self-destructive impulses and habit

Most of us all know the dangers of substance abuse. I, for one, remember having to sit through Drug Abuse Resistance Education (better known as D.A.R.E.) presentations and having to do that "I will say no to drugs" pledge by the end of them. It would suffice to say that most, if not all, of us are aware of just how bad partaking in these behaviors is very wrong. But the truth of the matter is that drug abuse rates are higher than ever.

The other day, my friend told me about how he was offered a vape in the media center once when he went to go print something out. Knowing him, obviously he said no even after the person offering kept trying to pressure him. But what about the people who aren't as stubborn as my friend? They might give in, knowing that it's wrong, or maybe they want to seem cool so they try it. They know that once you start, its very difficult to stop, leading themselves down a path they could have refused.

For people with crippling addictions, self-destructive behaviors are ones that cannot be controlled. People abuse substances for the sake of pleasure. It feels good, or maybe it distracts them from reality. But even if it feels good in the spur of the moment, is the dopamine rush worth it? It's human nature to seek comfort, but addiction is a rose bush; the thorns are inescapable, and freeing yourself from this dependence is hard. 

Maybe some people simply have enough autonomy to resist the things they know will hurt them. In terms of Kantian moral philosophy, autonomy is one's ability to act on personal morals and not be swayed by others. I would like to think I have enough to know right from wrong and I am hard-headed enough to not succumb to the persuasion of others. Yet not everyone has that ability, or maybe their morals themselves are skewed. Ultimately, you have the freedom to choose, but those actions have consequences. Let them be good ones.