Recreational drugs in the Trekverse
- Thread starter F. King Daniel
- Start date
It was said in the manner of a current-day reference. If it was Trek's usual "savages of the primitive 20th century" thing, one of the others would have played dumb and he'd have to explain it.
We do get these "Did you catch the flu? You know, the thing that no longer exists" things fairly often. Sometimes the part about the thing no longer existing could well be omitted for brevity.
I mean, we do that a lot today, too. The cows no longer come home, for the usual value of home, but the proverbs linger. "Pressing the button" happens a lot without involving any buttons or pressing. Being "high" from "speed" need not be distinct from being caught in "red tape" - the phenomenon may persist while the specifics are long gone and possibly beyond the comprehension of the user of the phrase.
Timo Saloniemi
I mean, we do that a lot today, too. The cows no longer come home, for the usual value of home, but the proverbs linger. "Pressing the button" happens a lot without involving any buttons or pressing. Being "high" from "speed" need not be distinct from being caught in "red tape" - the phenomenon may persist while the specifics are long gone and possibly beyond the comprehension of the user of the phrase.
Timo Saloniemi
I've always held to the believe that in the Trekverse, drug use still exists, but not in the same way as today. Certainly withing the Federation we don't have streets full of -heads shambling around looking for their next fix, but I wouldn't, couldn't believe that nobody was getting high. The practice still existed, but the culture around it changed.
Harder drugs like amphetamines and heroin would certainly have gone away, along with addictive pharmaceuticals being used recreationally. In the event that someone does come to use them habitually, addiction treatment has evolved to the point of a simple hypospray and a lecture, Bob's your uncle you're cured.
Softer drugs , like cannabis or No2, or even some of the more ethnobotanical psychedellics like psilocybin or mescaline might still be a thing, but their use is accompanied by a different culture. The reasons for use may not necessarily be centered around escapism. As a result, there would be a rejection of drug use based around just getting high.
For example, if a couple of cadets decided to slip away from their graduation party to smoke a joint or crack a couple whippits, it would more likely result in a mild shaming, but otherwise be brushed off as "Cadets will be Cadets" largely because the culture understands the need to experiment, or the social aspects. People wouldn't be taking shrooms because "lolzrs letsl get fucked up" but more perhaps as an entheogen, or a supplement to meditation and inner reflection.
There's also a greater understanding of the difference between use and abuse. It wouldn't necessarily be a problem if a Starfleet officer liked to kick off a shore leave with a joint and some classic reggae, so long as they're not reporting for duty stoned.
That's within the Federation at least. Outside the Fed, I'm sure just about every culture still has their chemical vices and hangups, beyond mere boozehols.
Harder drugs like amphetamines and heroin would certainly have gone away, along with addictive pharmaceuticals being used recreationally. In the event that someone does come to use them habitually, addiction treatment has evolved to the point of a simple hypospray and a lecture, Bob's your uncle you're cured.
Softer drugs , like cannabis or No2, or even some of the more ethnobotanical psychedellics like psilocybin or mescaline might still be a thing, but their use is accompanied by a different culture. The reasons for use may not necessarily be centered around escapism. As a result, there would be a rejection of drug use based around just getting high.
For example, if a couple of cadets decided to slip away from their graduation party to smoke a joint or crack a couple whippits, it would more likely result in a mild shaming, but otherwise be brushed off as "Cadets will be Cadets" largely because the culture understands the need to experiment, or the social aspects. People wouldn't be taking shrooms because "lolzrs letsl get fucked up" but more perhaps as an entheogen, or a supplement to meditation and inner reflection.
There's also a greater understanding of the difference between use and abuse. It wouldn't necessarily be a problem if a Starfleet officer liked to kick off a shore leave with a joint and some classic reggae, so long as they're not reporting for duty stoned.
That's within the Federation at least. Outside the Fed, I'm sure just about every culture still has their chemical vices and hangups, beyond mere boozehols.
I have often wondered about that...
I've also wondered if the holodeck has some sort of breathalyzer to keep some drunk from going in and possibly freaking out or puking all over the place...
Would it need to? Chakotay had replaced peyote with that blinking box of red LEDs, after all... inducing a psychoactive state seems pretty straightforward by VOY's time period and I doubt this was the forefront of medical development so probably around in Kirk's time... it would explain some of the hairstyles.
why would they? In the moneyless utoptia - they'd simply replicate their next fix. As long as they were not bothering their neighbours, I'm sure nobody would care.
Ok, valid point.Of course, there were recreational drugs. Let's get serious.
Again there are many inconsistencies in Trek concerning money and drug taking! Subjects I'll bet the writers didn't really give two hoots about back in the sixties proven by contradictions over diamonds being highly sought after and also worthless! Comments made in The Cage and other episodes would hint at a society where drugs are no longer the force of evil that they are today but also that their effects are still frowned upon! 
JB
JB
