The reason why people take drugs instead of choosing the harder route is because when taking drugs you essentially get the same experience as a person who has been deeply meditating for many years but you get that feeling in a matter of minutes, They get high and this feeling is why most people do drugs, to get away from the world and have moments of peace and freedom. freedom from their worldly problems.
Meditation is another way of getting that same sensation but unlike drugs it takes longer to get the same effects. many people meditate without knowing it is meditation. different forms of prayers are forms of meditation because they bring the person peace and when they are having a hard life it can be reassuring to know that a higher power is there and that they can leave their cruel world behind and find peace after death.
drugs and meditation are similar in the feeling you have when doing it but the effects on your body are very different. Drugs is the easier way of getting to a more peaceful mindset but it is temporary so you would have to keep using to get high. years of doing this can lead to many diseases and eventually death. drugs can harm the body to the extent that life becomes harder then it had been previously and that might lead to more drugs trying to get away from it but it would only damage you even greater.
meditation is the alternative, its the harder but healthier alternative. Meditation doesn't harm your health and can be practiced for many years without any bad side effects. you can still feel the happiness and peace of mind you would feel but without the high and harmful effects that drug have.