegal is not at all the answer.
Pranam Goswami ji,You are indeed correct!
http://sam131141510thebittertruth.blogspot.com/2007/12/duty-responsibility-law-and-order.html
A Common poor man on streets is caught in the severe grief of addictions like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, se…x, etc. Let 19s analyze the root cause of this. Why would a common man working hard all day long, to earn his livelihood, would spend his hard earned wages on these destructive addictions. It is because of his frustrations, he is not happy, he is unable to feel the security, he is tensed and angry, he is in need of mental peace and wants to relax his mind, in order to feel happy. He wants to run away from his daily problems. He is not ready to give a thought and fight constructively. He does not want to take mental pain to analyze, to find solutions to his problems. Will he be ever able to find solutions if he does not resolve the issues with constructive optimism, brotherhood, love and compassion? Is this contagious? Will he be able to overcome? If he meditates, learns to relax his mind, learns to concentrate on his problems, to find solutions. If he leans to live a principled life. If we have local leaders who can communicate a clear message to them to avoid destructive addictions. It is very important that this message must be realized at the greatest depth of their hearts, with constructive communication, with brotherhood, love, compassion, healing and cleansing. Requirement for a powerful leader who can touch millions of hearts with love, respect and dignity. Who can use all types of media on a daily basis to empower them with clear messages of optimism, faith and hope. To stand strong for their basic human rights, to live a spiritual life with constructive brotherhood, to rectify, forgive and heal each other, to empower this mother earth.
That’s ridiculous. I know so many people harmed by alcohol, I don’t know many at all who even do cocaine. It shouldn’t be legal.!
I think everything should be legal. Absolutely everything. People will sort it out for themselves.
Wow– a lot of comments have been made about this post, many I agree with and some I disagree with.
For one, it can be verified that alcohol, along with many other substances, can be very bad for your health and the well-being of others. Any substance or behavior taken out of moderation can be detrimental– even water! By drinking too much water you can cause imbalances in the blood nutrient content and die! The best policy is always moderation and balance.
And realistically, laws aren’t great at controlling that many people anyway. The law sets a driving speed limit, people still speed. The law prevents underage drinking, teenagers still drink alcohol. People will do as they wish and try not to get caught, if the behavior is worth it to them. Moreover, many people will rebel simply because they are told it is illegal. If it wasn’t deprived of them, they wouldn’t have such a burning desire to try it. It’s just human psychology.
I think what we should be teaching people instead, is how to live in balance, moderation, and love and respect for your body and your health. If we spent as much money on teaching people healthy ways to live as we did on drug prevention, I think people would choose not to abuse drugs anyway! Laws or not, we should take care of ourselves and those we love…bottom line.