What is a Drug?
According to the Mahan Kosh, a drug refers to an intoxicant, a narcotic substance, or anything that disturbs the mind. The semi-conscious state caused by the consumption of intoxicating substances is called a state of intoxication.
The state of intoxication is such a condition of the mind that disconnects a person from reality and takes them into a state of unconsciousness or drunkenness. In this state, a person can neither think correctly nor act properly, because their mental ability becomes detached from rational thinking. If a person consumes intoxicants excessively, this state can develop into madness. In such a condition, a person loses the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and even loses awareness of self and others. Their intellect becomes impaired.
Under such a weakened intellect, a person commits actions that bring disgrace in both this world and the hereafter, ultimately spending their life in regret and sorrow. In this intoxicated state, a person has no fear of the law, no shame before society, and no fear of God. In a state of madness, they act according to their impulses, thereby ruining both their worldly and spiritual life.
Regarding the condition of an intoxicated person, Guru Amar Das Ji has stated:
ਮਾਣਸੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਆਣਿਆ ਮਾਣਸੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਆਇ॥
ਜਿਤੁ ਪੀਤੈ ਮਤਿ ਦੂਰਿ ਹੋਇ ਬਰਲੁ ਪਵੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਇ॥
ਆਪਣਾ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨ ਪਛਾਣਈ ਖਸਮਹੁ ਧਕੇ ਖਾਇ॥
ਜਿਤੁ ਪੀਤੈ ਖਸਮੁ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਦਰਗਹ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਜਾਇ॥
ਝੂਠਾ ਮਦੁ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਪੀਚਈ ਜੇ ਕਾ ਪਾਰਿ ਵਸਾਇ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰੀ ਸਚੁ ਮਦੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਇ॥
(ਅੰਗ ੫੫੪)
⸻
In a state of intoxication, a person creates an imaginary world—like castles in the air—which has no connection with reality. As the effect of the drug wears off, this imaginary world begins to collapse, and reality reappears. The person who had tried to escape reality through drugs becomes even more distressed when confronted with it again. To escape this pain and regain the illusion of intoxication, they consume drugs repeatedly. Over time, this repeated use becomes a habit and eventually a part of their nature, making them a permanent slave to addiction. This slavery continues until the end of their life.
Even if, through good company or spiritual guidance, a person develops the intention to quit drugs, their ingrained habits often overpower these positive intentions, preventing change. Thus, even when they wish to give up addiction, they find themselves unable to do so.
Bhai Gurdas Ji explains this condition beautifully:
ਜੈਸੇ ਪੋਸਤੀ ਸੁਨਤ ਕਹਤ ਪੋਸਤ ਬੁਰੋ, ਤਾਂ ਕੇ ਬਸਿ ਭਯੋ ਛਾਡਯੋ ਚਾਹੈ ਪੈ ਨ ਛੂਟਈ॥
ਜੈਸੇ ਜੂਆ ਖੇਲ ਬਿਤ ਹਾਰ ਬਿਲਖੈ ਜੁਆਰੀ, ਤਊ ਪਰ ਜੁਆਰਨ ਕੀ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਨ ਟੂਟਈ॥
ਜੈਸੇ ਚੋਰ ਚੋਰੀ ਜਾਤ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਸਹਕਤ ਪੁਨਿ ਤਜਤ ਨ ਚੋਰੀ ਜੌ ਲੌ ਸੀਸ ਹੀ ਨ ਫੂਟਈ॥
ਤੈਸੇ ਸਭ ਕਹਤ ਸੁਨਤ ਮਾਯਾ ਦੁਖਦਾਈ, ਕਾਹੂ ਪੈ ਨ ਜੀਤੀ ਪਰੈ ਮਾਯਾ ਜਗ ਲੂਟਈ॥੫੯੧॥
⸻
Drugs as a Tool for Destroying Nations
History bears witness that a nation which cannot be destroyed by weapons can easily be destroyed through alcohol and indulgence in luxuries. If a nation is to be enslaved, it can be done by trapping it in addiction. Nations that fall prey to drugs lose their conscience, wealth, honor, and dignity. They may even surrender their land and sovereignty in exchange for intoxicants.
History provides many examples of nations destroyed through drugs:
•Colonizers destroyed the bravery and pride of Native Americans through alcohol and took control of their land. Even today, their new generations are being weakened through easy access to alcohol and drugs.
•Similarly, the indigenous people of Australia suffered the same fate, being destroyed through intoxicants.
•In Ireland, the British weakened the people’s desire for freedom by promoting alcohol—making it cheap and widely available. Even today, alcohol remains deeply embedded in Irish society.
•The Japanese used drugs to weaken the Chinese, while Russia did the same with the Mongolians. China began progressing after the 1948 revolution, when opium was eradicated.
•Through intoxicants, colonizers enslaved Black people and exploited them as laborers.
In 1849, when the British annexed the Sikh Empire, they used alcohol and opium as tools to weaken the spirit of Sikh soldiers. Many became addicted, while brave warriors such as the Nihang Singhs were either eliminated or pushed into addiction.
⸻
Today, following the same pattern, even within our own country, traders are actively spreading drugs among their own people. Liquor shops are being opened at every corner, and tobacco products such as gutka and other intoxicants are being attractively packaged and openly sold near schools, colleges, and public places.
Everyone must take responsibility to protect themselves and others from these deadly substances.
– Baba Seva Singh Ji (Rampur Khera)
