Get To Work On This One Medical Science!

There is a need so huge begging to be filled that I still cannot believe that it hasn't been filled yet.

I am, of course, referring to the need for a  "Hey-everybody-and-everything-is-all-right, I-think-I'll-just-live-and-let-live" drug. 

Over the past fifty years or so, the great minds of medical research have discovered much abut neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and epinephrine and how they factor into mood, well-being, and just plain old feeling good.

Shouldn't there now be a substance available that will mimic the euphoria of being in love, of being on top of the world, that people can take that has absolutely no side effects?

We can put a man on the moon....

I know people who drink a few beers, some wine or other alcoholic beverage and get to a point where they are gregarious, happy, fun people to be around...but then they have one more and they become complete asshats.

Worse yet, I have been one of those people.

I know (or have known) people who indulge in the use of marijuana, and though all of them will swear vehemently that their use of pot is not addictive and harms no one (including themselves), I would have to beg otherwise. For while I do know a few tokers who are productive members of society, I know quite a few more who are not.

I'm old enough to have watched more than a dozen people - some close friends, literally lose their desire to partake in anything but pot - by that I mean they have chosen to drop out of society as we know it and sit around where-ever they can getting high.

If that's not evidence of an addictive, debilitating drug, I don't know what is.

So why is there no non-addictive, non-debilitating substance available that allows people to feel good - good as in happy to be alive, happy to share in the community of man, happy to be working toward the greater good, happy to be productive, happy to share resources, happy to be human, for Zeus sakes?!

I would imagine there would be quite a market for it. The manufacturer could name it "Happiness" and set up Happiness stores everywhere. That would be awesome.

Ponder it for a minute. You've had a hard day at work or at school. You are tired, feel miserable, don't want to have to deal with anyone...but before you head off for the staff meeting or head home from work, you munch on a happiness wafer...and within minutes you're smiling, giving cheerful hellos to workmates, friends, everybody...and stay in that frame of mind until you're done for the day.

With no side effects. No cheap Roger Corman B-movie "Omigawd the happiness drug turned everybody into mindless zombies" crap. It just wears off and you are your regular self until you take another.

Maybe it could be made to be taken like a one-a-day-vitamin and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation could give everybody a lifetime supply - it would be just as respectable a charitable endeavour as vaccinating Africa.

Imagine - everybody on the planet feeling good about their life, and feeling good about being part of the human race.

Nobody strapping bombs to themselves to level Delicatessens, no one feeling the need to marginalize someone else in order to feel some pathetic sense of self-worth, no one trying to undermine anyone else's efforts to just enjoy life.

It must be possible. There are already people walking this planet who are able to live their lives like that. Should they be studied to see what is it about their brain chemistry that makes them be like that?

I'd think they'd understand the need and would volunteer for it.

Is it because the funding isn't available? Hell, there are telethons and marathons every year to raise money to eradicate diseases - how about one of those fund-raisers to raise funds for research on a substance that will make everybody happy?

I'd pledge a few bucks. If they catch me on a good day I might pledge at least $20.