[mercer]

My view on this is that if one can find these kinds of meaning and understanding without using any drugs, so much the better. Drugs, for both good and bad, can provide shortcuts (in the broadest sense).

Personally I am a bit suspicious of shortcuts, in general. If I had to choose between drug use on the one hand and meditation and other approaches to 'enlightenment' (in an admittedly vague, broad, rather personal sense), I'd choose the latter any day.

But with my limited experience of the former, I consider it quite valuable, albeit sometimes risky.

EDIT: to name one example. I remember reading about a guy who had severe trouble connecting with others and making friends. After using MDMA once, and having the 'forced' experience of loving everybody around him, it was as if this unlocked his ability to make and maintain friendships. My personal experiences are similar.