Addiction is a tool used by the powerful to oppress us. Addiction is a problem that affects millions of people around the world. From substance addiction to behavioral addiction, the impact can be devastating to individuals and society as a whole. Addiction not only harms the addicted person, but it also has ripple effects on their family, friends, and community. In this blog post, we will explore how addiction can is a tool for those in power and why we should rid ourselves of it to reach individual and collective liberation.

Those in power can benefit from people being addicted to substances or things in several ways. Here are a few examples:

Economic Benefit of Addiction

Addiction to substances or things can create a lucrative market for those who sell or distribute them; pharmaceutical companies, tobacco companies, alcohol distributors, and sellers of other addictive products make a ridiculous profit off of our oppression. Addiction serves the powerful. It takes our economic power away and hands it to those that seek to benefit from us harming ourselves.

Political Benefit 

Addiction is a tool to control and manipulate people. For example, a government or political party might encourage addiction to certain substances or things to keep people distracted or pacified, keep them from revolting against unjust policies, or to create a population dependent on the government for help with addiction-related problems. 

Addiction keeps the worker complacent about being exploited and keeps people from recognizing their worth. If people are in survival mode, they are less likely to organize into unions. Therefore, they are less likely to demand higher wages and better work-life balance. Addicted workers are less likely to quit their jobs to find a better one.

Social Benefit

Addiction is a tool used to create a social hierarchy. Those addicted to certain substances or things may be stigmatized or marginalized, while those not addicted may be seen as more respectable or successful. This can reinforce power structures and create divisions within society.

Also, addiction can benefit white supremacy by reinforcing systemic oppression, supporting the prison industrial complex, dividing communities, and supporting capitalist systems.

Psychological Benefit of Addiction

Addiction can be a way for those in power to feel superior or in control. They may see themselves as more disciplined, moral, or self-controlled than those addicted and may use this belief to justify their power, privilege, or religious superiority.

In conclusion, addiction is not just a personal problem, but a societal one as well. By understanding how it’s a tool for those in power, we can work toward our individual and collective liberation from addiction. We can stick it to the Man, take our power back, know our worth, reach our highest potential, and fight for a more just and equitable society.