I read an extremely informative article on the train this morning (“Why we worry about the things we shouldn’t…and ignore the things we should” - Time, December 4, 2006).
In the article the author, Jeffrey Kluger, makes a number of very interesting observations. One observation in particular struck a chord with me.
To paraphrase:
“Drinking and drugs confer certain benefits because the gratification is immediate and the penalty comes later. With enough time and enough temptation we can talk ourselves into anything ignoring almost any long-term costs. These things can be fun but they can be lethal.”
Lethal! In other words they can kill you. And they do kill. In my personal life I’ve had over 60 friends and acquaintances die directly because of their use of alcohol or drugs, and in my professional life far more. And interestingly, every one of them started using substances innocently. And just as Jeffrey Kluger observes, it was the short-term gratification that created the long-term consequences.
If you find yourself caught up in the short-term gratification of substance use, stop for a minute! Take a hard look at where you could possibly be headed and weigh the risks versus the rewards. Long-term drug and alcohol use can affect your career, your education, your finances, and your friendships. It can lead to a loss of your freedom, your family and affect your physical health. Ultimately it will affect your emotional health and eventually it could kill you.
All this for a buzz? Somehow I don’t think the benefits outweigh the consequences. Do you?
If you’re not sure if you or a loved one may be headed for trouble, contact us. We love to help.
Until next time,
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