When a slave was

drunk, the slaveholder

had no fear that he
would plan an
insurrection; no fear that
he would escape to the
North. It was the sober,
thinking slave who was
dangerous, and needed
the vigilance of his
master to keep him a
slave. -rederick
!ouglass
For total liberation, by every means necessary.
"#$%&'# ()#*# %*# "#((#* &'#' +* %
,I-)(#*
anti-copyright 2014
This pamphlet was written by
some insurrectionary queers of the sober kind
Cartel (Mexico) or the Noorzai Organization (Afghanistan). From an economic
standpoint radical sobriety reduces the demand for their goods! and limits their
po"er at an indi#idual le#el. As a "hole$ the %traight &dge mo#ement maintains
not only a threat to these businesses by disrupting their flo" of income$ but also
to the normalcy of emotional suppression$ obedience$ and apathy. 'n this sense
sobriety is embraced not only as a re(ection of submission$ but also as a
declaration of "ar.
Solidarity
Attac)ing intoxication culture means indi#idual resistance and collecti#e support.
Ci#ilization is a prison of misery$ coercion$ and oppressi#e ine*uality.
'nstitutionalized racism$ sexism$ and other forms of oppression create feelings of
se#ere depression and isolation. 'ntoxication culture thri#es in areas dominated
by po#erty$ depression$ and isolation. +his explains "hy communities of color
are often affected by addiction and intoxication "here the state ta)es ad#antage
carring out murders and mass incarceration. %upport and solidarity are
important in helping to strengthen the struggle against addiction as "ell as
de#eloping an intersectional attac) on all oppression.
,adical sobriety support groups and spaces help replace religious groups that
rather than addressing addiction as a natural response to an oppressi#e
en#ironment$ see) to replace one form of co-dependency "ith an authoritarian
one. .ro#iding re#olutionary sober-safe spaces that are open for reco#ering
addicts$ community discussions$ and radical support help aid the struggle
against intoxication culture. /eing inclusi#e rather than re(ecting those struggling
"ith addiction is of utmost importance as "ell as encouraging self-empo"erment
in those "ho feel po"erless against their addiction.
%traight-&dge identifying anarchists stand against religion$ homophobia$ sexism$
racism and all forms of oppressions and should not be confused "ith hardline!
ideology. ,adical sobriety is not only a self-liberating act of re-"ilding one0s self$
but also as a form of solidarity and support "ith those struggling against
addiction. &mbracing an intersectional struggle against all oppression and
authority means solidarity "ith all "ho struggle for freedom-including freedom
from addiction and the pacifying force of intoxication culture.
+o"ards the destruction of ci#ilization$ all prisons$ and the domesticating
globalization of capitalism. For human1nonhuman animal and earth liberation.
Intoxication Culture
Intoxication deri!ed from the "atin word #intoxicatio$% meaning #to poison one&s
self'% 'ntoxication culture is a set of institutions$ beha#iors$ and mindsets focused
on the consumption of drugs$ alcohol$ and tobacco use. 'ntoxication culture
facilitates the anesthesia promoted by those in po"er "ho see) to dis-empo"er
and pacify the ensla#ed. As an antithesis of self-liberation$ intoxication culture
promotes defeatism through the internalization of self-hatred and pity.
On a global scale capitalism not only manifests its destruction en#ironmentally
but also in the form of self-destructi#e actions and beha#iors "hich ha#e become
normalized as a traditional de#elopment of ci#ilization. As a coping mechanism$
intoxication becomes an accepted part of daily life$ "hether it be as a re"ard for
a long hard "ee) of "age-sla#ery$ or a self-prescribed sedati#e and so on.
'ntoxication culture is self-perpetuating and captures the idea of rebellion through
self-destruction. Often an indi#idual manifests depression and anger culti#ated by
pre-existing oppressi#e external forces$ through a #ariety of self-destructi#e
actions. ,ebellion in this sense is internalized as self-hatred$ apathy$ and self-
pity. As self-hatred$ depression$ and feelings of inferiority become exacerbated by
addiction$ profits soar for capitalists. ,ather than directly confronting problems
that exist in one0s life$ an indi#idual becomes dependent on a source "hich
pro#ides temporary escape. &scapism becomes an alternati#e life of apathy
through toxic consumerism. As nourishment for self-pity$ hopelessness$ and
apathy intoxication acts as an agent of consolement.
+he depri#ation of self-respect coupled "ith feelings of inferiority has and
continues to be an obstacle in the "ay of insurrectionary attac). +his short
pamphlet "as "ritten in hopes of presenting a critical #ie" of toxic pacifism "hile
highlighting the urgency for sober attac).
Chemical Warfare and Colonization
Alcohol "as an integral part of the colonization process. &#erything from creating
alcoholic abusi#e beha#ior "ithin "hat used to be peaceful Nati#e groups and
tribes to pacifying sla#e re#olts. &uropean Christian colonists used alcohol as a
chemical "eapon of "arfare in their genocidal and ethnic cleansing$
mistreatment$ and exploitation of indigenous peoples. Alcohol and tobacco
became tools of pri#ilege creating hierarchy as those "ho had more access to
these could sell them for the labor of others. Once tobacco became )no"n for its
profit$ indigenous people$ sla#es$ and indentured ser#ants "ere put to "or) on
lands that "ere ta)en by brutal force from the Nati#es. Alcohol and drugs "ere
used for their pacifying and numbing effects. As the "ild and free became more
intoxicated and distracted from the reality of their rapidly changing existence$
they began to internalize the hatred imposed upon them. 2ith the de#elopment
of an identity crisis the process of assimilation too) place as many indigenous
and other people of color became a target for capitalists "ho profit from social
intoxication.
Distract and Pacify
Capitalism relies hea#ily on distracting people from the reality of its oppressi#e
control. As long as people are ignorant and docile$ capitalism and its destruction
can remain unchallenged and operational. +hrough toxic submission capitalism
normalizes the monotony of social dis-empo"erment. As long as the casual
exchange of labor for capital$ capital for inebriation ta)es place$ there is no
threat to the ci#ilized order. 2hile a local pun) benefit sho" rages in clouds of
cigarette smo)e$ ,eynolds American (a 345.6 billion corporation) ta)es much of
the profit. &mpty beer cans and hung-o#er anarchist pun)s litter the floors of
s*uats and rented spaces as the 7.% casually continues its military domination
of other countries abroad.
'n a system of psychological "arfare$ pacifism is defeat. 't is the neglect of one0s
self as a result of the ci#ilized disconnection from "ild ra" emotion. &motional
suppression induced by inebriation culti#ates the pacifist role of allo"ing external
forces of oppression to exist and dominate "ithout confrontation and attac).
'ntoxication distracts an indi#idual by complicating pre-existing stressful
circumstances to the point of emotional exhaustion. 8uring this time of
anesthesia spaces of emotional and physical #ulnerability are opened and
exploited. +hese complications and distractions allo" capitalism and those in
po"er to oppress "ithout conflict.
/y impairing and debilitating the emotional and physical arsenal foundational to
self-liberation$ intoxication culture is an obstacle in the "ay of re#olutionary
organizing and attac). +he re#olutionary act of o#ercoming these obstacles and
addictions in pursuit of self-liberation is nothing less than an outspo)en refusal
to be tamed and pacified$ 't is a refusal to promote and participate in a culture
"hich aids the destruction of others.
Why Straight-Edge?
%traight-&dge is the politics of regaining control o#er one0s self$ and of ta)ing
bac) from those "ho "ish to ensla#e and control. 't is the politics of re(ecting the
#alues! and toxic traditions that ha#e been instilled in ci#ilized society. 'n a
system dependent on the intoxication and ignorance of people$ the abstention
from these tran*uilizers is a refusal to comply "ith$ and rebellion against the
system. As people ha#e been dro"ned and chained by capitalist traditions$
%traight &dge is embraced by anarchists as a firm re(ection of a culture promoted
and perpetuated by a system see)ing total physical and psychological control. As
a re(ection to the assumption that all "ill participate in the intoxicating
consumerist routine of passi#e obedience$ self-disrespect$ and toxic submission$
the %traight-&dge mo#ement has increased. +his has occurred as anarchists
extend solidarity "ith freedom fighters globally$ understanding that cognizance
and sobriety are a combined expression of resistance to the self-indulgent$
apathetic ethos that defines mainstream 7.%. culture.
War on drugs War on !eo!le of color
As a result of the state-operated 2ar on 8rugs!$ communities of color are
targeted for police harassment and mass incarceration. Crac) and other drugs
remain as large sources of profit for the "hite supremacist system. /y )eeping
.OC communities passi#e and politically indifferent$ the state is able to "arp
public perception "ith the delusion of progress "ith incarcerations. %traight-&dge
anarchists understand that the state is ne#er an option for fighting intoxication
culture. +he state is not only the colonial$ repressi#e apparatus protecting pri#ate-
property o"nership and the "hite supremacist order but also an accomplice of
intoxication culture. One does not ha#e to loo) far to see ho" the state uses
intoxication culture to fuel the prison industrial complex. +he state has used drugs
to orchestrate the destruction of the /lac) .anther .arty and has made multiple
attempts to undermine the cohesion of the 9apatistas "ith alcohol. 8ue to their
destructi#e counter-insurgent effects$ there is a total absence of consumption or
sale of drugs and alcohol in the 9apatista autonomous communities.
Alcohol manufacturers$ coca and mari(uana syndicates$ and chemists! ha#e
created a colossal destructi#e industry based on both legal! and blac) mar)et
demand. .hilip Morris and Anheuser-/usch$ although both household names$
are (ust as responsible for community destruction and murder as the %inaloa