Is it because of D.A.R.E?

July 10, 2008 2:52 PM

What is the root of Americans' distaste for recreational alcohol and drug use?

I notice that most Americans have an aversion to using mind-altering substances, especially if they are over the age of 23. Also, many people seem to avoid those who do get drunk and high.

I can understand why people may frown on alcohol/drug use when it gets out of control. Examples could be:

-drinking until one vomits or black out
-drinking more than three days a week
-driving while intoxicated or high
-drinking or getting high alone
-letting drug and/or alcohol use interfer with adult responsibilities...such as coming to work hungover.
-abusing very dangerous and highly addictive drugs like coke and heroine

But, what about when none of the above happens? Most of the drinkers and drug users I know, live productive lives and their use never or almost never get out of control. Yet, I know many people who judge those who like drinking and getting high, even when it's smaller amounts and nothing bad happens.

Can it be harmful to your health or safety? Yeah, it can be. But, so is eating unhealty foods or speeing in your car. Yet, many many people have no problem doing the latter, yet they avoid alcohol or drugs.

Religious reasons? For some people, but I know many non-religious people who are against drug and alcohol use.

Could you become addicted? Yes, but not every user is an addict. And, anyone can become addicted to anything.

I'm not sure where all the fear is coming from...

posted by sixcolors to society & culture (10 comments total)

Puritans
posted by ets960 at 2:55 PM on July 10

Questions that are some version of "What is the deal with X?"or "X sucks, am I right?" tend to not go well on Ask MetaFilter. Please do not rant on AskMe and pretend it is a question.
posted by nitsuj at 2:56 PM on July 10

This is not defined as chatfilter. I'm sure this question can be answered tastefully.
posted by sixcolors at 2:59 PM on July 10

Distaste? Do you know how many metric tons of dope Americans consume each year?
posted by Burhanistan at 3:01 PM on July 10

Well, most recreational drug use is illegal. That's one reason.
posted by PFL at 3:02 PM on July 10

from what I've read, our current decades-long tragic failure of a drug war actually started at a very specific point.

In the 70s, some parents somewhere down south where worried about their kids getting high all the time, so they decided to "do something about it" and called their congressman. The rest is history.

I don't know how true that is and can't be bothered to google it, but something to look into...
posted by drjimmy11 at 3:04 PM on July 10

Now THIS is a good example of the true definition of begging the question.
posted by peep at 3:05 PM on July 10

But, what about when none of the above happens?

As if that was predictable.
posted by smackfu at 3:05 PM on July 10

This is not defined as chatfilter. I'm sure this question can be answered tastefully.

This is chatfilter. The issue is that the question could have been asked better and differently.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:05 PM on July 10

I notice that most Americans have an aversion to using mind-altering substances, especially if they are over the age of 23

Well, I think you might need to refine your age-range a bit. Speaking as an unrepresentative sample of 50-year-olds, I can say that I definitely don't have an aversion or distaste for recreational drugs. For me, it's more of a "been there, done that" attitude. I still smoke on occasion with friends. And I'd probably say yes to just one more day with mushrooms. But, I'll also be fine with never doing either again. I never had bad times with drugs. I think it's just that the "newness" wore off or something.

OTOH, I purposely stopped getting drunk simply because it makes me feel like shit. I'l have a couple of beers with friends, but that's about it.

Now, my son is a product of the Officer Friendly/DARE bullshit that swept into out schools in the 90s. By the time he was in middle-school, we couldn't get him to take so much as an aspirin because of the anti-drug paranoia they drummed into him. I think he's better now, but I can easily see how those programs could influence adult attitudes (which is what they were meant to do, of course)
posted by Thorzdad at 3:07 PM on July 10