Addictions!..?..!..?

Ok you all can blame Timber Loftis for putting this in my head [img]smile.gif[/img]

So first the caveats.
1. I am not trying to judge any particular individual.
2. The things I post are strictly opinion and not statistic based.
3. I am not trying to start a fight, just a discussion about the issue.

Now for the Issue:

Are addictions just excuses?


My opinion: For the most part yes.

My reasoning: I have been on some "addictive" substances due to injury and medical reasons....Demerol, Vicodin other pain killers. I have also consumed mass quantities of alcoholic beverages.

In my experiences I felt the occasional pull of that craving..that need for the substance..but in each case I bulled through it and just determined that it was a matter of mental toughness.

So I am left believing or at least having the strong suspicion that those who claim "addiction" as the reason for their condition..are basicly just making excuses for not being mentally tough enough to deal with whatever they are trying to hide from.


Closing Statement: When dealing with someone who suffers from an "addiction" I do not treat them poorly or with disrespect. I treat them as I would any other human being.

[Vedran]

Your point is clear and I agree. The strong-willed individual will not become an addict.
But don't you think that eg. heroine addiction is a bit more "harsher" than a medicine addiction? It is not as easy to say "no, I don't need that".

[Attalus]

Believe me, what you are speaking of is the "Psychic" form of addiction. That is the one that tough-minded individuals eschew. There is, however, a physical form of addiction, where the body rebels if ceratin adddictive substances are witheld.

Oh I agree that some substances are more addictive than others..however you will find that addictions to opiates of anysort are pretty much the same process, just more or less severe....Of course Im expecting Willow to hop in here and correct me [img]smile.gif[/img] If I am not mistaken Vicodan and Oxycontin are opiates..and I beleive Demerol is a Synthetic opiate...which means that they would be similar to heroin. that by the way is a very very bad substance and while Im for legalizing most drugs..that is one I would only allow licensed physicians and scientists to use/experimnt with.

Originally posted by Attalus: Believe me, what you are speaking of is the "Psychic" form of addiction. That is the one that tough-minded individuals eschew. There is, however, a physical form of addiction, where the body rebels if ceratin adddictive substances are witheld.

I am aware of the "physical" addiction and the very real physical effects..if Im not mistaken my desire to continue the Vicodin was in part due to a physical desire for the drug....or do I have that wrong?? All I know is I liked using that stuff.

[pritchke]

I think stubborn people like myself and Magik are more likely to fight of an addiction than some people and just say "no I don't need it". When it comes to things like drugs people are affected differently depending on the drug and the person itself.

For example I know people who use alcohol as their excuse to cheat on their significant other, now for me even if I am loaded drunk I am amble to keep my frame of mind, of right and wrong. I see being drunk as an excuse to get away with something and I hate it when people try or do get off easy when using that as an excuse to get off easy especially when they break the law.

Now for those who need booze every night or can't control the amount they drink than it is probably an addiction, and if they do something wrong it may be a partial excuse but I think each case should be dissected to determine if it really was an excuse. In general people who have addictions need help but I believe they still know right from wrong.

[ 05-14-2003, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Bardan the Slayer]

Originally posted by MagiK: Are addictions just excuses? My opinion: For the most part yes. My reasoning: I have been on some "addictive" substances due to injury and medical reasons....Demerol, Vicodin other pain killers. I have also consumed mass quantities of alcoholic beverages. In my experiences I felt the occasional pull of that craving..that need for the substance..but in each case I bulled through it and just determined that it was a matter of mental toughness. So I am left believing or at least having the strong suspicion that those who claim "addiction" as the reason for their condition..are basicly just making excuses for not being mentally tough enough to deal with whatever they are trying to hide from.

I couldn't disagree more. Recent research suggests that addiction is genetic. Some people have addictive personalities, some don't. This is why some people can dabble with heroin for 20 years and stop, cold turkey. It is also why others become 100-a-day smokers and die at 30. It is also why these addictive personalities often tend to be addicted to several things at once. It is also why Cipramil, a drug used to treat depression has been revealed to quash the addictions of so-called 'shopaholics'. Addiction is 10% choice, 90% genetics.

Saying "I have been on addictive substances and they didn't affect me this way, so people claiming addiction are making excuses" is like saying "It takes 14 units of alcohol to get me drunk, so anyone who says it takes less to get them drunk is making excuses."

This is a fairly new threoy, but the papers I read were rather convincing. I'll hunt for some links when I have time.

[ 05-14-2003, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: Bardan the Slayer ]

Part of what Im saying here is that it all really comes down to a matter of will power...do you or do you not want to be in control..will you or will you ot let a "substance" dictate your actions....of course since I have never really been an addict I don't know their perspective...if anyone wishes to share..Im open for learning, I take this seriously.

[Bardan the Slayer]

And what I'm saying is that it's not a matter of 'choice'. If a person with a peanut allergy eats peanuts, they die. If a person with genetic predisposition towards addiction is exposed to addictive substances (or indeed pastimes), they get addicted. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Originally posted by pritchke: I think stubborn people like myself and Magik are more likely to fight of an addiction than some people and just say "no I don't need it". When it comes to things like drugs people are affected differently depending on the drug and the person itself. Guilty as charged [img]smile.gif[/img] For example I know people who use alcohol as their excuse to cheat on their significant other, now for me even if I am loaded drunk I am amble to keep my frame of mind, of right and wrong. I see being drunk as an excuse to get away with something and I hate it when people try or do get off easy when using that as an excuse to get off easy especially when they break the law. I also noticed this back when I would go out drinking with my shipmates...no matter how wasted I got...there was always a small part of me awake and paying attention..I knew what was right and wrong and never thought of using alcohol as an excuse for my actions. Now for those who need booze every night or can't control the amount they drink than it is probably an addiction, and if they do something wrong it may be a partial excuse but I think each case should be dissected to determine if it really was an excuse. In general people who have addictions need help but I believe they still know right from wrong.

Not sure, but think this is the first time we have agreed on someting