If religion is a drug, then it is not in itself evil. It is powerful only because people seem to want and need the drug. It has persisted so long only because it seems to satisfy something in the human nature which nothing else can.
In analogy, cocaine is a drug. It is merely a natural chemical, not evil in itself. Addicts who abuse its use are the ones who eventually suffer. But it itself is neutral.
So, you surely have to right to regard religion as a drug, but please pity the poor religionists who may pervert, abuse, become addicted to, and misuse it, etc. Something about it entrances and satisfies them and gives them fulfilment, even when they know their leaders are as fallible as themselves. Religion itself is just religion.
