But they do exist for a reason. We evolved many extremely useful taboos, and this is one of them. The value of culture is 1) the material prosperity it creates

But they do exist for a reason. We evolved many extremely useful taboos, and this is one of them. The value of culture is 1) the material prosperity it creates, 2) the emotional fulfilment it generates, and 3) how well it self-propagates. Hard drugs destroy the first two, and by killing the user and innocent bystanders early, it interferes with the third. Much of America’s falling life expectancy can be blamed on drugs.