Some of us remember the 1980s commercial that depicts a person frying an egg in a hot skillet. The narrator tells us that this is “your brain on drugs.”
Get the picture?
That picture has remained in my mind for many years. Today, the war on drugs has taken a back seat to many other national concerns, but the reality of addiction continues to tear away at the fabric of our families and our culture.
We seem to have become a nation of complex addictions. Medicines meant to bring freedom from pain or anxiety morph into chemical treasures one can’t live without.
Substances sold on the streets attract those of all income levels and races. Alcoholism still troubles us. It sits like a waiting imp at festive family gatherings and parties that begin with laughter but end in unpredictable places.