4 ms·
>I've come to view drugs and alcohol as symptoms. We've probably co-evolved with alcohol, since it's both genetic and correlated with intelligence. Maybe it's t
by nnfy 10y ago
>I've come to view drugs and alcohol as symptoms. We've probably co-evolved with alcohol, since it's both genetic and correlated with intelligence. Maybe it's the method that evolution allows people to be honest enough for social cooperation, while being dishonest enough to cheat on a spouse occasionally.
Maybe humans simply evolved to seek pleasure and the associated activation of reward circuitry, the same way they find it in food, leisure, sex, etc. Except the pleasantness is significantly stronger with drugs. Its unlikely that humans evolved to use any particular drug, since there are so many exogenous substances which mimic human neurotransmitters and/or interact with the brain.
There is no complex explanation for why humans use and abuse drugs. They feel good and many humans are notoriously irresponsible with regards to over indulgence.
- 3pt14159 10y agoFeeling good is an evolved trait. We feel good when we have sex because it propagates genes. If we could hold technological growth static, the drugs that lead to dependence, depression, and suicide would eventually become less addictive. We do this with food through our tongue and through throwing up when we ingest poison. I'd imagine it'd be something similar for harmful drugs. Although it may be something else, like evolving out the negative consequences. Perhaps that's why alcohol dependence is correlated with intelligence: Smart people can think of ways of avoiding over drinking so there was less selective pressure on anti-alcohol dependence genes.