Sobriety

I hope that more of our polytheist events, whether in public or even in private groups, will be mostly free of intoxicating substances. 

I hope for drug free, and either alcohol free or alcohol only in moderation, and caffeine in moderation only. I hope for no nicotine, or  only in moderation as well.  I have some concerns about vaping: it isn't for everyone, and if it is done, perhaps it is better if others do not have to breathe the second-hand vape, whether that vape be nicotine, marijuana, or another substance. No "magic mushrooms." No illegal substances. No dubiously legal substances used in a fashion which is illegal or dangerous, like huffing of aerosols or gasses to get high. Marijuana, even if legal in some places, should probably be left at home. The substances themselves, and the behavior some folks exhibit while under the influence are not good or safe for many people. 

On a surface level of second-hand exposure, many people have allergies, sensitivities, or restrictions about these substances. There is also the possibility of associated trauma. There are also many people who have suffered either first-hand from alcoholism or alcohol abuse, or have had familial struggles with it. It's enough to leave the alcohol at home or to make sure that folks only indulge in moderation. It's a good, standard practice to ensure the safety of those in the community. 

I would also say that I have seen further behaviors exhibited which were  uncomfortable, or worse--hazardous, dangerous, and even malicious in nature and which involved intoxicating substances. 

I know of people who have been traumatized by questionable cigarettes which may have been more than they seemed at the time. It comes with an innocent enough request like "Care if I smoke?" and it is followed with some suggestion that "tobacco is sacred in many cultures" masking a malicious intent to get the bystander himself drugged or stuck with the threat of having been drugged, or of having unwittingly participated in something illegal. This is nasty and unacceptable. 

I recall a situation where the bystander is told that there is substance (like opium, or something else) in the cigarette. Perhaps the bystander thinks it's a joke because "who does that...?" or thinks "I'm outside in the open air, so maybe it's ok," or "I don't want to be the stuck-up jerk who won't let someone smoke." Sometimes the bystander is further harassed by bullying and abuse, or appeals to a person's better nature, or flowery complements peppered with outlandish insults to one's courage, individualism, or toughness, or a willingness to give a special offering to a deity, or even to the point where the malicious person insists that the deity would like this to happen. No! This is not ok!

Even if a "yes" is extracted, it should not be mistaken as "consent." And this goes for other drugs from which a bystander could end up with a contact high or a problem due to exposure. Few people want to be the "mean" person and say no...but also, few people want any drug test to come up with a positive for something they themselves didn't do. And nobody wants an evening of abuse just to make space and hold space for someone's maliciousness. Let's just not put people in these situations to begin with. 

I've seen further compounded problems with gas canisters at events too. Changing the atmosphere, literally, of the entire room, a bad idea. If you see something like this at an event, it's totally ok to be the uncool person and leave. At least a couple of times in my life, I have seen this: the explanations for suspicious gas canisters (nitrous, helium, o r something else?) on both occasions were too pat, and on both occasions I wished I had left. Things got ugly. 

I hate to say it, but in our community circles, sometimes I have not seen the customs and safeguards necessary to use what might be called "entheogens," drugs intended in a religious context. Also, illegal is still illegal, even if it is in a religious context. 

Some people might try to appeal to a right  of a non-violent indigenous people's religious use of intoxicating substances as a means to clear the way for their own illicit drug habits. Using a right secured for an oppressed minority as a means to further a different agenda isn't appropriate, especially when the users have a history of violence. It also imposes on a person's freedom to *not* do these things, it starts to become a bigger problem. 

Too many people have been traumatized by substance abuse at polytheist, pagan, and heathen venues including myself. If I feel uncomfortable there, if I know it's an irresponsible place for children, elders, and small animals, and I know it's not a good place for the kind of religious context I want to be a part of. I hope that there is a broader communities-wide movement to change a culture around intoxicating substances.