Society’s Answer to Drug Addiction—A Better Answer Is Needed
Peer pressure takes its toll in the UK. In the 1960’s the promotion of drug taking by celebrities like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and others probably helped to initiate drug taking into society at large. The Beatles were pictured smoking dope and Keith Richards in his recent book admits to much drug use. Drugs are glamorised to some extent by media coverage on the subject. Putting celebrities and their drugs use on the cover of a magazine may increase sales but it may also increase the numbers of our younger generation deciding to experiment with drugs to find out if what they say is true.
Beware though—Many celebrities who are revered for their professional finess, that have succumbed to the lure of “the experience” you can’t get elsewhere or otherwise than with illegal drugs. Those drugs are deadly. Many have died and not just from drugs, prescribed or otherwise, you have to add in addiction to alcohol too.
Elvis Presley is probably the most famous to die from an overdose of prescribed drugs but others include Janis Joplin (Heroin), Prince (Fentanyl by accident), and who remembers, “The Singing Nun” and her top ten hit in the 60’s, “Dominique”. She succumbed to alcohol and barbiturate overdosing.
In 1966 Donovan became the first high-profile British pop star to be arrested for possession of marijuana and was refused entry into the U.S. until late 1967 because of it. Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning and the most spectacular of all is perhaps the death of Michael Jackson in 2009 from five prescribed drugs.
Celebrity status comes with a level of responsibility out there in society so one would prefer celebs to decry illegal drug use, set an example and let the world know they don’t do them.
Whilst drug addiction continues unabated those who are supposed to “cure” it actually provide substitute drugs rather than finding a non drug solution. If you are addicted to heroin then methadone is prescribed, it is more addictive than heroin!!!
In the UK the field of psychiatry have stepped in supposedly although one wonders why with their history on the subject. Addiction to psychiatric drugs is now a huge problem and withdrawal from them is even worse. Like illicit drugs, they provide no more than a temporary escape from life’s problems. In 2015 there were 2,479 registered deaths related to drug misuse so better answers are needed. One could ask, “whose next” in the parade of coffins.
If you are about to visit a “specialist in addiction” to ask such a practitioner what solutions they have check their credentials. Ask what their solution is to the influx of drugs into society. If the answer sounds like long winded gobbledegook it probably is. An alternative is to ask Narconon. This organisation will give you all the assistance you need. They can probably provide you with a person previously addicted to street drugs who is now off them for good and can speak from a view point of “been there, done that and its NOT worth it”.
Jemima J. Jones.
