What America has is not nearly as much a drug problem as a God (or rather, no-God) problem. Why were addictive uses of drugs shunned widely enough that nobody thought to ban them until around the start of the 20th century? Because “no good Christian” would countenance purposely embarking on such a use.
We’ve bid adios to God and we don’t even have a reference for devil any more that doesn’t give rise to a cornucopia of mockery and “Oh, that’s so middle ages.” And those who would manipulate language are right. If you can’t openly talk about the devil and God, about temptations to damning yourself with sin and about salvation from sin, the closest you can get is within the private confines of a church or (maybe, in a way) in a 12-step group.
Very true. People need purpose and structure. Failing that, they’re going to find something to fill the void.