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The 'Functioning' addict.....a myth or a reality?

Green Bean

Green Bean

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Didn't know which forum to drop this in :/

How do we feel about this? Is it a reality for some of us or are we kidding ourselves?

I like to think I function pretty well as an addict...never been arrested, or caught using or stealing or anything. Hold it together on a day to day basis I think. But the more I think the more it's maybe I'm so damn used to living this way I accept it as normal :/

Thoughts please guys :-)
 
Dropped this into Drug Culture - from homeless.

OP your question would be valid in a number of sections - EADD would be a great place if you want to cut copy n paste.

I think it really depends on the substance - some are easier to hide than others.
 
IMHO, reality, bear is correct, though.. If I smoked haurd, shot crystal, no way I'd be legit. Opiates and benzos kept my job(s) steady.
 
I'm of the opinion that one can have mild addictions, thus making the idea of a functional addict plausible.

Functional junkie? Define junkie... It becomes subjective at a certain level.

Functional means, to me, upholding relationships, keeping a job that sustains financially, and being well-rounded (being passionate about at least one hobby that can have quantifiable progress). Otherwise.... Eh.

It would take a lot of work for me to be happy without regular drug intake, so I consider myself a functional addict. Even if my intake is quite low compared to many drug users.
 
It's a tough one to answer, really. In my own experience, it's possible for a while but ultimately ends the same way no matter what.
I could be living in a box and consider it functional if I was still shooting Smack, due to the way addiction morphs your perception of normality. It becomes so easy to make excuses for anything and everything, without having to face the consequences. Without those consequences, there is no reason to suspect you are actually as functional as, well.. your average smackhead.
I do think it depends on the drug, too. Opioids are insidious and much harder to keep checks on than the much more self-limiting DRA stimulants which ensure you reek of drug-addled insanity to anyone you meet.
 
I think it's amazeballs how easily I can rationalise anything out. To anyone. At anytime. I get people believing my own bullshit, including myself. And I don't know how I do it.
 
I was a dope addict and I wasn't functional,went to prison,in and out of rehabs blackballed by my whole famiy and then I got sober.Anyway skip ahead 5 years and ended up on pain management and I take my daily dose of oxys(as prescribed) but I smoke weed a couple times a week and occasionally will drink.I am a responsible husband and father I make sure my kids do their homework,brush their teeth,take a bath,eat ect....I also am the one at home so I take care of the house and run kids to school and I'd like to believe I do an excellent job.Now if I was on heroin I could in no way do this,so I think its relative to what you are on!
 
It's possible; but eventually the person goes from being 'functional' or 'high functional' to being totally addicted and they don't 'function' at all without the drug(s) they're addicted to and their entire life revolves around the drug(s) and getting high on them.
 
It really depends on what sort of life you choose to function in.

Have a menial job with little responsibility and it's possible to function with little recourse from your addiction. Get a family and suddenly real life responsibilities are carried over to looking after a child or partner and things start to get a little more uncomfortable. Even simple things like an overseas holiday would be near impossible for most drug addicts without a secure steady supply.
 
Get a load of this guy, talking about about a meaningful life with a career and family and stuff 8)
 
It's obviously not a myth.

Although even functioning addicts sometimes will run into problems that are related to their use. It can be a simple as money spent on drugs that would've been better spent on something else.
 
Sorry if some of you guys are dedicated to becoming losers all your lives try to get unselfish and be productive or just keep being the selfish self absorbed oh oh life is so hard I've tried nothing and nothing doesn't work losers! I keep using because nobody understands my pain"Boo Hoo,Boo Hoo". All I can say is tell it to your mother as she is waking her adult child up at noon!
 
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Definitely possible I spent 6 months addicted to amphetamine functioning in a normal job while going to college. I know plenty of heroin addicts and cocaine addicts who work full time jobs too.
 
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