mullumby Loc: Australia

I was Drugged....

The other day I was talking to someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and asked me a rhetorical question, Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?

I replied that I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the priest, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds. I was drug to the homes of neighbors to help mow the yard, repair the clothesline, and if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, my dad would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, of heroin: and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I am of that generation also, and my being drug here and there has had more or less the same effect on me.
And knowing I would get my butt kicked and some if I messed with real drugs Along with some COMMON SENSE kept me from them.
However we did have a drug problem even in the 1950's but the media didn't report on it as much and the population was lower so the problem didn't seem as big then.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

In "the good old days" people also did more things that gave themselves a sense of accomplishment and self-pride. Cooking, a workshop in the garage, doing your own home repairs, a job where something tangible was created, etc. - and people participated in their communities more through church or civic organizations. People were more likely to volunteer - to help a neighbor or a local organization. All these things helped us feel connected and fulfilled. If you sit in front of a computer playing video games or watching porn you do not generate any sense of self-pride - you don't feel good about yourself. So much easier in that case to slip into alcoholism or drug abuse. I too was "drug" many times as a kid - but I was also shown how to be self-reliant in terms of home repairs and using tools. I may be a professional, but I can take pride in swapping out a toilet or doing other basic repairs. Back when automobiles had real/simple engines, a friend and I replaced the head gasket on my old Toyota Corolla - took us a day, but a great personal achievement. Better than drugs! That's my theory.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Amen to all that. I, too, am a "drug" head.

oregon don

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap

to this day I cannot stand the smell of ivory snow after having my mouth washed out with it 76 years ago

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

The 'drug' of the day in the wayback machine was alcohol (oh - - and tobacco).
These have far from disappeared - and the availability of ones just as, or far more, dangerous has exponentially increased.