Do you think substance abuse is too socially acceptable these days?

Answer 1

no way. It never was. People who abuse substances are dangerous to themselves and they are dangerous to society. They don't think anything about jumping behind a wheel of a vehicle while being stoned or drunk out of their skulls.

People that abuse substances are ruining themselves, they start to lose their true friends it starts to interfere with work, maybe family life.

Now, does that sound socially acceptable?

Answer 2

Actually in many ways I think the opposite is true. When I was a young boy it wasn't uncommon to see a junkie shuffling down the street in his own little world, totally oblivious to things going on around him,people drank and drove without fear of reprisals, cocaine was king, and every other week it seems like some child star was jumping out of the window to their deaths thinking they could fly.(Not to mention the occasional high-profile overdoses.) Cultural awareness and law enforcement efforts have had a definite impact on this situation.
Now, the drug culture itself has changed to reflect new sensibilities. The recreational drugs of choice are different, but more significant than that, the entire scene is a great deal more violent than it ever was in the past. That too is a cause and effect reality that makes some sense: as the penalties for drug trafficking became more severe, the dealer/distributors resolve to remain free caused him to employ increasingly more desperate (read "violent") means of staying "free". (Certainly not a justification, but an observation.)
Yes, there is a drug subculture, and yes, it's membership is vast...but it always has been. But their numbers don't necessarily translate into social acceptability...it just forces them deeper underground.