i think responsibility is a key thing to mention here.
i also think poor judgment calls are a result of what's going on in one's mind at the time.
too many people don't have a good enough grasp on themselves and their place in this world to begin with. when their thoughts and feelings are exemplified as when abusing drugs or alcohol bad/poor/wrong thoughts and actions can occur that wouldn't occur in a 'normal' state of mind.
people tend to get lost in their own minds and take on an entirely new identity when they're drunk or really stoned. Because of the exemplifying of unconscious feelings and ideas that comes with taking a mind-altering substance, those who are less aware of these dormant processes often react in an extreme manner and lose touch with reality entirely.
in this respect i think alcohol abuse is a lot worse than marijuana abuse as both can impair judgment (if the user isn't aware that they're still the one in control of his or her mind and body) but alcohol has resulting physical effects that are nowhere close to that calm, laid-back (well, lethargic) feeling weed often induces.
when you notice the physical and mental effects weed or alcohol have on yourself, know that the thoughts and actions eking out of you are your subconscious manifested, but they are still
your thoughts and actions.
[shit i i was so convinced that what i'm saying is true but now i'm having second thoughts. i'll let someone else decide.]
but now maybe that^up there^ is where a lot of people 'go wrong'. when they begin to feel or think things that are unfamiliar to how they experience their daily lives, it could go a few ways as i see it.
If they don't have a good hold on reality initially, they will only become less in touch with themselves, and the more extreme the case the higher potential for a downward spiral of self-pity or unawareness or confusion.
if they cant even differentiate between their conscious and unconscious to begin with then they will feel that the effects they're experiencing are actually challenging
who they are and so feel attacked. by themselves?
alcohol results in more of an outward thing where weed internalizes everything and forces you to come to conclusions based on your coriest of core truths and virtues (you might not have even known you believe
).
in both cases though, a 'poor' foundation for one's virtues, combined with a less-conscious application of them to the 'drunk' or 'high' or 'stoned' feelings and thoughts, results in those feelings and thoughts being poor themselves?
am i on to something?
i personally have only been in a situation where i put the mind or body of myself or another in jeopardy under the influence of alcohol.
but that was totally acceptable by our society's standards, so it's ok.
i don't think i finished all my thoughts, but i think i've presented some sensible ideas, and i'm going to be done anyway.