GenericMind
Bluelighter
->Drug Culture
I tend to agree with W.Burroughs on the correct definition of addiction:
The state of being in a person who 1) compulsively seeks and uses a substance regardless of personal, social or economic consequences/cannot stop consuming said substance regardless of efforts to do so
and
2) a change in physiology from consuming said substance over time has changed the biochemistry of the individual; making said substance a metabolic necessity (you need to continue to use the substance to maintain normal body functions).
In this regard the only substances I would call 'Addictive' are opioids and nicotine.
activities and substances are labeled addictive; from chocolate, sex, gambling, Cocaine, Amphetamine, etc. All of which can develop into uncontrollable compulsive behaviors- but there is no metabolic need that develops from too much sex, gambling, coke, speed, etc. This goes for hypnotics and sedatives as well. Rebound symptoms develop when chronic use is stopped; but it still isn't 'withdrawal' in the way opioids or nicotine induce withdrawal syndrome.
W/D from barbituates and alcohol can be fatal, while withdrawl from nicotine and opiates is, at worst, extremely unpleasant.
Yes you can be addicted to weed.
It becomes so much of a lifestyle and what your known for that the thought of going without it just makes life seem so dull and pointless. Yes, people definitely crave it psychologically but also helps some get to sleep or relax physically.
Your an addict when...
-When you find yourself steadily using more despite telling yourself your going to cut down.
-When you steal anything from a friend/loved one.
-When you frequently find yourself thinking about it when your not using it.
-When you get strangely over excited at the anticipation of getting really high off the substance.
People are different, some people are vastly more prone to addiction than others.
Its hard to believe that some people cant even get addicted to tobbacco while others struggle with weed addiction their whole lives...
When you become blind to the everyday beauty in your life because the only vision you have is that next hit
Wrong. I'm sure as shit an addict, but I can still enjoy a pretty sunset or one of those chicago snowstorms with those fucking huge flakes coming down slow as all hell. I can't tell you how many times a day I'll think to myself 'shit, life's pretty grand aint it?' and I'll be on the bus or something just lookin out the window.
So I'm clearly addicted and can still see something other than the next hit. I think you're talking more what rock bottom is.
My problem is that I have to cop once daily. Heroin lasts me about 20 to 24 hours of wellness. Or maybe 18 hours of wellness, two of sniffles, and then we start getting into sickness territory. But it's long enough that I can get by doing it once a day, preferably late at night. The rest of the day I don't really think about it, other than 'man, this is a fucking drag' in the fucking snow and all whatnot. So you can be an addict without it taking up every thought in your head, easy.