While I would some what agree with that statement, I read this as more of the people who were going to do the drugs, did them by themselves and not with people around the like they usually would.
People used drugs and booze as a coping mechanism to deal with the isolation, some who in deed did not have a supportive community around the, like you said. But to point that out as a strictly "western" cultural issue is a little silly.
Nobody will change. I appreciate the spirit of these protesters, but people have been warning about this stuff since the 80s. Humans have the built in ability to think they will survive and prosper, while everyone else falls away. We saw this on full display when wearing a mask to protect, even superficial or not, your fellow human being became a contentious issue.
It's just all so disheartening. I could just doom dump a bunch right now.