"Our national drug is alcohol. We tend to regard the use any other drug with special horror"

William S. Burroughs' quote speaks with the cultural acceptance of alcohol in the United States. Alcohol is seen as a socially acceptable drug, while using other drugs is consulted with a sense of scary. This is likely due to the fact that alcohol is legal and commonly readily available, while other drugs are not. The quote likewise speaks with the stigma connected with substance abuse in basic, and the concept that utilizing any drug is seen as an ethical stopping working. This stigma is perpetuated by the media, federal government, and society at big, and it has led to a culture of fear and judgement surrounding substance abuse. Burroughs' quote is a suggestion that we must be more unbiased and understanding when it pertains to substance abuse, and that we need to not judge individuals for their options.