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Physicists are often seen as some of the smartest people out there. According to The Tab, studies in the past have assessed the IQ of the average physics major to be about 133. While smart, their intelligence is often correlated with poor mental health.
With the recent spike in opioid substance abuse in Alameda County, we can look back at how the lives of three physicists– Isaac Newton, Wolfgang Pauli, and Ludwig Boltzmann – can be used as a lesson in the dangers of substance abuse.
Isaac Newton, the discoverer of calculus and the creator of classical mechanics, was also a recluse hermit who suffered from mercury poisoning, according to .
After the Black Plague caused a widespread lockdown for many of the top universities in Europe, Newton was left by himself to invent and discover. Being alone is not a good strategy to combat addiction.
If you want to tackle depression, which is a key factor correlated with drug abuse, you must have a support network of trusted friends and family for support.
Wolfgang Pauli was one of the founders behind quantum mechanics. He developed the Pauli Exclusion Principle, stating that no two electrons can occupy the same state at once, a brilliant discovery at the time. But tragically, after the death of his mother, Pauli resorted to alcohol to combat depression.
Healthy coping mechanisms such as exercise or journaling, are a better alternative to relying on unhealthy, addictive substances like alcohol and opioids. .
In Goodstein’s “States of Matter,” a book on statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, the first sentence starts off by giving Ludwig Boltzman the credit he deserves for his work in statistical mechanics. But sadly, the first sentence also highlights one more part about Boltzman: His struggle with mental health led to him taking his own life.
Suicide should never be the solution to anything, addiction included. (Please seek a therapist or professional help if you ever find yourself in the situation of Ludwig Boltzmann)
While physicists are smart, they are not perfect, especially when it comes to handling their mental health and combating addiction. But with a good support network, coping mechanisms and therapy, anyone can do better than these physicists in tackling addiction.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
