Osho on drug use

Drugs are one of the most disturbing social problems of the modern era. The abuse of drugs causes enormous personal and social damages, starting with health and mental problems and ending with crime, violence and the breakdown of family structures. Governments and public bodies invest a lot of effort in the war on drugs, but often the accepted policy of total prohibition does not bring the desired results. A rethinking of the way society deals with the drug issue is required.

The negative consequences of the prohibition policy
The current prevailing approach in most countries is to outlaw drugs and impose heavy penalties on distributors and users. However, as history shows, blanket bans on addictive substances only make them more illegal and dangerous. Elevating drugs to the status of “forbidden fruit” actually increases the temptation to use them, especially among young people who are attracted to thrills and challenges. When the materials are pushed underground, it is more difficult to monitor their quality and distribution, and this leads to the use of particularly contaminated and harmful mixtures.

Past attempts to ban alcohol and their consequences
The drought periods in the United States and other countries in the past serve as an instructive example of the failure of the prohibitive policy. Every time alcohol was banned, it didn’t disappear but simply moved to the black market. More people began to consume alcohol excessively and secretly, often for large sums of money and risking their health by drinking questionable drinks. Criminality and governmental corruption thrived around the illegal trade. On the other hand, when the bans were lifted, excessive alcohol consumption dropped immediately. This is evidence that humans tend to look for ways to escape from difficulties, and if we block them from the harmful ways, they will find healthier alternatives.

The deep need behind drug use
The key to understanding the roots of the drug problem is the recognition that people turn to addictive substances out of distress and dissatisfaction in their lives. For many, everyday reality is full of endless stresses, strains and disappointments. Whether it’s financial difficulties, challenges in relationships, a sense of insignificance or depression and anxiety – all of these create a strong need to escape and forget, even if only for a short time. Without healthy ways of coping, drugs and alcohol are seen as an available and accessible headache for relief from suffering. If we want to reduce the demand for drugs, we must first offer people tools for emotional and mental management of the challenges in their lives.

Towards a policy based on compassion and science
The way to deal with the drug challenge without exacerbating the damage is through a combination of compassion, wise order and leveraging scientific knowledge. Instead of just banning drugs, governments should invest in finding safer and more controlled ways to provide people with the mental relief they need. Scientists can develop synthetic drugs with an improved safety profile, to be used for controlled administration at precise doses and timings for relaxation, concentration or enlightenment. Hospitals and clinics will be able to allow guided experiences with psychoactive substances in a supportive environment, while minimizing the risks and without criminalization. In this way, the mysterious “light” around the drugs will be removed and they will turn from a “forbidden fruit” into a legitimate therapeutic resource.

Education and guidance alongside proportionate enforcement
Just as important as providing safe substitutes is providing extensive education and information about drugs and their consequences. Instead of scaremongering and vague warnings, reliable and balanced information must be conveyed that will allow people to make informed decisions. Young people need to learn about the pleasures and risks associated with different substances, about more responsible ways to explore consciousness and the importance of balance and moderation. When the focus is empowerment and not criminalization, the drugs lose their power. At the same time, the need for enforcement in the face of abuse and risk to others should not be ignored either. Traders and distributors who knowingly cause damage and take advantage of human distress must be held accountable.

Promoting spiritual culture and inner connection
In the long term, the solution to the human urge to addictions lies in cultivating natural ways of mental balance. Acquiring tools for self-awareness, emotional regulation and spiritual-consciousness connection are the key to reducing the need for drugs in the first place. As the practitioners in meditation centers experience, when there is a healthy and deep way to experience relaxation, self-acceptance and authentic joy of life – drugs lose their magic. Qualities such as self-compassion, attentive presence and accepting reality as it is are perfect “drugs” that eliminate any external substance. As more people adopt meditation methods and spiritual empowerment practices, the demand for chemical anesthesia will decrease.

Collective responsibility for a healthy society
Ultimately, reducing the harmful use of drugs requires a perceptual change that combines personal responsibility with social responsibility. We are all partners in creating a reality that invites quality of life and true fulfillment for every person. The more we care for each other’s mental and physical well-being, and promote values of humanity and empathy in all circles of life, we can prevent the deterioration into destructive paths. We should not blame the victims or turn them into criminals. Our role as a society is to provide every individual in it with the conditions for self-realization in benevolent ways.

Towards a future free of addictions
The fight against the scourge of drugs is a crucial crossroads for humanity on its way to a healthier and more conscious future. Continuing to rely on outdated policies of prohibitions and criminalization will only perpetuate the cycle of suffering. If we are able to adopt a holistic approach that combines education, empowering treatment, the science-based series and the promotion of spiritual values – we can gradually reduce drug addictions and fully realize human potential. This is a complex task that requires cooperation between all sectors of society, but the payoff on its side is generations growing up out of emotional stability and an inner sense of value. While drugs will always be a part of human existence, we should not make them the focus of life itself. The vision of the future is a reality where every person will be able to find within themselves the perfect drugs in the form of love, creation and fulfillment.