Drugs, Alcohol and the Pagan Community

The issue of drug and alcohol use and abuse in the Pagan Community has not been addressed often and is probably controversial. Despite all the current media coverage of these subjects, I've only seen them addressed once by Pagans - at a COG Festival workshop, Abby Willowroot's "The Government Wants to Keep You Stoned" (1984 COG Grand Council). People choose to use or avoid many substances for a variety of reasons, including allergy or other medical indication, conviction or personal preference. Some of those most commonly avoided are certain medications, other drugs, preservatives, tobacco, alcohol, salt or sugar. I will focus here on alcohol and drugs; please note that I am not making moral judgments on their use.