I've found myself repeatedly confronted with the same fundamental questions—in podcast interviews, comments on my work, and emails from readers: Why does the United States, despite its immense wealth, suffer from such devastating rates of drug addiction and mental health struggles?
Great article. I remember my son telling me about this rat study years ago. The thing that stood out to me was that they later moved the caged rats into the park, and they quit drinking the drugged water. Community is key to a happy life!
In the attempt to avoid surface-level explanations you may have inadvertently concluded with some. Drug use varies city to city, nation to nation and continent to continent. The vast metropolises of the Far East (Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo) do not suffer from drug 'addiction' anywhere near Western levels, whilst, even across Western cities/nations, the rate of drug use dramatically varies.
One cannot stop at geographical comparisons - our own nations had comparably miniscule rates of drug use only decades ago, and I think somewhere therein lies the answer.
I am not sure what the question you think Dr McF is explaining. It’s less about the problem of drug addiction & more about how modern life has eroded community/human connection. It’s not just drugs that lonely disconnected individuals reach for either. There are many other things people “use” & “misuse” to fill the void of not feeling connected & not feeling meaning.
Love this post. This is exactly the path I'm walking on right now. Filling myself with joy with micro-moments in my community. Being authentic. Being honest. Helping where I can. Crying when I need to.
Average people are still so apathetic to get out of their bubble and understand in depth what the science industry has doing, even though it brought good advancements, also brought a "cage" to people live in. #resist
Great article. I remember my son telling me about this rat study years ago. The thing that stood out to me was that they later moved the caged rats into the park, and they quit drinking the drugged water. Community is key to a happy life!
In the attempt to avoid surface-level explanations you may have inadvertently concluded with some. Drug use varies city to city, nation to nation and continent to continent. The vast metropolises of the Far East (Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo) do not suffer from drug 'addiction' anywhere near Western levels, whilst, even across Western cities/nations, the rate of drug use dramatically varies.
One cannot stop at geographical comparisons - our own nations had comparably miniscule rates of drug use only decades ago, and I think somewhere therein lies the answer.
I am not sure what the question you think Dr McF is explaining. It’s less about the problem of drug addiction & more about how modern life has eroded community/human connection. It’s not just drugs that lonely disconnected individuals reach for either. There are many other things people “use” & “misuse” to fill the void of not feeling connected & not feeling meaning.
Thank you!
Great piece and I subscribed
Love this post. This is exactly the path I'm walking on right now. Filling myself with joy with micro-moments in my community. Being authentic. Being honest. Helping where I can. Crying when I need to.
Thank you Dr. McFillin! You made my day!
Excellent article!
Average people are still so apathetic to get out of their bubble and understand in depth what the science industry has doing, even though it brought good advancements, also brought a "cage" to people live in. #resist
Excellent article!
Another exceptional article, Thankyou