I saw an news brief on teens entering “smartphone addiction” treatment centers in Malibu, CA at a cost of $50k / month…  If I’m honest with myself, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some evidence of this new phenomenon in my office and in my own home.

We’ve all heard of the recent (it’s not really that recent) surge of opiate use in our country.  People who started out prescribed pain medications become addicted and migrate to harsher substances.

Marijuana…  is it bad it is not?  With the legalization of marijuana in many states, it’s hard to tell.  However, I spoke to a law enforcement officer from Colorado a while back.  He said, “if you want to make millions of dollars, open a substance abuse treatment center in Colorado, the problem is rampant.”  Maybe legalization is not the answer.

Mankind has been using substances for a long, long time.  Ancient pharaohs were buried with their favorite recipes for beer, and the Bible speaks often of the effective use of wine.  Shamans, clerics, and medicine men of old used peyote, mescaline, and hallucinogenic mushrooms to alter reality and seek spiritual enlightenment.

So what’s our problem?  Why are we experiencing epidemic levels of addiction, crime, and death due to substances? 

Meaning…  We lack meaning.  Frankl would say we are in an “existential vacuum” of epic proportions due to the deterioration of values and traditions that has led to a sense of meaninglessness.

In struggling to find meaning, we are engaging in more and more activities to fill the void, to fill the existential vacuum.

Problem is, they are not working very well…

What works well?  How do we discover meaning?  Put down the smart phone, step away from the laptop, interact with other people for a sustained amount of time and/or get out into nature.  That’s just the start.  You could also find a meaningful hobby, like whittling or wood carving.  Maybe you want to take up painting or a new exercise class.  Perhaps there is a volunteer organization that could really use your help.  Or maybe it’s time to start looking for a job or career that is more fulfilling so you don’t feel like pouring that drink, those drinks, every night.

Here’s a fun little infographic illustrating the history of addictions in the US – despite all our work, all our regulation to try to change it, we haven’t been very successful.  I’ve been teaching additions treatment for several years now – I’ve been an addictions therapist for twice as long – do you know what all the text books and research says?  “We’ve got a few ideas as to why and what works, but we’re really not sure…”

I’m sure.  I know there is one thing that works that cures a lot of issues – but does especially well with addiction, it’s MEANING.  When we discover meaningful activity and relationships in our lives, the need to avoid, escape, and alter reality eventually goes away.

What are you doing to discover meaning today?