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BIGGEST MYTHS/LIES about ADDICTION?

I dont necessarily agree with that William Burroughs saying you qouted, i think junk CAN be a kick and not a way of life. I havent reached that point, i am still a junky, but i think it can be reached (moderated use that is). At least im pretty sure....
 
There are actually a bunch of studies that demonstrate how long term use of alcohol and cocaine stimulate the dopamine receptors in the brain. Overtime the brain grows to desire the effects. I'm not sure how far they've gotten with this research but there was an interesting development I read somewhere that cocaine addicts experienced an especially strong urge to use when under the influence of alcohol - something to do with the dopamine receptors triggering a response for cocaine. Thus, they have found that the same drugs that inhibit alcohol cravings work for cocain addicts as well
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this makes sense to me having seen several ex-crackheads get drunk and go out to score some dope. as long as they stay away from alcohol and benzoes they are alright but once they are buzzing it seems to always end the same
 
2 main things bother me:

1) "If you use opiates regularly for any amount of time you'll get addicted". It may be true for a lot of people and quite possibly the majority, but certainly not everyone - especially people that use opiates for pain management and keep their use under control.

2) People who don't know the difference between dependance and addiction. A person managing chronic pain with opiates who gets withdrawal if they miss a dose is not by definition addicted! I got one of those "yeah right" faces from a few professionals that should have known better when they told me I was addicted and I told them I wasn't and as soon as the pain was gone I would be off the pain medication. After 18 months of massive doses of mostly morphine, the pain is now gone and I quit using the medication completely on my own as soon as the pain stopped (rapidly tapered first). Surprise surprise. Dependance simply means that withdrawal occurs when you go without for too long. Addiction means you have no medically accepted reason for using, but can't quit. People apply the term "addict" far too liberally. I've debated writing some "I-told-you-sos" to a few doctors, nurses, and a lawyer, not to mention a number of people here on this board, but I doubt the word of one person will change much when people are so set in what they believe. This is the second time in my life I've had to use daily for a long period of time and after the first time I didn't bother to get opiates for recreational use even though they would have been oh-so-easy to acquire, so I have no reason to believe I'm going to suddenly dive into recreational use ("relapse" :P) this time either. I'm not dead set against recreational use at all, if it matters. I took doses larger than necessary a few times (3 or 4 times) while I was treating pain and was surprised even with oxycodone and a low tolerance at the time how lackluster the high was. It felt good, but definitely not "use daily for fun and end up addicted by accident" good. Nothing against people that do that, though. Everybody is different.

I'll generally spend a few minutes on somebody that spouts less than factual information, but even my own parents wouldn't have believed I could use for so long and quit if they hadn't seen it happen (especially my dad who had a H addiction for years when he was little and quit - I suppose he thinks he's the only person alive who is capable of doing it) so I'm not really sure what the point is of debating with most people. Seems like most medical professionals even believe the misconceptions, so it's probably a lost cause arguing about it.
 
ebeneezer_geeza said:
i go with most the things that negrogesic says. It really annoys me hearing ppl who work in addictions who have never taken drugs spout stuff they have read or been told on a course which is mostly wrong. In the UK i cant even get work in addictions bc of a 2 year rule which states you cant work in that field unless you have been drug free for 2 yrs WTF????? i rarely take an illicit drug, maybe once a month, but i have been on MMT for nearly 15 yrs, why should that disqualify me from helping others???????????
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I'm pretty sure where i am, you can't be a drug counsler etc. in the way you speak of. unless you are a recovered addict etc.
never been to any type of counseling or rehab, but thought it was a great concept people were helping from experience instead of cnn.com


Maybe the logic will spread worldwide eventually.
 
... it only takes one hit

I smoke crystal about twice a week, not addicted... ive gone months
I smoke crack about 1st a week, not addicted- by far.
 
I hate it when ppl think that all addicts will murder their own family for a hit, i have only killed 2 grandparents so far, so i dont think they count.

No, what i really mean is i hate ppl thinking all addicts will steal, cheat and lie. Well all humans lie, as for the rest its economics and morals, and i have lots of the latter and always have had.
 
geetered said:
... it only takes one hit

I smoke crystal about twice a week, not addicted... ive gone months
I smoke crack about 1st a week, not addicted- by far.
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I agree completely. I've never been addicted to or even tried real junk before, but I've been thru horrible xanax addiction.

I think the current climate of DARE propaganda(although this climate, it can be argued, may be getting SLIGHTLY better in the US than it was 10-15 years ago) is very dangerous for the following reason: Most kids will eventually try drugs, and most kids also have this idea(if they listen to DARE... believe it or not many do) that the first time they try ANY drug, be it pot, coke, heroin, they will be instantly addicted.

The first time you try a drug, usually it's weed. The first time a 14 year old takes a hit off the bong and feels good and doesn't turn into a raging maniac psycho clepto addict, he/she is going to see that DARE lied to them. This may also lead this youth to believe that EVERYTHING DARE said, even some truthful harmful consequences of addiction, are also false. This is a *very* dangerous example of rowing against the current IMO. To the propagandists' credit, I believe many of their hearts are in the right place, they just don't understand drugs because most never did them.

It's like this: If the first time you meet someone and they lie to you immediately, why would you have any reason to trust them in the future? If you were smart, you wouldn't trust them anymore, at least until they gave you a reason to.

This Propaganda only has the reverse effect of turning everyone who realizes they are lying 100% against drug use/abuse education programs, which is why most people in here hate DARE-esque propaganda.

That's the end of my rant.
 
at my clinic, it seems the MAJORITY of counselors and such that work there ARE former addicts...my counselor is a recovering ALCOHOLIC and former COCAINE addict..there is definitely a difference between cocaine addiction and heroin addiction, and that where me and my counselor butt heads here and there..i cannot possibly understand how it is to beat alcoholism nor can he possibly come to understand how hard it is to kick heroin and stay clean...even a guy i look up to a spretty honest/intelligent DR.DREW cannot understand how it is to kick a hard OPIATE/BENZO habit as he has never been there..

i truly believe that we will NEVER understand what causes addiction and short/long termf depression etc etc..the human mind is so complex that we might get around to understanding the BASICS, but thats it..all other theories are just that, THEORIES..

i have problems with people being born with an ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY..i mean, anyone who takes a drug and feels better is more likely to indulge in the practive more often..thats natural imo, and shouldnt be considered an addictive personality..i dunno, i have been addicted to HEROIN, OXYCONTIN, and NUBAIN, and am now DEPENDANT on methadone, but i have never came close to have any sort of addiction problem with other so called "highly addictive" drugs like ALCOHOL, GHB, and BENZOs...i guess i just need a better descirption of the addictive personality..

i dislike people refusing to believe they are addicts as well, wherther it be to CAFFEINE, NICOTINE, SEX or whatever else..i honestly believe everyone conscious is addicted to SOMETHING..seems everyone of us needs a VICE/habit in this life to keep us SANE and remotely CONTENT and FINE with life..

not every ADDICTION is negative..the more happier times in my life have been wwhile hooked on OPIODS...
 
The biggest lie is that moderation isn't possible. There are an awful lot of people out there who when Friday rolls around, their work is done, their checks are cashed, go and reward themselves with a bit of whatever on their own time, and come Monday they aren't having more than a beer at 6pm or a joint at 6pm a couple days of the week.

It doesn't seem to make as much difference what the substance is, most people eventually moderate their habits as life makes demands on them.
 
I hate it when people ask "why did you continue using dope long enough to become an addict? You don't intend to become an addict. You become a drug addict because you do not have strong motivations in any other direction.Dope wins by default. I tried it as a matter of curiosity. I drifted along taking shots when I could score. I ended up hooked. Most friends I have talked to report a similar experience. They did not start using drugs for any reason they can remember. They just drifted along until they got hooked. If you have never been addicted, you can have no clear idea what it means to need stuff with that special need. You don't decide to be an addict. One morning you wake up sick and you're an addict I hate the myth that you can control being an addict.
 
negrogesic said:
Exactly ebeenezer, you have a lot more to offer in terms of counseling other addicts about addiction than some guy who just took some classes on addiction [[. ..]] and then they prayed for my "sobriety." I think that once I get off methadone, and I can use heroin once a month, that is completely fine and I consider that to be sober. But they dont. And i go to these meetings and some guy will say "I am an addict, and i have been clean for 25 years", and I think to myself "then why the fuck are you at this meeting?". Its like these people have become addicted to these meetings. Whenever i go to these meetings it just makes me feel like getting high, so i suppose its not for me
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1) It's True that those with experience have much to offer, but it's probably in the best interest of both patient and counselor to have some sort of >"2 year rule which states you cant work in that field unless you have been drug free for 2 yrs"< (ebeneezer_geezer) rule, so that there's a firmer boundary between both "parties" (pardon the pun...).

2) "they prayed", ¿did they?, lol--I finally had to admit to myself that "Prayer" is but a Hoax...

3) From what you say about the vicious addictiveness of Methadone, if--when--you finally do break free of it, maybe you will be able to handle a bit of H here and there (wouldn't want to see anyone back at square one, though...)

4) Addicted to meetings: yes, and they're FREAKY--my best friend turned into a kind of zombie-FREAK in that Cult... They should focus on *Independence* and drop the "I'm a worthless fucking WORM" approach...

5) Avoid anything that makes you crave--for some, even New Bluelight can be a source of downfall...
 
^^^True

Yea they did pray for me in a circle. It made me feel like fixing up a shot.

I honestly think that ONCE im off of methadone, I will be able to shoot heroin 1x every week or two. Now i will see if i can hold true to this, but i really think that i have a good chance of achieving this. Methadone and diazepam withdrawals have instilled a near phobic fear of withdrawals, and i do not think i will put myself in the same situation again. Again i can only speculate, but i feel strongly that i will not put myself in the same situation again.

BUT, i do have a fear I will be sober for a long period, then something bad will happen, like i get into a severe car accident, a parent dies, i get divorced or some incident that puts me into a deep emotional state where i no longer care about the withdrawals, and may succumb to addiction. Because of this i will just have to be all the more aware of what i am putting into my body, and the frequency in which i do it......
 
>"Yea they did pray for me in a circle. It made me feel like fixing up a shot."<

Hee! hee! On more serious note, though: when people beg me to quit/cut down on something (from tobacco to food, etc.), it ALWAYS immediately makes me use at least 50% more...

>"I honestly think that ONCE im off of methadone, I will be able to shoot heroin 1x every week or two. Now i will see if i can hold true to this, but i really think that i have a good chance of achieving this."<

Things change, and you might be able to--even if you come to enjoy periods of sobriety. Ffor example, now that I've been sober for 4 months, I'm REALLY enjoying music like I haven't in quite some time, so I'd like to not use for a bit longer, though I crave, say, a 36 hour oxy binge...

>"Methadone and diazepam withdrawals have instilled a near phobic fear of withdrawals, and i do not think i will put myself in the same situation again. Again i can only speculate, but i feel strongly that i will not put myself in the same situation again."<

Right: I had strong suicidal urges this last w/d--luckily, though, I couldn't even budge from my bed! Don't want that again; but, deep down, I'll run back to extended use, eventually. Your situation has been of extended trauma, though, so your aversion might serve you better, as it's more deeply ingrained...

>"BUT, i do have a fear I will be sober for a long period, then something bad will happen, like i get into a severe car accident, a parent dies, i get divorced or some incident that puts me into a deep emotional state where i no longer care about the withdrawals, and may succumb to addiction."<

Fortunately, it's not a definite response, and you may simply choose to suffer through the loss completely sober. Once you're sober, you may want to stay that way--at least during the grieving process (get the grief over with first, then use again).

Yeah: the car accident--I have the same nightmare fantasy: I'm so crippled that I'd commit suicide immediately, except that I want to get on a laptop and tell negrogesic, et al., my exact IV dosage, etc.--bragging, even though my life's irretrievably ruined...and they aren't even impressed by my dosage :)...
 
I agree w/all of you who say that NA/AA meetings just make you want to go out and use.....I don't know, sitting around in a circle reciting church-like NA book quotes, and hearing all these other people's war stories is not my idea of a drug-use avoidance tool.....but that's just me...

"I talk to myself/cuz giving my own self therapy's cheaper!" -Necro (hip-hop artist)
 
"Most kids will eventually try drugs"-HobbyIsBowling:- Erm... mate no offense, but I hope you don't believe what you just typed is true. Please tell me you don't!??

No, not most kids do end up trying illegal drugs. Alot do!! But not MOST.
Alot of people do try smoking pot at around the age of their mid-to-late teens... but in no way is it MOST.
 
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Some good opinions in this thread...

I'm applying for Bachelor of Social Work next year for University... hopefully since I've been through most of the crap (homeless and various addictions/IV) I will be able to understand, and in turn help people more effectively.
 
I stand by my claim. The majority of kids will eventually try some form of drug before they are 18. The majority (over 50 percent) will try some form of illegal drug(underage drinking is illegal and therefore included). Get mad about how sad that is all you want, but that's just the way things are man, check the stats, check contemporary studies.

Don't kill the messenger.
 
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