The evils of drug addiction
Our ancients have spoken of five cardinal sins which must be avoided by all means though they may appear to bring profit or pleasure for the time being. They are gambling, stealing, murder, unchastity and drugs. The history of humanity is replete with examples where people have been ruined by following the path of one or other of them. A whole nation was brought to disgrace because of opium.
Why then does man take to drugs ? Some think it adds to pleasure, some others think that it takes away physical weariness. Still others take it to forget their worries, while others take it in order to please the company they keep. In cold countries they take it to keep themselves warm. While in very small doses drugs act as medicines, they can only bring harm in large doses. They have a doping effect and hence at the spur of the moment the person may act more vigorously but only to find himself weaker later. Sustained consumption of them in large quantities will lead to dependency and addiction.
From time immemorial man has known to make drugs. Today, various kinds of addiction like wine, brandy, whisky, morphine heroin, cocaine and opium are prevalent. These drugs affect the nervous system especially the brain which controls the voluntary action. So a man under the influence of a drug is unable to walk properly and he staggers. It deadens the senses so a man under the influence of drugs does not know what he does or speaks. Very often the influence of a drug, he can do shameful acts. Continued addiction upsets the digestive system, especially the liver, leading eventually to death.
The mental faculties will be numbed. In order to forget worries people take drugs but that is not the answer to one’s worry. Drug addiction brings moral degradation. The addict himself knows it and so he consumes them only in secret and no addict openly will come forward to say he is an addict. It is against all religious sanctions. It leads to immoral and evil activities. Socially also an addict is looked down upon and people would try to avoid a drug addict. He would be a nuisance wherever he is, at home or in company. He would bring untold misery to his people and those around him. Except in the company of addicts, he would be looked upon as a leper. His family also will share the ignominy because people will point the accusing finger at such a family. Financially it ruins the addict. The money would go down the drains as it were for what could be spent for the betterment of the self or the benefit of the family could easily be wasted on drugs. So considered wisely, one should avoid drugs.
Nowadays drugs like marijuana, L.S.D., opium and others are being taken by youngsters under false pretences. It is really unfortunate they don’t realize the harmful effect. Certainly the drugs will not and cannot add and bring pleasure. If one thinks in that way it is only an illusion. So it is best to avoid the company of those who have recourse to drugs or peddle them. Remember the physical ruin, mental upset, moral degradation and social and financial breakdown. So for God’s sake one should never be tempted by them.
