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[The Lunch Legend]

Why drugs thrive in capitalist societies? Is there a relationship between capitalism, anguish and drugs?

In the ancient tribal societies drugs were taking to reach trace, or at least to induce deep and colorful dreams. Ancient people worldwide, from all the cultures of the planet, believed that in trance they will reach another parallel world were they would get in contact with the gods. By doing that adventurous trip, they will be able to change the fate of the whole tribe. In other words, taking drugs wasn't for fun but for a superior purpose, and was done only by the shamans.

With the coming of "civilization" (city-societies), there started the abuse of substances for a different purpose: alienation, to forget the pain, to artificially get some happiness that the environment didn't provide. Perhaps the most widespread drug is simply alcohol, that continues to ruin hundred of millions lives worldwide.

With globalization, drugs started to multiplicate: hibachis, opium, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, etc.


The society has tried to forbid drugs, and bloody combats against criminals have exploded, but consumers keep buying.

The question is "why consumers buy drugs"? Is this capitalist society an incubator of pain, unhappiness and frustration, forcing people to take drugs?

 

[StreetsofBeige]

The question is "why consumers buy drugs"? Is this capitalist society an incubator of pain, unhappiness and frustration, forcing people to take drugs?

I've never taken drugs. And don't smoke either. I've smoked maybe 5 butts in my life for fun with friends way back and had no idea what I was doing or even how to hold the cigarette cool like the others. I didn't even fully inhale.

But here goes on my theories why people do drugs in western countries (capitalistic for the most part).

1. They got money to burn

2. For every 100 people, there's probably 1 millionaire, 49 avg folks, and 50 broke losers. The avg folks might feel like shit vs. the millionaire and the losers feel like shit vs anyone with a decent job and home. One part jealousy, one part depression, one part self hating

3. Unless you are a drug trafficker or have a mound of illegal drugs in your home, getting caught using drugs is likely a slap on the wrist

4. People in western countries think they are smarter than everyone else so they can beat an addiction. So take some drugs, and they think it's a non-issue and they'll never be an addict. Pretty sure every addict didn't go into it thinking they want to be an addict

Add it all up, and the reason they take it IMO is most because they are depressed and have a shit life. BUT then you got some rich people doing it where money is no issue. Why do they do it? I guess they think it's cool or my point #4.

To me, it was always a weird thing for people do be into drugs. If your life is lousy, the last thing you'd want to do is make it worse, but people give up on life and prefer to be half comatose on a couch all day, then working or trying to better themselves. With the internet, there's so many free online classes you can do to better your skills.

Another thing that doesn't help IMO is social media. People look at friends and family pics and think everyone else is having a great time, while they are the only person having issues. A good chuck of it is fake. Many people have family/marital issues but of course they aren't going to post it. One long time school friend (barely knew her but you know how everyone from high school linked up on Facebook when it was the rage?) was so broke, she even PMed me asking if I could loan her a couple grand. I gently declined. But look at her Facebook account and it looks like she lives a happy great life with family. Turns out she's broke as shit.

Oh I forgot.............. You also should have some good family to be good examples. Nobody I know in my fam tree does drugs and only a couple smoke. Much easier to not do it when there isn't a sister or dad huffing and puffing in your face. You need good parents to set an example too, hoping it works. They don't have to rich or have a good job. They can be broke immigrants from 50 years ago. But if they good natured and try to steer you in the right direction that can't hurt.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Drugs are fun.

 

[Andrew Korenchkin]

4. People in western countries think they are smarter than everyone else so they can beat an addiction. So take some drugs, and they think it's a non-issue and they'll never be an addict. Pretty sure every addict didn't go into it thinking they want to be an addict

Reminds me of this:

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Reminds me of this:

Good on him for beating it. And nice of him to give an update.

One thing that helps me avoid being an addict on anything stupid too.......... I can be a cheap fuck. I make good money, have a house, good car and such, but if I can save $10 buying stuff at Dollarama, I'll do it.

Last thing I want is to blow money on weekly booze or drugs sapping away $1000s for nothing.

I need my money to grow so I can buy properties and stocks. And that takes budgeting.

I guess for many addicts (and people who getting a taste of it, but not an addict yet), the urge to do it overcomes even finances and being a cheap ass like me. Scared of being broke has its advantages.

 

[haxan7]

To answer your main question, drugs thrive in capitalist societies because the average person can afford to buy them. If you have to walk a mile through human feces and horse manure to buy a load of bread every day to feed your 16 children, it’s pretty damn hard blaze up a fatty every night.

 

[Chankoras]

Don't we need comparative data to try find correlation?

 

[Rentahamster]

Why drugs thrive in capitalist societies?

The question is "why consumers buy drugs"? Is this capitalist society an incubator of pain, unhappiness and frustration, forcing people to take drugs?

Seriously?

Supply and demand - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Blade2.0]

It's not a free market capitalist society if drugs are banned.

 

[Despera]

You've been asking a bunch of questions lately while barely participating. Hope you're finding your answers

If you haven't seen it already this should be an interesting watch:

 

[GAMETA]

Not only humans take drugs, you know. There are animals that eat certain fruits and roots to get high.

And some drugs were actually used a lot before the industrisl revolution, so I don't think there's much basis to what you'rd saying.

 

[Papa]

Capitalism breeds success, and success breeds losers. Knowing you're a loser is not good for your mental state and drugs provide an easy escape.

 

[teezzy]

I was into drugs when I was younger. Weed, blow, hallucinogens, E, Xanax, research chemicals, etc. It got played out fast. Apart from a mild caffeine addiction, I'm sober now. I'll drink socially on occasion, but even that's a rarity.

I'm glad that I got so much of that out of my system while I was younger.

My friends who grew up less exposed than myself always insist on smoking weed as a stress reliever. Like motherfucker, I need to act, work towards a resolution, not just get high and forget about shit. How counterproductive! They still see a novelty in weed, then sit around like lumps eating garbage all day. Fucking morons.

 

[VGEsoterica]

Living in Chicago, where we are basically a bankrupt state, getting legalized weed that filled a tax hole that would otherwise be filled with more property taxes / sales taxes / fees was great. I'd be all for legalized mushrooms for extra taxes. And I don't even use drugs!

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

Capitalism puts more money into pockets. The money jangles. People want to seek out thrills by spending that money. A market incentive to provide more intense pleasures with fewer downsides is inevitable. Why buy a $10 high when you can afford a $100 high? Capitalism gets fatter as a result, feeding itself.

 

[DeepBreath87]

People use drugs for a variety of reasons. Some as a coping mechanism. Others as a way to relieve boredom. Escapism. None of them generally set out to become an addict.

And I disagree with the person who said drug users start out thinking they are too smart to get addicted. Most people who start doing drugs are thinking in the immediate. Addiction is a long term risk that isn’t even being considered.

I don’t think drug use is a western phenomenon. It's universal. But the excess income provided by successful societies allows for more people to partake.

 

[Airola]

Capitalism breeds success, and success breeds losers. Knowing you're a loser is not good for your mental state and drugs provide an easy escape.

Charlie Sheen was a winner though.

 

[synchronicity]

If you take the right type of - I don't even want to call them "drugs" as that's an offensive and inaccurate label imo - natural substances, you don't want to stay on the treadmill that capitalism demands and it's easy to see it as a machine of joyless, hollow, self-perpetuating consumption. The consumer endlessly consumes and is, in turn, consumed by the machine.

 

[TaySan]

Consumers buy drugs for various reasons medical and social. For me personally it's not worth the cost so i heavily cut down on my drinking. Only smoke weed if someone has some lying around. Maybe that might change come legalization, but this stuff is expensive.

 

[EverydayBeast]

The story of drugs is about moving product and especially when you include revolutions, preparing walls etc. obviously some drugs use to be legalized and capitalizeim wants drugs to be aprt of their phioslophy.

 

[Greedings]

That’s a whole lot of assumptions in the OP without a single thing to back them up

 

[Papa]

Charlie Sheen was a winner though.

He fucked kids and trannies, so I beg to differ. Were the drugs to blame?

 

[Airola]

He fucked kids and trannies, so I beg to differ. Were the drugs to blame?

Hey if a person wants to fuck kids and trannies and use drugs, and then gets to fuck kids and trannies and use the drugs without much repercussion, he's already won the game.
Dude's like the modern day Genghis Khan. If he'd want to fuck you too, he would, and with every thrust he'd do in your butthole that's trying so hard to stay closed he would whisper "winning" right in your ear.

 

[Papa]

mods halp

 

[neobiz]

wowzers lol

 

[The Hamburglar]

I love ketamine