PSYCHEDELIC SCIENCE: Drugs Are the Same: Legal or Illegal. Stimulation as a Necessity: A Reinterpretation of 'Drugs' in Contemporary Society

Summary

The article critiques the traditional distinction between legal and illegal drugs, arguing that all drugs function as stimulants that help alleviate social discomfort. It suggests that both legal substances like coffee and illegal ones like psychedelics serve similar purposes in addressing anxiety linked to cultural tensions. The discussion includes insights from psychology and sociology, emphasizing the need for a broader perspective on drug legalization that encompasses cultural and philosophical dimensions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article presents a critical reinterpretation of the concept of "drugs" in contemporary society, challenging the traditional categorization that separates legal substances from illegal ones. Through a multidisciplinary analysis incorporating psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, it argues that drugs, regardless of their legal status, are merely stimulatory substances that serve as nutrients for both the mind and the body. The need for stimulation is framed as a fundamental human response to social discomfort, as described by Freud in The Malaise of Civilization. From this perspective, both legal drugs (such as coffee and tea) and illegal ones (such as psychedelics) serve the same basic function: alleviating the anxiety inherent in social and cultural tensions. The concept of soma in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is incorporated as a critique of how consumer societies seek artificial pleasures to mitigate suffering. Finally, the article offers a comparative analysis of different drugs and their effects on the human psyche, suggesting that the future of psychedelic drug legalization should be considered not only from a medical standpoint but also from cultural and philosophical perspectives. This study offers new insights into the role of drugs in mental health and social wellbeing.

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