Anthropomorphism and drugs

Anthropomorphism and drugs

I always thought it was a great word, but I never knew quite how much of it goes on. Take drugs, for example. ‘Drugs are bad’, we hear, ‘drugs can kill’. But they’re not, and they can’t. Drugs are inanimate objects which stay in one place and do nothing, until some human being ritualistically takes them into his or her body. If human beings never picked up drugs, there would be no ‘drug problem’; so blaming drugs for it is pointless and rather stupid. In fact, it’s an addict’s argument, ‘It was the drugs that made me do it’, says the armed robber/prostitute/shoplifter. Yeah, right, a rock of cocaine and a wrap of smack put a gun to your head and made you do it. Of course, I know what they’re talking about, but it’s ridiculous.

Perhaps I am too strong and insensitive with my language, after all, everyone knows that drugs don’t literally kill people, or make people commit crime; these are just turns of phrase. But I do think their use suggests we are avoiding taking responsibility for ourselves. It’s very selective how we do this. Take cars, for example. I don’t know how many people die on the roads every year, but I suspect it’s quite a few more than die in gun crime or from illegal drugs. However the message we receive from the media is ‘guns are bad’ and ‘cars are good’. Cars are symbolised as sex objects or faithful friends. We are almost complacent when these desirables mow down children. Drugs and guns, however, are made into malevolent characters purely seeking to kill and maim, especially children, so there is little opportunity for anyone to offer the view that either might be neutral, let alone have some beneficial effects.

The most startling example, perhaps, is that of alcohol. Alcohol has been characterised as humorous, friendly and sexy, and I’ll admit it does that for me. This effect only lasts for the first few drinks. After a few more the outrageous ranting, falling over, and vomiting begins, followed the next day by a stonking great hangover. Not very sexy. Thousands of people die every year from alcohol related disease and incidents, yet it is our good friend, always there whenever you want to celebrate or commiserate, or kill yourself.

This anthropomorphism is getting in the way of a decent debate about some very important issues. It’s time to get real and acknowledge that humanity are responsible for themselves, and for how they choose to relate to potentially dangerous things. If we were living beneath a smouldering volcano, it would make no sense to be saying ‘ban the volcano; the volcano is evil.’ Making it illegal would not make it go away, nor would reclassifying it. In fact, nothing would make it go away, and nor should it, as it is a marvellous manifestation of the power of nature. Instead, humanity should take sensible precautions for themselves.

As for drugs, are they a marvellous manifestation of the power of nature? Yes indeed, for they can have powerful medical, therapeutic and spiritual uses. But with great power, comes great danger. Calling them bad and banning them has not reduced their negative effects one iota. Calling them good and promoting them like alcohol, would not do so either. Instead, we should take a neutral view of a neutral entity, and think about how we can maximise the good, and minimise the negative effects.