the consequences of alcohol or drug addiction, leave them alone. Drugs are substances which lead men to carelessness about their own bodies. These become sick and degenerate. Judgement becomes impaired so that men make mistakes in handling their personal affairs, in their work, in their driving and in their relationships with others. If they have families and dependents, these too are affected by the errors of judgement resulting from this carelessness.
The Buddha pinpoints that it is the carelessness resulting from taking drugs that results in errors in our thinking and behaviour. This carelessness is avoided if the cause, the drugs themselves, is given up and avoided. 37