The Variables of Addiction and how you rank their importance.

[batmanplaybaseball]

So being myself in the midst of an opiate relapse, I got to thinking. What are the variables of addiction and how to they measure in terms of importance. The variables that I can think of right now are, Duration of Use, Quantity Consumed Regularly, Strength of Drug of Choice, ect, ect.

My tentative opinion is that Duration of Use is the biggest problem. Meaning that taking a couple Vicodins each day for two years is worse than using heroin heavily for two weeks, as far as addiction goes. So what does everyone else think, from experience or not.

 

[J@germe1ster]

Mental state is the biggest imo. I mean I don't care how long you have used until you stop feeling sorry for yourself and get some self-esteem back change is never gonna be happen...

Basically addiction is caused by so many underlying factors, most of them being psychological, that in terms of consumption(frequency, quality, and quantity) is only playing a small part in the grand scheme of things.

 

[LittlebyLittle]

i think you've got it pretty well figured out. Substance style, Dosage, and Frequency (including length thereof). Yuck yuck yuck i'm in WD's right now. State of mind i'd say is probably last.

 

[Draigan]

Actually I disagree with your vicodin/heroin wd formula. I think that if someone does half a gram for 2 weeks they will be in a hell of a lot worse shape than someone doing vicodin for a year.Ive proved it to myself, for my body, and this seems to be the understanding of doctors/people in the know.

 

[bagochina]

Variables of addiction...

hmmm... for me growing up [young] every drug was available all the time. You could say I just loved drugs at one point. That is a fuct up statement when I say it but its the truth. My life was consumed with more now in my arm for a long time. A would say the variables that effects or increased my usage would be availability, and a constant mode to pay for it. The last part is what definitely helped and allowed me to continue for way too long. I would agree the mental side of addiction is what did me in. I was convinced I needed a pill/whatever to function daily, I hate that feeling. It bugs me now but didn't stop over a decade heroin run not to mention maintenance meds.

peace.
seedless

 

[Sweet P]

I think the variables behind addiction are countless... predisposition to addiction (i.e. mental illness or an addictive personality), drug availability, the strength and addictive potential of the drug, the amount used, and so on. I actually don't believe the duration of use is much of a factor at all. I've known some people who used meth regularly for a few months, and already their addiction was as strong as those who has used meth for many years. It largely depends on the individual. Some people plunge into addiction quickly, while for others it can take a longer period of time.

 

[Ixchellian]

Part of the biological component of addiction depends on an individual's geneological CYP2D6 system, and if they have a deficiency or not of that peptide. Basically, a large part of it's function is that it regulates the metabolism of drugs. People with a CYP2D6 deficiency are poor metabolizers of drugs, and as such they'll have a lesser effect than normal.

As such, for me complete physical addiction from a couple of vics a day will take longer to develop than someone without the deficiency. It's also why I could tolerate quantities of drugs that would knock a normal person on their ass.
So the rate for pure physical addiction is really subjective.

 

[batmanplaybaseball]

Actually I disagree with your vicodin/heroin wd formula. I think that if someone does half a gram for 2 weeks they will be in a hell of a lot worse shape than someone doing vicodin for a year.Ive proved it to myself, for my body, and this seems to be the understanding of doctors/people in the know.

I think the brief stint with heroin might produce more severe withdrawal, but that the long term Vicodin habit would leave you with more PAWS (post acute withdrawal symptoms). I would take the severe withdrawal over the prolonged PAWS any day, personally.



In addition I should say that addiction is really a funny animal, and a very personal one. Some people can do heroin, hate it and walk away, same thing with meth. I remember doing coke a number of times and saying that coke was not addictive at all, beyond that session that you are using it. I found enough people to agree with me that I thought I had a definitive conclusion. And then you meet an old friend who tried coke once and ended up selling everything he owned, and a lot of things other people owned, just to buy more, a lot more. Meth wouldn't do it for him, nor would amphetamines. He wanted coke. He was hopelessly addicted to coke.

For me I have always been able to walk away from benzos, alcohol and amphetamines, even after going through addictions to them. My crutch is opiates. Opiates in all forms. A long time ago my girlfriend tried my heroin and couldn't understand what I liked about it. But for me there is no question. Opiates are my long running addiction, the thing I will always be addicted to even after extensive periods of sobriety.

So like I said, addiction is a funny animal. Incredibly complex and personal.