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Are drug addicts "unable" to stop taking drugs? (pg. 2)
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| eROs.au |
| I'm "addicted" to cigarettes. I think it would be easy to quit if they weren't so readily available at a corner gas station 1 minute from my house. |
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| CONNERMAN2000 |
I just recently quit cigs about a week ago. I'm very proud of it too, mainly because in college everyone around you smokes, people walking to class, people at parties, hell even the teachers themselves. Its not easy, its something I very much enjoy doing and yet I am aware that its bad for you and is counterproductive towards a healthy, fit body (which is what I'm trying to maintain). For those still fighting the quitting battle, I wish you much luck. I only smoked 2 years so its been easier I'm sure than for the person whos been on them for 10. I know if I dont quit now its just going to get harder, so I'm making the sacrifice.
As for alcohol...ehhh, god. Terrible, terrible. Dont make it a habit to drink, my father is now in his third rehab from alcoholism, such a terrible thing to watch. He's in such bad shape both mentally and physically. Some others have already mentioned this, but an alcoholic whos been drinking for 35-40 years (in the case of my dad) cant just "stop". By then your heart and brain are so attached to the substance that quitting cold turkey can actually cause heart attacks or strokes, suddenly killing them. I think alcohol is considered a "drug", so in this particular case, yea, a drug user is "unable" to stop because doing so might kill him or her. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by CONNERMAN2000
I only smoked 2 years so its been easier I'm sure than for the person whos been on them for 10. |
or 16 :( |
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| CONNERMAN2000 |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
or 16 :( |
:( Ouch.
good luck to you, keep it up. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by CONNERMAN2000
:( Ouch.
good luck to you, keep it up. |
thanks man, 18 days and counting! i think im mostly out of the woods, but im thoroughly addicted to my nicotine replacement! :D |
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| CONNERMAN2000 |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
thanks man, 18 days and counting! i think im mostly out of the woods, but im thoroughly addicted to my nicotine replacement! :D |
:haha:
18 days is a good number. I hear after the first 5 you are pretty much good as long as you have the will power. Just dont lose your nicotine or you might flip on the nearest bystander! |
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| Ania_xox |
I decided to quit after smoking for 4 years.
I've been clean for 16 days now... which sounds so minimal and insignificant but it's been a weird ride so far.
tips:
-chew very strong mint gum (Dentyne Ice - Intense)
- to battle the morning cravings: don't give yourself enough time in the morning to have a smoke - wake up 10 mins later and grab your coffee/tea on the run
-to battle the "after meal" cravings (the worst ones for me!) eat fruit and drink lots of water
best thing to keep in mind: the cravings pass.
I sit and sit and get so antsy and retarded, but I try to relax myself with the thought that in about 20 minutes or so, the feeling will be gone. |
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| nchs09 |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
It seems to be a popular idea that addictive drugs like heroin and alcohol can at some point rob people of agency; that such drugs can render people "unable" to stop taking them. Addicts may speak of "not being able" to stop. I think that this way of speaking is mistaken; that the people usually termed "addicts" are making a choice to take what they do, not merely being dragged around by the drug, and that to speak of drug addiction in the same way that we speak of, say, epilepsy, is badly mistaken. An unmedicated epileptic simply cannot stop himself from having seizures; but an "addict" can stop himself from taking drugs. The reason that addicts don't stop taking drugs is that their lives don't provide them sufficient incentives to do so.
Mao famously ended opiate addiction in China by threatening to kill the addicts if they continued their habit. Those people, many of them addicted to morphine, opium, or heroin, apparently had the ability to stop their drug use, because they did, and quickly. History shows that there are few addicts who will not stop taking their drug of choice if the consequences of using are dire enough. Before Mao, the Chinese addicts did not lack an *ability* to stop using drugs; they lacked a sufficiently strong *desire.* Mao's threats provided that for them.
The problem is that it is sometimes hard or even impossible (because of valid concerns about human rights) to bring about the kind of consequences that would convince an addict to quit. Perhaps we might define an "addict" as a person who will stop using drugs only under pain of certain extreme consequences. |
You clearly do not know about addiction.... addiction withdrawl can be deadly if someone stops cold turkey.. so no its not just because their lives are meaningless (although often true) |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by nchs09
You clearly do not know about addiction.... addiction withdrawl can be deadly if someone stops cold turkey |
Actually, I know a good deal about it, having known people who were addicted to various drugs and looked into the subject otherwise. Yes, quitting can be deadly if done wrong, but that just begs another question:
In the case of people for whom stopping cold turkey would be deadly, are they simply "unable" to check themselves into rehab where the appropriate medical and psychiatric services exist? My answer here would also be "no." They are able to ask for help, but lack a sufficient incentive to do so compared to their desire to keep taking their drug. |
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| nchs09 |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
Actually, I know a good deal about it, having known people who were addicted to various drugs and looked into the subject otherwise. Yes, quitting can be deadly if done wrong, but that just begs another question:
In the case of people for whom stopping cold turkey would be deadly, are they simply "unable" to check themselves into rehab where the appropriate medical and psychiatric services exist? My answer here would also be "no." They are able to ask for help, but lack a sufficient incentive to do so compared to their desire to keep taking their drug. |
Well past beyond understand the life choice they have made is a bad one. They live under the illusion that their life is all well while under the influence (remember drugs are mind altering). Once sobriety hits, depression and the fix for the same enjoyment. Its pretty much conditioning of the mind and body.
They are just unable to do it. |
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| Zharen |
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| zeKsg |
It is harder for a heavy smoker to quit smoking then for a regular 7 days a week cocaine user to quit cocaine, the withdrawal is stronger from smoking lets say a pack and a half a day.
One of the big reasons being, cutting yourself from a circle of cocaine-friends is easier then avoiding seeing people smoke for example.
There are just way too many things involved. |
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