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Drug addiction: The complex truth

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Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#21

Kind of on topic: I was surprised to find out that Nicotine is thought to be more addictive that Heroine... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine#Dependence_and_withdra...

You can also extract enough pure nicotine from a pack of cigarettes to kill a man, if you know how. It's not hard.

Nasty things.

Time for a cigarette break.

Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#22
post #7

Kind of on topic: I was surprised to find out that Nicotine is thought to be more addictive that Heroine... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine#Dependence_and_withdra...

Nicotine itself (without the byproducts that happen when burning tobacco) is not even that bad [1] (deadly in relatively low amounts but unless you take it concentrated it's very hard to reach those levels). Unhealthy? Yes, but probably not much worse than caffeine [2]. Besides, Nicotine itself is not that addictive "Technically, nicotine is not significantly addictive, as nicotine administered alone does not produce…

>>[2]: Compare http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine#Pharmacology and http://www.energyfiend.com/harmful-effects-of-caffeine

Cough, was that completely honest? since you linked to Wikipedia for Nicotine, I suspect you did know you'd get lots of really good effects by linking to Wikipedia for caffeine. :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_coffee#All-ca...

Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#23
We should not look towards drugs to satisfy the void in our lives.

We should not look to eating for pleasure, just for health.

We should not look to our career as a source of fulfillment - it's just a means to an end.

We should not look to our mates as a source of salvation - we should focus on giving.

We should not look to our kids as objects to make us whole - we should focus on giving...

Ok, so if we're gonna take away all these things as "drugs", what's left?

Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#24
Addiction is not just about the substance (alcohol, cocaine, heroine) or the behavior (Sex, gambling, video games).

A person is an addict even before that person has that first try. There are many other factors that condition someone to become an addict. There are genetic factors, environmental factors, other underlying mental issues, etc.

Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#25
post #8
post #4

"When Alexander’s rats were given something better to do than sit in a bare cage they turned their noses up at morphine because they preferred playing with their friends and exploring their surroundings to getting high." Well, AFAIK, this doesn't happen with most humans struggling with addiction to hard drugs. Addicts will neglect everything, namely social activities, in order to get what they need.

>Well, AFAIK, this doesn't happen with most humans struggling with addiction to hard drugs. Addicts will neglect everything, namely social activities, in order to get what they need. Do you have any tangible data to support your claim?

nice try, but data are by definition intangible

Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#26
"when stories about the effects of drugs on the brain are promoted to the neglect of the discussion of the personal and social contexts of addiction, science is servicing our collective anxieties rather than informing us." This.

Also, for who missed the link in the article: http://www.stuartmcmillen.com/comics_en/rat-park/

Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#27
post #14

Kind of on topic: I was surprised to find out that Nicotine is thought to be more addictive that Heroine... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine#Dependence_and_withdra...

I find that nicotine's addictiveness is due to legality. That being said, I quit the various opiates much easier than cigarettes.

As someone that has smoked [1] I think legality is important - but it's also the relatively mild effects.

If you're getting frustrated at work, you can take a break, give yourself a quick "boost" by stopping for a cig, and then go back to work. Something that's not really possible with heroin, or marijuana or any other "drug" apart from caffeine.

[1] ten years on and I still don't say "ex-smoker" as one of the mental tricks to help me deal with it

EDIT formatting

Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#28
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find that nicotine's addictiveness is due to legality. That being said, I quit the various opiates much easier than cigarettes.

As a smoker, I wish it was illegal tomorrow. Then I could buy one or two smokes every now and then, but I would have to go well out of my way.

At $10 per cigarette, in a neighborhood where you're likely to get shot.

But they're illegal in order to keep us safe.

Right.

Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#29

We should not look towards drugs to satisfy the void in our lives. We should not look to eating for pleasure, just for health. We should not look to our career as a source of fulfillment - it's just a means to an end. We should not look to our mates as a source of salvation - we should focus on giving. We should not look to our kids as objects to make us whole - we should focus on giving... Ok, so if we're gonna take…

Nirvana, according to some.

Re: Drug addiction: The complex truth

#30

We should not look towards drugs to satisfy the void in our lives. We should not look to eating for pleasure, just for health. We should not look to our career as a source of fulfillment - it's just a means to an end. We should not look to our mates as a source of salvation - we should focus on giving. We should not look to our kids as objects to make us whole - we should focus on giving... Ok, so if we're gonna take…

Nothing is left and the human life is truly devoid of meaning.
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