Today, drugs and other substance abuse are a leading problem in the U.S. This explicit use of illegal substances, as well as medicated drugs, can cause crime, loss of job, health care, and even death. Perhaps the most significant issue concerning drug use and abuse is the fact that it can easily lead to addiction. The author of the excerpt, Want-Creation Fuels Americans’ Addictiveness, Phillip Slater, describes his view of the average want of Americans. He believes that the want and desire of certain attributes and worldly possessions can create addiction of substances and other concepts. Through this excerpt, he correctly and truthfully explains that this need for fast solutions, the facade for success, and relating addiction to the human …show more content…
To have money and all the things they require and many spend their entire lives trying to obtain these things. Every big star, everything that we are shown and brainwashed with, tell us that we must obtain the perfect self to truly be happy. We must have a certain product, we mustn’t eat if we want to get that perfect body. Leaders and role models always state that we must love ourselves and live our lives with less want. Slater comments on this idea by stating, “But in our society we spend billions each year creating want. Covetousness, discontent and greed are taught to children,” (303). We constantly crave attention and may do any means(Guinness Book of Records) to obtain this. Slater makes the point that to many Americans, the one who should have the perfect life is the one who makes at least $50,000 annually. But not many of these are reported to be actually happy and content with life (Slater 302). These realizations that we may not experience the “perfect life” can move others to use substances to help ease the pain. They use these drugs and other substances to feel alive, and maybe even to help them reach the successful life that they so crave. This is our society. To many, the choice comes down to humanity or success. Sometimes people can achieve