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zannennagara said:
This topic line goes a long way. We might reframe the consideration to examine identity and how much of that which composes it is something easily interpreted as a drug.

Note how many people toss off "addicted" as a badge of honor of sorts for particular sorts of encouraged behavior: exercise, studying, reading, television shows, sex, socializing. These hobbies are how people define themselves. Two people talking about the latest episode while the third non-watcher waits, estranged, for some relatable term of reference, is a lot like a nonuser listening to the exploits of junkies. Similarly, nuclear physicists have few friends who work as department store lead cashiers.

The signifier "drug" is simply applied to those objects which occupy a space of malignant good-for-nothingness or escapism and therefore possess a resultant marginalization and verboten reputation among their detractors. An interesting but scarcely imaginable notion would be an identity undefined by obsessions, in which every carabinered lifeline of security is constantly severed so that every day brings renewed opportunities for exploration - but this by far is the most alienating route to take. And just think how bad it would be for the economy! We can't have that. We want people to take on a distinct mania for the team, so that they can lead exotic and insane lives that make people shake their heads in awe admiration or hatred, give work to aspiring documentary filmmakers, biographers, journalists and social scientists, and give everyone else some kind of role model to cling to and therefrom guide their own wild-eyed frightened curious stumblings through the dark corridors and vast expanses of humanity.

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