I don't understand addictions.

[F1N3ST]

A 3 day bender... are you claiming that something like a 3 day bender is what addicts people to alcohol? You don't experience symptoms of withdrawal let alone addictive cravings from 3 days of use. Addiction to alcohol or any drug is a complex combination of mental and physical reactions that develop over month or years depending on the individual.

If you and the OP are interested in understanding addiction quit playing thought games in your empty heads and go to a 12 step recovery meeting like AA or NA.

My friend is in NA D:

 

[ShawnD1]

If you and the OP are interested in understanding addiction quit playing thought games in your empty heads and go to a 12 step recovery meeting like AA or NA.

Did you ever wonder why those DARE programs don't work? It's because most people can't relate to any of the stories being shared. A guy with hardcore brain damage comes in and says he drinks 26 ounces every day. Of course nobody in the room can relate to this because even the most hard core party animals only get shit-faced on weekends. When the weekend is over, that's the end of it. People who are normal manage to drink just 1 or 2 beers while watching football, not 10. Normal people drink coffee or some juice in the morning, not straight vodka.

Earlier in this thread you guys were saying the OP was stupid because his not craving drugs was due to a lack of exposure. I hate to break this to you, but most of us have tried alcohol and most of us don't crave alcohol. This isn't an issue of willpower. If you crave alcohol, you are not normal.

 

[F1N3ST]

Did you ever wonder why those DARE programs don't work? It's because most people can't relate to any of the stories being shared. A guy with hardcore brain damage comes in and says he drinks 26 ounces every day. Of course nobody in the room can relate to this because even the most hard core party animals only get shit-faced on weekends. When the weekend is over, that's the end of it. People who are normal manage to drink just 1 or 2 beers while watching football, not 10. Normal people drink coffee or some juice in the morning, not straight vodka.

Earlier in this thread you guys were saying the OP was stupid because his not craving drugs was due to a lack of exposure. I hate to break this to you, but most of us have tried alcohol and most of us don't crave alcohol. This isn't an issue of willpower. If you crave alcohol, you are not normal.

Oh god I like alcohol. But I can go however long I want without it.

Exposure isn't an issue, I've been offered marijuana more times than I could count on my hands and feet, and penis. I just don't have the desire or something.

 

[The Stig]

I've never been addicted to something. I don't understand how someone could become addicted to anything..

You answered your own question here.

This is the most ignorant fucking thing I have read on these forums, and that says a lot.

If you think you can't get an addiction because you have willpower and addicts don't I hope you are stabbed to death for drug money.

edit: you people are talking about exposure to alcohol and saying that somehow relates to addiction? bahahhaha. pussies! wow, fucking pussies. Shoot heroin 3 times a week for 3 weeks, then let your willpower negate that exposure. jesus, i thought people were less naive then this. i have the best image of the OP in mind, you gotta be the biggest lovely human I've ever met. "i've been offered marijuana so much bla bla" wow you turned it down?! you are a fucking miracle of science. your life is the reason I got hooked into heroin and coke, because I said fuck it I'd rather do something exciting then have a pathetic existence like you. now i'm clean, stronger mentally because of what i went through and can laugh at people like you.

fucking ignorant fucksa;kldfjal;dskjfadls

 

[The Stig]

PS I'd love to know what morals have to do with addiction. Your image of an addict is contrived and dated. Please explain how addiction is caused by some pre existing lack of morality and I will tell you why you need to grow the fuck up.

 

[slayer202]

How old are you? I'm an alcoholic and it took me about 32 years to get that way. It also helps to be genetically vulnerable, which I am. It has nothing to do with will power or integrity. Your idk is an accurate assessment of your post.

is it proven that genetics is involved? I feel like growing up around addicts is much much more likely to have an effect

that being said, I do believe addiction is part weakness. I understand that most people, when exposed to meth or heroin for a long period of time have a hell of a time stopping, but starting is where the stupidity comes into play...There are people who try drugs, and use them somewhat safely, and then there are people who can't control themselves. Is it genetics, or just something else?

 

[The Stig]

I for one am not upset by the OP's ignorance on the subject. It means he has not witnessed first hand of the destruction of a family or friend. If he had he'd have worded things differently.

Best post in this thread, thank you it calmed me down. We can't make people like this understand, they do not want to and literally do not have the capacity. I had a friend who I hid my addiction to heroin and coke from, his dad had a double knee replacement and became addicted to pain killers. he overdosed and died christmas morning. Before this he could not fathom why I did what i did, after watching his dad, he is a different person and completely understanding.

 

[The Stig]

withdrawal is a bitch but you won't die from opiate or coke withdrawal.

wrooong wrong wrong wrong. long time opiate addicts can very easily die from the incredible physical toll the withdrawal has on the body.


this thread is full of dumbshit asshattery of the most dubious nature

 

[TehMac]

You answered your own question here.

This is the most ignorant fucking thing I have read on these forums, and that says a lot.

If you think you can't get an addiction because you have willpower and addicts don't I hope you are stabbed to death for drug money.

edit: you people are talking about exposure to alcohol and saying that somehow relates to addiction? bahahhaha. pussies! wow, fucking pussies. Shoot heroin 3 times a week for 3 weeks, then let your willpower negate that exposure. jesus, i thought people were less naive then this. i have the best image of the OP in mind, you gotta be the biggest lovely human I've ever met. "i've been offered marijuana so much bla bla" wow you turned it down?! you are a fucking miracle of science. your life is the reason I got hooked into heroin and coke, because I said fuck it I'd rather do something exciting then have a pathetic existence like you. now i'm clean, stronger mentally because of what i went through and can laugh at people like you.

fucking ignorant fucksa;kldfjal;dskjfadls

Best of the year

 

[destrekor]

is it proven that genetics is involved? I feel like growing up around addicts is much much more likely to have an effect

that being said, I do believe addiction is part weakness. I understand that most people, when exposed to meth or heroin for a long period of time have a hell of a time stopping, but starting is where the stupidity comes into play...There are people who try drugs, and use them somewhat safely, and then there are people who can't control themselves. Is it genetics, or just something else?

Genetics is not the only way, but genetics do determine personality traits. A personality trait can be thought of as a specific way an instinct is crafted into your psyche.

You'll find you'll likely share personality traits with someone in your family. Sometimes you won't know it because one of your parents, if it's a negative trait, has made an effort to suppress the trait, and/or defeated it in their youth and never talk about it much.

I get both my stubbornness and addictive personality from my mom's side. My mom more readily puts her stubbornness on display, and me and her butt heads all the damn time. The addictive personality is something her brother most definitely never fought.

People seem to believe personality is a far more complex concept than it truly is, stems from the notion we're something special as a species.

What is basically being argued is nature vs nurture. It works for both positive and negative things. Our mind is very malleable: the basic mental structure is like a framework, without any effort "nature" can end up basically cementing that framework in place.
Negative personality traits, with no positive influence, can mean a terrible person in the future. Positive personality traits but surrounded by a negative environment can spell doom. No outcome is guaranteed, proof the mind is crafted by both genetics and the environment. And a more influential environment will not guarantee the personality traits will be overcome (either a positive influence, or negative influence, doesn't matter), if the person essentially makes an effort to keep those traits. Willpower can be our friend and our enemy. Because like an addict feels it is instinct to succumb to the urge, personality traits themselves are like instinct. It takes a strong mind to overcome any instinctual desire.

 

[Red Squirrel]

There are some addictions I really don't understand. Like some people are addicted to certain weird pills that don't even have any major effect on you. Some people get addicted to stuff like Ibuprofen. Other then suppress pain, those don't even have any fun effects, like a buzz or anything. Why would someone crave those? lol

 

[surfsatwerk]

My friend is in NA D:

Well then why do you come in here spewing so much nonsense. Accept you don't get it without making up such ridiculous opinions about the subject.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Did you ever wonder why those DARE programs don't work? It's because most people can't relate to any of the stories being shared. A guy with hardcore brain damage comes in and says he drinks 26 ounces every day. Of course nobody in the room can relate to this because even the most hard core party animals only get shit-faced on weekends. When the weekend is over, that's the end of it. People who are normal manage to drink just 1 or 2 beers while watching football, not 10. Normal people drink coffee or some juice in the morning, not straight vodka.

Earlier in this thread you guys were saying the OP was stupid because his not craving drugs was due to a lack of exposure. I hate to break this to you, but most of us have tried alcohol and most of us don't crave alcohol. This isn't an issue of willpower. If you crave alcohol, you are not normal.

I'm not even discussing the DARE program or any substance abuse "prevention" program. AA, NA, CA, and whatever other 12 step groups never say drugs and alcohol are bad. The programs exist to help addicts recover not bash people who aren't addicted who choose to use alcohol or drugs. You don't have to relate to the personal stories of addicts to accept that they are true.

Early exposure to alcohol and drugs is a significant factor in addiction. People who use booze and dope before the age of 21 are statistically more likely to become addicted than those who first use later in life. People aren't born fucked in the head and then become junkies. Mentally ill people have enormously high rates of substance abuse issues, but that is because they're self medicating.

There are plenty of people who have no significant mental issues that become addicts. Normal people can and do become addicts, and once addicted they permanently react to alcohol or drugs differently than they did before they were addicted. Saying you tried booze and dope and didn't become addicted does not indicate that you can't become addicted in the future after further exposure. There are scads of people in 12 step recover programs whose story begins with, "I casually drank/used drugs for years without any problems."

 

[zinfamous]

you don't understand addictions?

hell, look at destrekor. I'm convinced that he's addicted to the sound of listening to himself type out rambling manifestos to internet strangers.

 

[zinfamous]

anyway, I've skipped most of this thread, so I'll point this out simply to the OP:

A bonafide addiction occurs as a result of a biochemical response--the addictive substance, nicotine, heroine, etc, actually REPLACES the natural neurotransmitter that your brain needs to function. Nicotine, actually, can be found naturally in extremely small "inactivated" amounts in your body in an extremely important molecule, NADH (NADPH).

Not exactly related to that, but once you start sucking or chewing on tobacco, the higher concentration of nicotine now entering body suddenly becomes a much more effective chemical at transmitting certain neural responses. Eventually, the brain adapts to the presence of nicotine, and systematically shuts down production of the normal neurotransmitter.

true story.

soon enough, the only way for you to obtain this essential hormone is through tobacco. It's completely PHYSICAL. You can throw out all the mental stuff you want, and ignore that, but the cravings, sweaty palms, nervous ticks...all a result of a sudden lack of essential neurotransmitter when you try to quit. It will eventually be replaced, but that time after quitting is sheer hell.

and it's much, much, much worse with heroin. meth.....

 

[shortylickens]

wrooong wrong wrong wrong. long time opiate addicts can very easily die from the incredible physical toll the withdrawal has on the body.


this thread is full of dumbshit asshattery of the most dubious nature

I agree. And you are one of them.
The physical TOLL is caused from the drug itself. If the person dies during the withdrawal stage, they werent going to live much longer in the user stage.

 

[The Stig]

I agree. And you are one of them.
The physical TOLL is caused from the drug itself. If the person dies during the withdrawal stage, they werent going to live much longer in the user stage.

just accept you're fucking wrong, severe withdrawal can cause heart failure in people who were otherwise not on death's door. aww you a salty bitch

 

[JohnCU]

the only thing that you can actually die from withdrawals is alcohol and benzos.

 

[The Stig]

That's like saying the flu can't kill anyone, causality is funny like that.

Withdrawal tachycardia can kill someone who would not otherwise die. You could just as easily say that a gran mal seizure killed someone, not benzo withdrawal. Both cases where the withdrawal brought about fatality.

Also severe withdrawals, especially from long long time heroin use, fentanyl or methadone has caused deaths due to dehydration if not properly monitored. Same thing it's all causality.

 

[JohnCU]

i can see that, but i think where the withdrawals from other things cause stress on other parts of the body, the absence of alcohol from someone who has drank for a really long time can kill you by itself.

 

[SlitheryDee]

One level of addiction is the body simply adjusting itself to the presence of a substance that alters its chemistry. The body attempts to bring itself as close to "in-balance" as it can get with that substance present. For instance, If the addictive chemical can do the same job as a neurotransmitter in the body, then the body reduces it's own production of that neurotransmitter so that the nervous system stays functional.

The problem is that these adjustment are dependent on the addictive substance being in the body. The body isn't instantly able to return to its pre-adjusted state when the chemical is not present. This causes the pendulum to swing the other way so to speak. Without the drug in the body, the adjustments the body made have adverse reactions. Now there is too little of the neurotransmitter that the body had to reduce to compensate for the presence of the drug. Now the various other changes that were made to compensate have nothing to compensate for. All this results in a reduction in functionality that is most unpleasant and only repairable by taking in more of the drug or waiting what could be a very long time for the body to readjust itself to life without it.

The other side of addiction is mental, or psychological dependency. I believe this is just an extension of the physical dependency because the mind is also dependent on chemical reactions to function. I honestly don't see this to be a very serious aspect of addiction. Doing something out of habit is really all a psychological addiction is. You probably do a lot of things a certain way simply because that is how you've always done them, and with drugs or alcohol it's the same thing. 5 P.M. to bedtime becomes drinking time every day, or every time you get in your car is time for a cigarette, whether you really feel the urge to smoke one or not. We develop all our other, less damaging habits in the same ways.

That's pretty much what I know about addiction, and I think I have the gist of it.

 

[JohnCU]

^^^ the above post is 100% correct.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

^^^ the above post is 100% correct.

Except the word "addiction". What he described is physical dependence, not really addiction.

 

[slightlyhuman]

did you post this thread with intentions to quote and defend yourself to earn respect or what?

i don't understand. go outside.

 

[HeXen]

• being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)
• an abnormally strong craving

The term "addiction" is used in many contexts to describe an obsession, compulsion, or excessive psychological dependence, such as: drug addiction (e.g. alcoholism), video game addiction, crime, money, work addiction, compulsive overeating, problem gambling, computer addiction,nicotine addiction ...