Drugs

Drugs are substances, harmful even in small doses, that combine these characteristics:

• They provide short-term well-being or euphoria.
• They damage the brain and nervous system: a toxic poison that clouds the intellect, will, and freedom, causing psychological, professional, familial, and social devastation.
• They create addiction or a compulsive craving to consume them again.
• They are the root cause of countless sins, traffic accidents, thefts, and violence. A friend who has direct experience of such tragedies urged me to add deaths and suicides. I initially hesitated, thinking they might seem less common; in the end, I decided to include them, because taking drugs is effectively a slow-motion suicide, and that is a widespread reality.

Their impact on the central nervous system is devastating. It can be said that they are among the most destructive material substances to human nature, because they directly strike at the spiritual faculties of the soul, crippling the capacities of the intellect and the will.

There are several main reasons:

• They are in fashion in certain circles, where anyone who abstains may feel excluded. Curiosity and a craving for novel sensations also play a role. People almost always start taking them through peer pressure.
• They produce instant pleasure and temporary numbness, and people avoid facing the devastating aftermath.
• They serve as an escape from reality—yet escaping reality never solves problems; it only multiplies them.
• Individuals lacking noble ideals often make superficial entertainment the sole purpose of life, and drugs temporarily fuel frantic partying. They do not care about the inner ruins left behind so long as they get immediate gratification.

The most crucial step is never to start down the path of drugs, because getting off it is excruciatingly difficult. A friend who successfully broke free insists that I emphasize this sentence, and I repeat it: it is essential never to take the first step, because breaking free is immense struggle. To avoid ever starting, standard counsel includes:

• Steer clear of environments and companions where drugs are used. This is the single most decisive measure, even if changing social circles is painful.
• Cultivate a disciplined lifestyle, training yourself to master bodily impulses so you do not become a slave to whims.
• Foster responsibility in professional work and generous service to others, so that entertainment remains in its proper, secondary place.
• Nurture the interior life and high spiritual ideals that give profound meaning to existence.

Because drugs impair the intellect and will, and forge powerful addictions, quitting requires enormous effort. To succeed, the following steps are vital:

• Seek the ongoing support of a trusted person who can reinforce a weakened will.
• Sever all ties decisively with drug-related environments and acquaintances. This is non-negotiable.
• Fill one's schedule with healthy, demanding, and uplifting activities.