The Dhamma preached by Lord Buddha to a young householder named Sigala in the Sigalovada Sutra belonging to the Dhamma book Digha Nikaya is considered a system of discipline for lay devotees. According to this Sutra sermon, six evil consequences are described as follows, which lead to intoxication and delay due to addiction to alcohol and drugs.
- Immediate financial loss
- Excessive confusion
- Bases on health decline
- Defamation
- Incitement to obscenities
- Deterioration of thinking power
These harmful results caused by the use of drugs can be considered under three headings.
Physical impact – leading to health decline
Mental impact – deterioration of thinking power
Social impact – leading to property damage
Excessive confusion
to be defamed
Temptation to lewd thoughts
Alcohol and ‘social behavior problems’
Drinking alcohol creates a false self-confidence, and creates an impersonal ‘freedom’ that pretends to transcend the values and social virtues associated with family and society. Due to alcohol, one’s ability to plan and solve problems decreases, and ‘Self-Awareness’ also decreases. By this time, the drunkards gradually descend into anti-social behavior. Domestic quarrels, child abuse, husband-wife problems, etc.; Drunkenness rises rapidly with lust. Besides, alcohol and drug use also causes other social problems. The breakdown of ‘Inter-Personal Relationship’ is one of them. For example, those who drink alcohol excessively find it difficult to live in peace and harmony with others in the society, because the duties that should be fulfilled mutually are not fulfilled properly.
It goes without saying that those who live as virtuous people in a civilized society are bound by many duties and responsibilities that must be performed mutually. As a husband, one should treat his wife well and take care of her. As a dutiful wife, the woman also has a role to fulfill for her husband. In this way, parents have a role to play for their children, and children also have a role to play for their parents. People who are addicted to alcohol often do not have a sense of these duties and responsibilities. Moreover, such people quarrel with others and follow very indecent behavior by using vulgar words that are not compatible with their humanity. Such people, who are disgraced and disgraced, do not know their parents. No sons, brothers-sisters or neighbors known. Such behavior ends up creating terrible disturbances within the family unit and beyond in the larger society.
To a Thera named Sagata who was a powerful disciple of Lord Buddha during his time; He was able to control a certain venomous snake king with the power of his mind and free the villagers from the evil caused by that snake. The villagers of Kala Guna Dutt treated Therun with a rat they appreciated. The hungry men who were drunk with that honey, lost their senses and could not stand upright due to drunkenness, and fell in a pile of garbage near the highway.
Seeing this, the other monks wrapped him up and took him to the Buddha and laid him on the ground with his head towards the Buddha. But because of Veri Mata, he turned and fell towards the Buddha. Addressing the monks, the Lord Buddha asked if the hungry people in this condition could control even a garadi, let alone a venomous snake king. He described the dangers of drinking alcohol, and therefore, referring to the mighty precipice from which one may fall, he imposed the precept of abstinence from drinking alcohol for both clergy and laity. Strategies to Avoid Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Smoking
Groups that have fought against drug use and smoking have put forward various ideas and proposals to eliminate these things from society, and have used various tactics for that. It is our thought that a formal process should be launched immediately to rescue drug addicts and alcoholics from the unfortunate situation they have found themselves in. At the same time, we should pay close attention to our future generations. Since the majority of this generation has not yet fallen into that unfortunate situation, the possibility of becoming so in the future can easily be avoided.
Here, a basic step should be to publicize information about the harmful effects of drugs, alcohol and smoking in various ways. Through sermons and discussions, school students can be made aware of this.
Some people think that increasing taxes will reduce drug, alcohol and smoking. To some extent, this may be the case, but then some people will be tempted to use more harmful substances. For example, when the price of legal liquor in Sri Lanka rises, so does the production of illegal (poisoned) Kasippu. These drinks are readily available at many places. If the harm and side effects caused by these are explained to the public, especially the younger ones, the use of drugs and alcohol will gradually decrease.
It is the primary responsibility of any government to take effective and active measures for this. For example, the Department of Education can be forced to include programs in the school curriculum that can be useful for students from the primary level. These programs should be attractive and powerful enough to get the unbroken attention of the students. They should be prepared so that the harm that can be caused by alcohol and drugs is strongly reflected.
But now the other side is happening. At present computers, internet, newspapers, magazines and cinema etc. various mass media present to the eyes of the little ones very excessively and powerfully the positive words about alcohol, drugs and cigarettes etc. Our children from this terrible menace; Saving our future generations should be the absolute duty and responsibility of the government.