Daddy what are drugs?

While spending some quality time together this weekend with my oldest son, we caught a glimpse of a TV show depicting DEA agents hard at work. My son asked what is the DEA? I explained it stands for the drug enforcement agency, and they serve to protect us from the bad guys who sell or use drugs.

As expected from a 4 year old, he followed one question with another, "daddy what are drugs"? -I have to admit that although this isn't as bad as him asking how babies are made, I was a little nervous to answer. -So all kinds of info flooded my mind, from Cheech and Chong movies to President Reagan's war on drugs. I even had a thought of a book from Tom Wolfe called the Electric Acid cool-aid test, where Ken Kesey and his merry pranksters run around the country using acid and filming their experiences. It was there where I remembered who I was talking to and tried to teach to his level.

"Well son there are good drugs and bad drugs" making sure he realizes that when a doctor gives him some pills he needs to take them. I then referenced an experience he had two days earlier going to the dentist to fix 8 cavities. The dentist gave my son some type of liquid paradise and left him laughing at everything he laid his eyes on, especially his mother. I explained that what he took from the dentist was an example of good drugs and they helped him go through his treatment with minimal pain. I reminded him that those drugs made him feel funny and he had a hard time walking, talking and all he wanted to do was laugh. I even received a text from my wife after his appointment that said, "this is like taking care of a drunken midget, he thinks he can run around but when he tries he runs straight into the wall". I then explained that some people want to feel like that all the time and that was bad. I then said these people will stop at nothing to get drugs for that feeling and so the DEA and the police have to stop them from breaking the law to use drugs.

He then smiled and said "ohh", with a feeling of accomplishment I figured I had accomplished my fatherly duties and my son is better off with the knowledge I had given him. Later as I was explaining to my beautiful bride what a wonderful father my son has, she says, "Ohh that is why he came in and told that the dentist gave him some gooood drugs,(extra "o" for explanation purposes).

It's funny how literal children can be and how the same phrase can change depending on its context.