A world without mind altering substances ?

[Jared Lash]

Technically, anything that crosses the blood-brain barrier is a "mind altering substance", so being nit-picky about the question, the answer is we'd all be dead.

Skipping the semantics for a legit answer, the biggest change would be in the field of medicine. Anti-Depressants (MAOIs & SSRIs), lithium for bi-polar disorder, anesthetics for surgery, even headache medications (acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen & ibuprofen) among many others would all be eliminated. Obviously this would have a very negative effect for a significant portion of the population.

If the question were limited to "recreational" drugs, I can't really see that it would have a large change for humanity. Some lives (people who drink in moderation for instance) would be less rich, while others (long time drug abusers) would likely be better, though even that's debatable. Removing drugs as a coping mechanism doesn't ensure that alternative coping mechanisms would have developed in their place, but of course there's no way to tell.

The biggest change to our society if these substances didn't exist would likely be seen in the development of different cultures' religious & spiritual beliefs. OT is not the place to elaborate on this topic, but it's something I have given a lot of thought to in the past.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

This argument is like cutting off the nose to spite the face.

Eliminating them for the majority because of the minority that abuse them spoils the fun for the majority of people.

 

[Flabby1]

there would be a lot less drain on the economy that's for sure.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

there would be a lot less drain on the economy that's for sure.

I would argue that drugs also contribute to the economy. 7-11 would be out of business in a week if it wasn't for stoners.

 

[louieeadg]

Plus the "black market" is credited for a few billion getting pushed into the economy every year...

 

[MakiSupaStar]

Well the Badger, badger, badger, mushroom song would lose all it's appeal.

 

[Flabby1]

I would argue that drugs also contribute to the economy. 7-11 would be out of business in a week if it wasn't for stoners.

no 7-11's round here, last place i saw one was hong kong

quick trips rule


oops no wait, there is a 7-11 but it has 4 freakin pumps, i don't waste my time there

 

[MakiSupaStar]

no 7-11's round here, last place i saw one was hong kong

quick trips rule


oops no wait, there is a 7-11 but it has 4 freakin pumps, i don't waste my time there

Replace 7-11 with "Convenience store of your choice".

 

[Ericman197]

I always thought opiates would be FAR more effective, as the alcohol's effect of diluting the blood certainly wouldn't make suturing that wound any easier!

You were around in the 1800s?

The only major difference that I can think of is that religion would be totally different today. I don't want to offend anyone here, but I think a LOT of those guys had to be on drugs.

 

[Diggler]

At least I wouldn't have to hear the words, "Whoah, duuuude..." anymore.

 

[ohmeplateau]

taking drugs is a lot more healthy than believing in a fairy tale to deal with your problems.... now which ones more ****ed up.

 

[GregC]

Well the Badger, badger, badger, mushroom song would lose all it's appeal.

Is it bad to admit that I never take mind-altering substances, yet still like that song a lot?

 

[A9X]

Is it bad to admit that I never take mind-altering substances, yet still like that song a lot?

You must be fortunate enough to generate your own naturally.

 

[PSPookie]

I agree, the less options you have, the more you'd have to deal and cope, and the more maturity that would require.

This assumes that people would mature and cope and not just resort to violence, spectacle, and other non-drug-induced forms of escapism.

 

[louieeadg]

A world without mind-altering substances would be......substantially altered.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

It's all relative anyway. If there were no substances to alter the brain we'd experiment with pain and pleasure, the release of endorphins, the effects of sleep deprivation, or too much sleep. The tendency to seek an alternative to reality is part of being human.

 

[louieeadg]

It's all relative anyway. If there were no substances to alter the brain we'd experiment with pain and pleasure, the release of endorphins, the effects of sleep deprivation, or too much sleep. The tendency to seek an alternative to reality is part of being human.

Far out, man...

 

[alfredpunkjazz]

My thinking is that people that use mind altering substances to deal with stress , depression etc would develop other coping skills if they couldent self medicate. For those that use it to celebrate or party they just might take to other activites like having more sex or playing bass to enjoy themselves.

Do you know that brain chemistry it's not equal to everybody, and there is people that just can't deal with problems the same way the rest does?

I know what you're trying to get at, I would also like to see a more healthy drug-free world... But it's very hard to paint opinions like that one.

On the other hand, for those who think that just taking away ilegal drugs will solve the problem of the drug abuse, let me tell you, people who like drugs will buy it no matter how, people will sell it no matter how (there's to much money involved, I mean, one of the biggest bussines of the human history), and really, it's much cheaper and eassier to educate people to not use them.

 

[Bad Brains]

As an admitted doper, I wouldn't like it very much if there were no mind altering substances.

 

[jomahu]

so are we really talking about illegal drugs? or are we talking about mind-altering substances like sunlight, estrogen, testosterone, pheromones, caffeine, sugar, water, adrenaline, codeine, endorphins...

either way, it would suk. yes, suk. plus, think of the many self-righteous moralizing people who would be out of a job! what about them?