All drug use and alcohol abuse is ultimately the responsibility of the drug user or alcohol drinker.   Since no one is forcing them to abuse the substance they are the ones putting the substance into their bodies. Ecstacy – FROM DEA IMAGES

1.)  So the first enabler is themselves.   But is is a disease you say!  There is truth to that, particularly after the substance has bonded with their  chemistry and their chemistry thirsts for more and more drug.   Perhaps they need to self medicate to reduce some other life pain, emotional or physical.  These too are real needs    No matter the underlying cause the abuser chooses his poison and the consequent impact of that poison.  Addiction only continues with the consent of the addicted.

2.) The second and most insidious enabler is idleness.  When the Russian proverb said that “Idleness is the mother of all vices”  it is clear that those whose lives are filled with boredom and a lack of interest will find ways to occupy themselves.  One such way is with substance abuse.  If someone has no responsibilities, nothing that requires a sharp brain, then they have no deterrent to continued abuse.    Drug use among the unemployed is 18%.  Not every aspect of this study made sense, but there was a clear link in that those not in the workforce had much higher rates of drug and substance abuse.

3.).  The third enabler is one that rewards idleness.  For those unwilling to work for a living, but able to do so, the government check or unemployment check provides the means for survival without any of the responsibilities associated with providing for oneself or for your family.  The feelings of worthlessness associated with that existence is overwhelming.  This drives many toward alcohol and drug abuse.  Since Obama took office the percent of the US population that no longer works and is no longer looking for work has risen from 31 percent to 35 percent.  This has removed 4 percent of the population from the workforce.  That and number 4 below makes the government directly responsible for much of the drug use in the US.

4.)  The huge expansion of disability payments to able bodied individuals from age 20 to 65 has further exacerbated drug and substance abuse.  Not all of this is abuse of illegal substances, since being disabled has became so easy that a whole industry has grown up around it, including drugs to treat non-existent symptoms.  Understand that if you truly can not work, then you should get benefits, but not being willing to work is not a disability.  In the current government run structure this has become big business.  The statistics bear this out as does the personal experience of most Americans who can’t but help know of individuals collecting disability payments who are obviously not disabled.    It is theft, but a theft that has become common and acceptable.

5.) The last enabler is perhaps the most scary.  It is the victimization of American society.  We have gone from a society that prides itself on independence, on solving problems and moving toward to success, to one which glorifies victims.  If someone is laid off, they are told they can’t get a new job, they are too old, too black, too Hispanic, too something and because of that they are victims. As victims the government will help them.  The idea that they need to pursue a successful future is stolen from them.  Those making minimum wage are told that they deserve more without working for it, because they are victims.   The fact that the vast majority of those that stay in the workforce for any period of time receive promotions and raises it ignored.  These same individuals are encouraged to destroy the very people that employ them.

A robust economy would have a dramatic impact in reducing the abuse of drugs and alcohol.   Given current government policy that does not look likely  in the near future.