Due in part to the absurd illegality of common plants such as marijuana and magic mushrooms, the ascendency of big pharmaceutical industries, sanctioned by governments throughout the world, has lead to an incredible number of people now medicating themselves with legal psychotropic drugs to cope with their day-to-day lives.
Of course, according to experts in psychiatry and psychology, the problem of banality has more to do with a chemical imbalance in the brain than a problem in our culture. In other words the victim is to blame, not the cause: i.e. oppressive governments, and cultures that support them.
According to recent results from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, approximately 20% of the population is self medicating on mind altering drugs in order to cope with life. This study does not discriminate between the use of legal or illegal drugs to cope. Regardless, this is an astonishing, sobering reality, and should not be overlooked without consideration as to the trajectory of human life and well-being.
The index was based on interviews with 450 residents from each state, including the District of Columbia from January to December of 2014. Given that it was such a random sampling, we can safely gather that the numbers arrived at here are higher than this poll indicates. What they asked people was whether they ingested something to affect their mood or help relax.
Depression is a problem in modern civilization, and according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S.”
However, because economic conditions do not permit everyone to afford treatment, only one in three people seek treatment from a professional, and instead simply self medicate. This fact itself is depressing, and should stir a sense of anxiety in the reader, because the problems we face are fundamental. Furthermore, most of the reasons people are depressed can be attributed to economic disparity.
According to another poll, young black males suffer a well-being deficit, which can obviously be attributed to unemployment and general economic disparity.
What these polls show is that people across the board use drugs to cope due to a lack of well-being. That lack of well being can be attributed to clear economic factors. Most Americans see that there is an economic imbalance, and that economic conditions are unfair.
The solutions to these problems is first, education, and second, action. Life, here and now, can be a paradise or a prison depending upon the choices we make, and perspectives we take. Take action, educate others, make a change!
