The basic thing nobody asks is why do people take drugs of any

"The basic thing nobody asks is why do people take drugs of any sort?" These words, spoken by the great John Lennon, open a doorway into a question that has echoed through the hearts of many for generations. Why, in a world that is so rich in potential and promise, do so many feel the need to turn to substances, to rely on external forces to carry them through the daily storms of life? What drives the human soul to seek solace in drugs, whether they be chemicals, alcohol, or the multitude of ways we seek to escape from the harshness of our existence? Lennon’s question is not one that merely challenges us to think about addiction itself; it presses deeper into the heart of society, seeking to uncover the forces that have shaped us, and the unseen pressures that push us toward these escapes.

In the ancient world, wisdom was often sought through questions that reached to the very core of human suffering. The philosophers of old, such as Socrates and Plato, delved into the nature of the soul and its desires. They sought to understand not just the visible world, but the invisible forces that shaped our lives. To live a life of virtue and wisdom, they taught, required a mastery of self, a liberation from the desires that cloud our judgment and cloud our hearts. But even in those days, men and women were not free from the pressures of life. The Iliad, the great epic of Homer, speaks of the fury of war, the overwhelming pressures of human conflict, and the ways in which even the greatest heroes sought comfort in fleeting pleasures. These struggles were not new—they have always been with us.

Yet, Lennon’s words call us to question a deeper truth: is it not the very structure of our society that drives us to these extremes? Why do we need to guard ourselves against the pressures of life? Why must we numb the pain, dull the senses, or escape the harsh realities of our time? Society, with all its promises of prosperity, success, and happiness, seems to burden its children with an invisible weight, a weight that grows ever heavier with each passing year. The pressures to succeed, to compete, to fit in—these are the unseen forces that work upon our hearts, pushing us to seek relief in all the wrong places. Lennon’s question is not merely about drugs; it is a question about the very fabric of the world we have created. It is a call to examine the societal pressures that shape our lives and the ways in which those pressures distort our true nature.

Take, for example, the story of the Roman Empire. At its height, Rome was a city of unimaginable wealth, power, and luxury. And yet, beneath its grandeur, there was a deep and growing discontent. The people, though surrounded by riches, were increasingly restless, seeking pleasure in excess, in games, in feasts, and in drugs. The famous philosopher Seneca wrote of the decay he saw in his society, warning that the pursuit of pleasure and comfort would eventually lead to moral and spiritual ruin. He understood that the empire’s outward magnificence masked an inner emptiness, one that caused the people to seek refuge in temporary escapes. The same can be said of our modern world—where we are surrounded by luxuries and advances in every field, yet we are more anxious, more pressured, and more likely to seek refuge in the substances and distractions that numb our senses.

In his wisdom, Lennon calls upon us to look beyond the surface of our struggles and to examine the roots of our suffering. The need for drugs and other crutches is not simply a personal failing, but a symptom of a greater disease. It is the society that shapes us, that demands so much from us, that pushes us to the brink. It is the fast pace of life, the constant comparisons, and the overwhelming expectations that leave us feeling empty and lost. We are told to be more, to do more, to be constantly productive, to chase after things that will never truly bring us peace. In such a world, it is no wonder that many turn to substances to seek refuge, to numb the pain of feeling inadequate, of never measuring up.

But in these words, there lies a call to action. Lennon’s challenge is not just to examine why we use these escapes, but to change the world that makes such escapes necessary. If we truly want to heal, we must not only address the surface symptoms, but the root causes of our suffering. We must look at the society we have created—the one that prizes money, status, and achievement above all else—and begin to transform it. A society built on competition and individualism cannot heal the wounds it creates. We must return to the values of community, connection, and self-care. We must build a world where people can live freely, without the need to escape from it.

So, let us learn from Lennon’s words. Let us ask ourselves: Why do we feel the need to guard ourselves against life? What pressures are shaping our hearts, our choices, and our destinies? The answer, like the key to so many of life’s greatest challenges, lies not in the substances we turn to, but in the systems that drive us to despair. We must seek to create a world where the pressures of modern life are no longer the invisible chains that bind us. Only then can we live freely, unburdened by the need to escape, and begin to heal from the inside out.