Meta;

This is in no way a slap at your turning off the" What are you addicted to"thread. I am curious as to what people think of as True addictions. Since I was put in the un-enviable[to my way of thinking] position of surgery, or daily narcotic use, and chose not to have the surgery,I now need the drugs prescribed to me to function. This is not recreational, for if I double-dip[as I did recently], I end up short and hurting. It's my position that if your doing drugs that others would do almost anything for, and all they are to you is the ability to function normally[?], that this is not addiction,but rather a simple function such as taking 2/3 aspirin daily to prevent stroke, of which I've had several off the smaller types[blindness,loss of speech,etc.], or taking my blood pressure meds[same reason]. I would like your input on this, as I do respect your responses to most questions posed in this forum. Thank You in Advance.jjsx21

I want to share my opinions on the matter as well. My vote in the "true addiction" goes first of all, and most importantly to:

Nicotine

Its so subtle, you wont notice it until its to late, its so fucking useless that you won't think anything about it until you try to quit. The instant you realize, that cigarettes is actually controlling your life. It controlls you in this way: If you have to do something, that requires effort, or concentration, its not possible to do without first having a cigarette. (this is mainly the definition on any "addiction" in my mind, when its not possible to function without it)

Hence, your addicted. You cannot function without drugs(physically), but your kind of addiction is not a bad one, you truly need it. Then it is all good.

Second:

Alcohol, another true addicition. When you wake up in the morning, shaking as a fucking leaf, worrying as hell about every single detail until that beer is finished, you have a true addiction. This is both physically and psychologically.

These two drugs are by far the worst, not because they are more or less dangerous than other drugs, that have no relevance, its the fact that our great goverment indirectly dares us to use theese substances. Dare you defy death? Dare you smoke a pack wich with big letters states that you will die from it? DARE I?

Now don't get me wrong. You may or may not be more addicted to opiates than nicotine, but I wouldn't know that, because I have never gone that far with opiates. I reckognized the problem when I tried opiates, when I tried smoking or drinking, I didn't even think of the aspect of becoming addicted.

Speed

Now there is a drug wich people seem to be addicted too, but really arent. They are just so fucked up in their own head, that they believe they need it, or something like that. I mean, I have felt the need for something speedy to help me through a day or two myself, but this is not a need, merely a want, hence no true addiction.

Now, after some time, I've managed to cut down on drinking, and stopped completely doing speed(no prob really, I wasn't that deep). But those pesky cigarettes is still haunting me like a motherfucker. So they are by far the worst.

This is all my opinions. No facts. My thougts.

I think it varies from person to person. I can (and have) stopped smoking cigs for a couple years (i smoke like 5 a week now) and it was really easy. However speed is a different story, I am actually trying to quit right now, but it's not very easy. So what may be easy to quit for one person may be hard to quit for another. Just my 2 cents.

I have to disagree that speed is not addictive. That's just ridiculous. Crystal meth is one of the most addictive drugs there is. I've been trying to quit for years, been through rehab twice, and still it has its hold on me. I don't just WANT it, I fucking NEED it to even function. To me the primary characteristic of addiction is its compulsiveness. If your drug is available and you are not able to NOT take it then you are addicted. I simply cannot turn down an offer of crystal or crack. I may dissociate, feel like I'm just watching my body reach for it, all the time screaming 'no! no! don't do it!' in my mind but watching myself do it anyway. It was the same when I was hooked on benzos, but I managed to quit them on my own. I thought that meant I'd be able to quit meth too but I was wrong. Now I can use benzos without compulsively taking more and more, so I no longer consider myself a benzo addict. But a speed addict - oh yah.

Well, like I said, I wasn't doo deep into the speed thing. And besides, its crappy speed in norway anyway, that and the fact that I have decided that most drugs are bullshit except for psychedelics

Anyway, I think alcoholics are by far the worst true addicts.

Hey. I'm 19 years old and I'm not so sure about speed not being addictive. I've been using meth since I was 14 and although it started out as purely recreational, it has been nothing more than a thorn in my side for the last two years at least. It used to be so much funat raves and afterparties and stuff, but somewhere along the line it was no longer about getting high. Now, I can practicley smoke a bowl and go to bed. Actually, I can't sleep without a good blast sometimes!!Any suggestions on getting off it??? I could some good advice. Thanks, Eryn in Victoria, Canada

quote:Originally posted by need4speed:

Well, like I said, I wasn't doo deep into the speed thing. And besides, its crappy speed in norway anyway, that and the fact that I have decided that most drugs are bullshit except for psychedelics

Anyway, I think alcoholics are by far the worst true addicts.

quote:Originally posted by litldeer:



Here is some wild information. Each drug produces its own certain chemical in our brains while we use it. Others deplenish certain chemicals. It is a known fact that the "thought" of certain drugs, like knowing your going to get some coke later in the day or getting ready to pop some percocets, etc. will produce that certain chemical without the drugs -- your brain actually produces that drug's individual chemical response. So, it is true that if you haven't had a certain drug for a while, the process that occurs in your brain and the need for it is real. However, this brain addiction is not physical. It is all in our heads, "literally speaking." So while you feel the drug has taken you over, it is possible to also control your brain into getting out of addiction. Think about it.

SisterCrystal, its a compulsion, not a physical addiction. I still itch when I think of it. Coming off Smack is nasty, but bearable. Alcohol withdrawal can actually kill you. I cant speak personally about nicotine, seen plenty gearheads who can't stop smoking whatever else they detox from.

Wow. I just read the thread now and it's even more apperant that I'm not the alone in my struggle with meth. And I agree with SisterCrystal completely when she says that compulsive behaviour is a huge factor in addiction.Iv'e been told I have O.C.D. since I was like 12, and anyone who knows me would agree.And just being aware of my own behaviour I can see that my seeming lack of success in abstinence over the years (rehab twice and emerg. detox 4 times) is always the result of those DAMN UNCONTROLLABLE COMPULSIONS!!! No matter how much I really don't enjoy the drug anymore. Oh well, at least I'm not alone!

Just a few points;

1-Cigs have by far been and continue to be my scourge, it' my personal cross, be it mental,physical,both.As I've stated before, they cut a 6" long slice in my carotid and did a carotidendartectomy[sp],mainly because I had a 97/8 % blockage of that artery. A large factor in this was cigs, and yet I could,nt WAIT to get out of hospital and light up! My best yet is a little over a year abstinence[I refuse to say quit,since I've done it so many times] It,by far, is tougher than ANY drug I've taken myself off of,which is most of them.

2- The other point I want to make, in reference to the previous poster. As much as we like to think so, none of our problems are unique,there is nothing new under the sun[so to speak], and of-times it,s best to share these problems with others. Don't mis-understand me, I'm not starting an on-line AA or NA Group, but do not rule these people out. They can often help more than a $200.00 per hour shrink, and even the shrinks[at least the honest ones],will tell you that.I've noticed a trend with younger people[not your 12 or 13 yr. old whom, in my opinion, has no business using drugs] to be more responsible in their drug use these days,and when they have a problem,to seek help. These boards are of that nature,

as long as you sift through All that you read.

Methamphetamine addiction is very real.

http://www.methamphetamineaddiction.com