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We explore the contradictions surrounding drugs in our society and investigate the physiological, cultural, and spiritual impacts of various substances on our consciousness. From caffeine and alcohol to pharmaceuticals and psychedelics, this episode examines our complex relationships with substances and challenges us to question whether they're bringing healing or escape.
• The word "drug" carries contradictory meanings – dangerous and illegal vs. heavily advertised pharmaceuticals
• The US and New Zealand are the only countries that permit direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising
• We're experiencing a psychedelic renaissance with research showing therapeutic benefits for PTSD, depression, and addiction
• Socially acceptable substances like caffeine and alcohol significantly alter consciousness but are normalized
• Caffeine is the world's most widely used psychoactive drug with similar mechanisms to amphetamines
• Alcohol disrupts REM sleep, increases cortisol, and affects gut health even in moderate amounts
• Examining our intentions with substances – are we seeking healing or numbing?
• Fasting from substances helps establish your baseline and increases sensitivity to their effects
• Drug prohibition has historical connections to social control of marginalized communities
• The molecules themselves have no inherent morality – only intention, impact, and context matter
Please subscribe, like, and share this episode if it might benefit someone you know. Find me on Patreon for insider perks, on X @bsmbird or search Daily Practice With Benita, and on YouTube where I post podcasts on Mondays and short practice videos every Friday. Remember, a good practice is the one you do.
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Thank you for being part of this unfolding.

—Benita