>>22491 (OP)
>illegal drugs
Daily reminder that they are considered illegal only because piece of paper says so and only because power structure couldn't find to this very day way how to profit from them. Weed is first step. Also masters need their slaves able to work.
>drinking to "feel better"
Many people drink because they want to, not because it's form of escapism.
>If you need to be drugged to find some kind of meaning, That's evidence that you couldn't find any meaning in the first place.
True, however I might add to end of that sentence words "meaning in this ordinary existence". Some people claim the world on drugs is something external, very real, something better. I would compare it to spiritualism, however your thought is correct. I don't know, I like to struggle in reality sometimes, when I get too comfortable - that makes me uncomfortable and really bored. Just tiny paradox.
>The meth addict admits the world around them is bad
Not always but I get what you are trying to say here and you are maybe not wrong. However why people seek medical treatment is because often they know something is wrong and they want to solve it. In both instances you have people who wish to solve something, first group focuses on perception of world, second group is searching for source of the problem in themselves.
>Is it actually making your own self a worse place so that you don't notice the difference anymore?
I would have better question - what is there, not only more important, but THE only important factor? It's you as subjective observer of reality, nothing else matters really. Thus altering your own perception of reality is 'justifiable' (I hate this word), whether that might be with drugs, meds or even self-suggestion, meditation, ideology, flat out open lies, lies on subconscious level etc. In most of these cases, even if you don't take drugs for obvious reason - "hey lemme get stoned cuz world sucks dude", your brain has naturally built in coping mechanisms. This is the reason why I even as an egoist don't really blame people for being spooked by external or internal influences, because I can understand why it is happening. Now the question if it isn't better to "stay sober" from all of that crap, I genuinely have no answer and I leave it up to individuals to solve it with themselves.
Here's theory: If the problem is truly unfixable, the only logical conclusion, which is most effective (literally meant as time/effort) at the same time, is to stop solving it. If I have problem to count 2+2, I'm going to leave that problem as unsolved. The trouble is that majority of people find peace in solved events, they like when "case is closed", and if you escape from the problem, it might appear to you as if the problem is not even your problem anymore, however the cost you might pay for it can be high (health, etc.). Again I say, I'm no life coach to tell people how they should solve their individual problems - especially problems I never experienced. I leave it up to them, I like to give this freedom to them.