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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 8, 2017 11:27:25 GMT -5
Alcohol is a drug people get addicted to. Is it stupid to drink? Are you equating alcohol to heroin? To an alcoholic, it may isn't much different. The only difference is legality. An alcoholic can go to a liquor store and get an unadulterated bottle of vodka. Your heroin addict is going to have to hope that his local dealer hasn't gut the heroin he buys with fentanyl. Just like I can take narcotics and drop them in a heartbeat. However, you do not want to wave a prescription of oxycodone under Drama's husband's nose. There is something different between our brain chemistries where I get no pleasure out of narcotic metabolites. Not the same for Mr. Drama (sorry for using your DH as an example).
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 11:28:14 GMT -5
But a large part of it IS a personal choice. I understand that some of the addicts are people who started with pain meds and got addicted. But there are also many, mahy people who for some ungodly reason take very addictive drugs for the hell of it. That is where I have no sympathy. If you are dumb enough to try heroin for the hell of it and get addicted, it is hard to feel sorry for you. It ruins not only their lives but their family's.
There is zero reason for anyone to take drugs by choice. The heroin epidemic is well known and yet there are still idiots who take it to get high. That's what I can't understand.
I don't think that's true. There's peer pressure. There's the need to fit in. Is it safe to assume you've never gone for several months without having a drink - but still did social/family things with people who WERE drinking? If any of the people you hang with drink till their buzzed (or spend the day drinking 8 to 10 beers) surely you felt the 'pull' to join them -even if they weren't constantly offering you beverages. You also may have made them feel 'bad' about their drinking which then makes for an awkward social get together.
I know how hard it is to be a teen and say 'no' to whatever stupid stuff my 'friends' were doing... I wasn't part of that group for very long. I'm also usually an 'outsider' in my own family - because I don't drink and don't smoke or do alittle something to 'feel good'. Thankfully, I have a morbid family - so we got the "I don't really like that you do X, cause I care about you - but I'll still come to your funeral and say nice things." I missed out on a lot of 'family bonding' because I DON"T share memories/stories of drunken/high escapades... It's a price I was willing to pay when I was younger and more idealistic... now that we are all older I do kind of regret my choices.... I'm an outsider in my own family.
I am not one that caves to peer pressure. I do understand that I have a strong personality and I'm sure that helps.
I've been pregnant so obviously I have gone long stretches without any alcohol. I also get strict about my dieting at points so I swear off alcohol for what seem like LONG period!lol I still have a social life and go out. I don't make it a habit to hang with true alcoholics so I am not with people that down 8-10 beers a day. But I will be out and get busted on for drinking a water and I just laugh it off. I don't care.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Mar 8, 2017 11:28:52 GMT -5
When you were drinking and smoking marijuana in HS - did any of the people you were doing this with - offer/suggest you should try something more 'fun'? Like pills or heroin? If they did - I assume you said no? even though maybe the alcohol and MJ may have made you more prone to say yes?
I can understand someone who previously was taking pain meds for pain - and being cut off - and then looking for an alternative. I'm just thinking they must already know someone who's already using street drugs... cause I can't image what would motive someone to just out of the blue with no prior experience - COLD - get into their car and drive out to the 'bad neighborhood' and try to find a stranger who's selling AND a stranger who's willing to 'introduce' them to how to use the drugs...
That "I can't wrap my mind around it thing" leads me to believe that most addicts already knew people who were using... people who they trusted (I assume there's some sort of 'intimacy' or 'trust' needed to for one person to get another person to try something they've heard is 'bad').
I think some of the addiction problem comes down to who you know and who you hang around with.
Heroin was not popular when I was in school. But I had coke offered to me many times. I was smart enough to say no each and everytime. You were lucky you still kept those friends AND that you still had enough "self awareness" to say no - if you were already buzzed when it was offered. I suspect you are the exception rather than the rule.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Mar 8, 2017 11:30:29 GMT -5
I don't think that's true. There's peer pressure. There's the need to fit in. Is it safe to assume you've never gone for several months without having a drink - but still did social/family things with people who WERE drinking? If any of the people you hang with drink till their buzzed (or spend the day drinking 8 to 10 beers) surely you felt the 'pull' to join them -even if they weren't constantly offering you beverages. You also may have made them feel 'bad' about their drinking which then makes for an awkward social get together.
I know how hard it is to be a teen and say 'no' to whatever stupid stuff my 'friends' were doing... I wasn't part of that group for very long. I'm also usually an 'outsider' in my own family - because I don't drink and don't smoke or do alittle something to 'feel good'. Thankfully, I have a morbid family - so we got the "I don't really like that you do X, cause I care about you - but I'll still come to your funeral and say nice things." I missed out on a lot of 'family bonding' because I DON"T share memories/stories of drunken/high escapades... It's a price I was willing to pay when I was younger and more idealistic... now that we are all older I do kind of regret my choices.... I'm an outsider in my own family.
I am not one that caves to peer pressure. I do understand that I have a strong personality and I'm sure that helps.
I've been pregnant so obviously I have gone long stretches without any alcohol. I also get strict about my dieting at points so I swear off alcohol for what seem like LONG period!lol I still have a social life and go out. I don't make it a habit to hang with true alcoholics so I am not with people that down 8-10 beers a day. But I will be out and get busted on for drinking a water and I just laugh it off. I don't care.
again, you are lucky you are the way you are and that you don't have to be around alcoholics. Don't assume that everyone else has exactly the same 'personality' and circle of friends that you do.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 8, 2017 11:30:54 GMT -5
I"ve said no to coke a lot too.
It just looked like a very expensive sneeze to me.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 11:31:33 GMT -5
Are you equating alcohol to heroin? To an alcoholic, it may isn't much different. The only difference is legality. An alcoholic can go to a liquor store and get an unadulterated bottle of vodka. Your heroin addict is going to have to hope that his local dealer hasn't gut the heroin he buys with fentanyl. Just like I can take narcotics and drop them in a heartbeat. However, you do not want to wave a prescription of oxycodone under Drama's husband's nose. There is something different between our brain chemistries where I get no pleasure out of narcotic metabolites. Not the same for Mr. Drama (sorry for using your DH as an example). www.learn-about-alcoholism.com/statistics-on-alcoholics.html
•Three-fourths of all adults drink alcohol, and 6% of them are alcoholics.
That is a far cry from the number of heroin users who become addicted. And I do know several alcoholics (my family has a very addictive personality!) and one heroin addict. Guess which of those people had their lives ruined? It wasn't the alcoholilcs....they can still function in society and hold down jobs. they drink when they get home until they pass out and then start the day over again. Much different than the heroin addict.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 11:32:51 GMT -5
Heroin was not popular when I was in school. But I had coke offered to me many times. I was smart enough to say no each and everytime. You were lucky you still kept those friends AND that you still had enough "self awareness" to say no - if you were already buzzed when it was offered. I suspect you are the exception rather than the rule. It was offered to me many times at parties...I always said no. Those people werent' in my close circle of friends. But I was drunk when offered. My best friend thought it would be fun to try. She was not a coke user.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 11:34:59 GMT -5
I am not one that caves to peer pressure. I do understand that I have a strong personality and I'm sure that helps.
I've been pregnant so obviously I have gone long stretches without any alcohol. I also get strict about my dieting at points so I swear off alcohol for what seem like LONG period!lol I still have a social life and go out. I don't make it a habit to hang with true alcoholics so I am not with people that down 8-10 beers a day. But I will be out and get busted on for drinking a water and I just laugh it off. I don't care.
again, you are lucky you are the way you are and that you don't have to be around alcoholics. Don't assume that everyone else has exactly the same 'personality' and circle of friends that you do. I should restate what I said. I don't make it a habit to choose partners or friends who are alcoholics. But my family is loaded with them.
I am not assuming anyone has my personality. I'm saying society as a hole is obviously not doing something to educate the young.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 11:36:15 GMT -5
I actually find it funny that the OP was about the devastating effect of drugs...and people in this thread and playing down how deadly drugs are. I don't get it.....
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Mar 8, 2017 11:38:09 GMT -5
As someone else mentioned, I think a lot of drug/alcohol addiction is simply a result of someone self-medicating for mental health issues. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "it makes the pain go away". I firmly believe if we would do better in the mental health service area, we would see both drug and alcohol abuse wane.
That being said, this is why I have an issue with decriminalizing drugs on the basis of "they are only hurting themselves". This simply isn't true. I'm pretty sure only people who are already addicts actually use the rational that they are only hurting themselves by using... It's a pretty good 'tell' if you happen to be in a conversation and someone throws that out as "pro" for legalizing any sort of drug. Even if they are a casual user - I have no idea how they cannot see the bigger picture of who gets hurt by using... (even long term casual use... it catches up to you.)
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 8, 2017 11:39:00 GMT -5
To an alcoholic, it may isn't much different. The only difference is legality. An alcoholic can go to a liquor store and get an unadulterated bottle of vodka. Your heroin addict is going to have to hope that his local dealer hasn't gut the heroin he buys with fentanyl. Just like I can take narcotics and drop them in a heartbeat. However, you do not want to wave a prescription of oxycodone under Drama's husband's nose. There is something different between our brain chemistries where I get no pleasure out of narcotic metabolites. Not the same for Mr. Drama (sorry for using your DH as an example). www.learn-about-alcoholism.com/statistics-on-alcoholics.html
•Three-fourths of all adults drink alcohol, and 6% of them are alcoholics.
That is a far cry from the number of heroin users who become addicted. And I do know several alcoholics (my family has a very addictive personality!) and one heroin addict. Guess which of those people had their lives ruined? It wasn't the alcoholilcs....they can still function in society and hold down jobs. they drink when they get home until they pass out and then start the day over again. Much different than the heroin addict.
You are missing my point. Not everyone who uses narcotics becomes an addict either. I suspect that the percentage is higher than it is for alcoholics though. I get absolutely NO pleasure from taking narcotics, but I did get relief from physical pain. The same brain centers that narcotics tickle to produce addicts are those that are tickled by heroin, but heroin is easier to get (and cheaper) than narcotics. Heroin also (apparently) tickles it better.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 8, 2017 11:39:07 GMT -5
I actually find it funny that the OP was about the devastating effect of drugs...and people in this thread and playing down how deadly drugs are. I don't get it..... and if you hear that from the people you are around, you're more likely to try them................
That and the pleasure of 5 orgasms in one needle.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 11:40:09 GMT -5
www.learn-about-alcoholism.com/statistics-on-alcoholics.html
•Three-fourths of all adults drink alcohol, and 6% of them are alcoholics.
That is a far cry from the number of heroin users who become addicted. And I do know several alcoholics (my family has a very addictive personality!) and one heroin addict. Guess which of those people had their lives ruined? It wasn't the alcoholilcs....they can still function in society and hold down jobs. they drink when they get home until they pass out and then start the day over again. Much different than the heroin addict.
You are missing my point. Not everyone who uses narcotics becomes an addict either. I suspect that the percentage is higher than it is for alcoholics though. I get absolutely NO pleasure from taking narcotics, but I did get relief from physical pain. The same brain centers that narcotics tickle to produce addicts are those that are tickled by heroin, but heroin is easier to get (and cheaper) than narcotics. Heroin also (apparently) tickles it better. They are much higher...and obviously more deadly since swamp's post was about funerals. But that's ok...if we pretend that heroin is no worse than alcohol, the deaths will just stop.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Mar 8, 2017 11:40:14 GMT -5
I absolutely think drugs can be deadly. I just disagree with the current way we deal with it. If we want people to stop dying and stop using then we need to put the money that we're currently putting into the war on drugs into establishing the health services we need to A) prevent people from using from the start B) treat the people who already are and C) help the communities where this is a problem
And we'll have to accept the unfortunate fact that you can't stop everyone from using or save everyone who uses. There will always be addicts in the world.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Mar 8, 2017 11:40:48 GMT -5
To an alcoholic, it may isn't much different. The only difference is legality. An alcoholic can go to a liquor store and get an unadulterated bottle of vodka. Your heroin addict is going to have to hope that his local dealer hasn't gut the heroin he buys with fentanyl. Just like I can take narcotics and drop them in a heartbeat. However, you do not want to wave a prescription of oxycodone under Drama's husband's nose. There is something different between our brain chemistries where I get no pleasure out of narcotic metabolites. Not the same for Mr. Drama (sorry for using your DH as an example). www.learn-about-alcoholism.com/statistics-on-alcoholics.html
•Three-fourths of all adults drink alcohol, and 6% of them are alcoholics.
That is a far cry from the number of heroin users who become addicted. And I do know several alcoholics (my family has a very addictive personality!) and one heroin addict. Guess which of those people had their lives ruined? It wasn't the alcoholilcs....they can still function in society and hold down jobs. they drink when they get home until they pass out and then start the day over again. Much different than the heroin addict.
Do your alcoholics have spouses and kids? I'm from a family of high functioning alcoholics... and I've worked with a few. it's just a less obvious really long term kind of "hurt" they are inflicting on the family/friends/fellow workers/employers.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 11:42:00 GMT -5
I actually find it funny that the OP was about the devastating effect of drugs...and people in this thread and playing down how deadly drugs are. I don't get it..... and if you hear that from the people you are around, you're more likely to try them................
That and the pleasure of 5 orgasms in one needle.
I'm not sure what you mean? Do you mean if I show my daughter statistics that me pestering her about drugs will make her try them?
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 8, 2017 11:42:29 GMT -5
You are missing my point. Not everyone who uses narcotics becomes an addict either. I suspect that the percentage is higher than it is for alcoholics though. I get absolutely NO pleasure from taking narcotics, but I did get relief from physical pain. The same brain centers that narcotics tickle to produce addicts are those that are tickled by heroin, but heroin is easier to get (and cheaper) than narcotics. Heroin also (apparently) tickles it better. They are much higher...and obviously more deadly since swamp's post was about funerals. But that's ok...if we pretend that heroin is no worse than alcohol, the deaths will just stop. It is worse, but it's not instantly addictive.
The problem is there is no regulation of what is in the heroin, that's what causes the deaths.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 11:43:12 GMT -5
www.learn-about-alcoholism.com/statistics-on-alcoholics.html
•Three-fourths of all adults drink alcohol, and 6% of them are alcoholics.
That is a far cry from the number of heroin users who become addicted. And I do know several alcoholics (my family has a very addictive personality!) and one heroin addict. Guess which of those people had their lives ruined? It wasn't the alcoholilcs....they can still function in society and hold down jobs. they drink when they get home until they pass out and then start the day over again. Much different than the heroin addict.
Do your alcoholics have spouses and kids? I'm from a family of high functioning alcoholics... and I've worked with a few. it's just a less obvious really long term kind of "hurt" they are inflicting on the family/friends/fellow workers/employers.
A lot of them do. to be fair, my uncles are old and I think it was different back then. You stayed with your spouse no matter what. But I also have cousins that are functioning alcoholics and their divorce rates are no higher than the average.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 8, 2017 11:43:27 GMT -5
and if you hear that from the people you are around, you're more likely to try them................
That and the pleasure of 5 orgasms in one needle.
I'm not sure what you mean? Do you mean if I show my daughter statistics that me pestering her about drugs will make her try them? No, if everyone in your social circle has used heroin, you'd probably be more like to use it. Doesn't mean you will use it, but birds of a feather and all that.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 8, 2017 11:44:31 GMT -5
I actually find it funny that the OP was about the devastating effect of drugs...and people in this thread and playing down how deadly drugs are. I don't get it..... Because it is not black and white. No one is saying that drugs are not deadly, but there is a gradation of ''deadliness'. Heroin DOES have a medical use for severe pain. Not everyone handles side effects of narcotics well. Heroin for pain management:
Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is used for treatment of severe acute pain (such as severe acute pain due to myocardial infarction or heart attack, end stage cancer pain, post surgical pain, terminal illnesses etc.) in some countries (such as United Kingdom), as strong analgesic. It is available as strictly controlled prescription medication. Heroin is available as diamorphine and used subcutaneosly, intravenously, intramuscularly or intrathecally. National Institute for Health recommends use of diacetylmorphine, epidurally or intrathecally for management of post operative pain due to caesarean section. In UK, heroin or diacetylmorphine is still commonly used for palliative care pain management.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 11:45:51 GMT -5
I'm not sure what you mean? Do you mean if I show my daughter statistics that me pestering her about drugs will make her try them? No, if everyone in your social circle has used heroin, you'd probably be more like to use it. Doesn't mean you will use it, but birds of a feather and all that. Gotcha. and I'm sure you are right. Which is why I really was all over my daughter...not with the "just say no" but with real life examples. My cousin didn't just spend 3 years in jail...he OD twice in front of his children and once with his fiancé. that's the kind of stuff I want my daughter to know can happen if you take drugs. I would flip if someone told her that heroin was no worse than a Jack and Coke...it's just not true!
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Urban Chicago
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Post by Urban Chicago on Mar 8, 2017 11:47:33 GMT -5
I have many addicts in my family, and a few deaths unfortunately. None of my family members started with prescription drugs, it was always for "fun".
I drink and such, but don't ever touch the hard stuff.
Are they idiots for doing this? Yes.
Are they being cruel to the rest of their loved ones by ruining their lives? Yes.
Do they deserve to die? No.
All I can say now is that our current system of locking up addicts and making it impossible to obtain their drug of choice from a safe, dependable source is ineffective and, in this case, the punishment certainly does not fit the crime.
Slightly off topic but-One problem with simply ending the war on drugs however is that some areas have privatized their prisons and must ensure capacity levels per contract. Thereby forcing police/courts etc.. to get the population up by being really heavy-handed with drug related convictions. One way to fix this would be making it illegal for the government to guarantee profit when they outsource to private companies. Not just prisons but military contractors, public works contruction, etc... They make the profits they should have to bear at least some risk.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 8, 2017 11:48:46 GMT -5
No, if everyone in your social circle has used heroin, you'd probably be more like to use it. Doesn't mean you will use it, but birds of a feather and all that. Gotcha. and I'm sure you are right. Which is why I really was all over my daughter...not with the "just say no" but with real life examples. My cousin didn't just spend 3 years in jail...he OD twice in front of his children and once with his fiancé. that's the kind of stuff I want my daughter to know can happen if you take drugs. I would flip if someone told her that heroin was no worse than a Jack and Coke...it's just not true! It is worse, but it's also not instant death or addiction on a stick. The possibility of addiction is much higher. And the high is pretty freakin' good, from what I hear. She needs to hear the facts and know that the temporary high comes with some very serious risks. Much higher than a jack and coke.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Mar 8, 2017 11:49:04 GMT -5
I have many addicts in my family, and a few deaths unfortunately. None of my family members started with prescription drugs, it was always for "fun". I drink and such, but don't ever touch the hard stuff. Are they idiots for doing this? Yes. Are they being cruel to the rest of their loved ones by ruining their lives? Yes. Do they deserve to die? No. All I can say now is that our current system of locking up addicts and making it impossible to obtain their drug of choice from a safe, dependable source is ineffective and, in this case, the punishment certainly does not fit the crime. Slightly off topic but-One problem with simply ending the war on drugs however is that some areas have privatized their prisons and must ensure capacity levels per contract. Thereby forcing police/courts etc.. to get the population up by being really heavy-handed with drug related convictions. One way to fix this would be making it illegal for the government to guarantee profit when they outsource to private companies. Not just prisons but military contractors, public works contruction, etc... They make the profits they should have to bear at least some risk. That is true. There are a lot of people who profit from the war on drugs and aren't going to be willing to give that cash up.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 8, 2017 11:51:00 GMT -5
You are missing my point. Not everyone who uses narcotics becomes an addict either. I suspect that the percentage is higher than it is for alcoholics though. I get absolutely NO pleasure from taking narcotics, but I did get relief from physical pain. The same brain centers that narcotics tickle to produce addicts are those that are tickled by heroin, but heroin is easier to get (and cheaper) than narcotics. Heroin also (apparently) tickles it better. They are much higher...and obviously more deadly since swamp's post was about funerals. But that's ok...if we pretend that heroin is no worse than alcohol, the deaths will just stop. The bigger problem is that the drugs are adulterated. That is the reason for the upswings of heroin overdoses, because addicts are not getting what they think that they are getting, but are getting drugs that have been adulterated with fentanyl or other drugs that are waaaay more potent than heroin. And because drug dealers have lousy QC, then purveyors have absolutely no idea what they are putting into themselves.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 8, 2017 12:01:27 GMT -5
I think one problem that needs to be addressed is that doctors prescribing narcotics need to think about and plan for the physical withdrawals that occur with prescription narcotics use. Even if used responsibly for a short time there will be a physical reaction (often uncomfortable) to discontinuing use of a narcotic. This has nothing to do with a mental addiction, which I would classify as self medicating, psychological issues, and stress type reactions. Someone predisposed to a mental addiction will find anything to get addicted to; shopping, gambling, sex, etc. So unless you treat that underlying issue there's really not much to be done. But a person with a non-addictive personality can be helped to not get fully addicted in the first place by careful medicating, monitoring, and withdrawal. In other words, not all addicts are the same and they need different approaches, but I don't think a true addict will ever really get better, I generally think the successful addicts trade destructive addictions for non-destructive ones. I think the experimenting kids and young adults generally figure out in which group they are pretty early on in their experimenting years. So in other words, Miss T is correct in that she knows that there is a strong chance either by genetics or environment that she could have an addictive predisposition and Swamp is correct that the the physical aspect is also a factor at play. And while you can treat the physical addiction issue relatively swiftly, the mental part is the tough part.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Mar 8, 2017 12:04:11 GMT -5
Do your alcoholics have spouses and kids? I'm from a family of high functioning alcoholics... and I've worked with a few. it's just a less obvious really long term kind of "hurt" they are inflicting on the family/friends/fellow workers/employers.
A lot of them do. to be fair, my uncles are old and I think it was different back then. You stayed with your spouse no matter what. But I also have cousins that are functioning alcoholics and their divorce rates are no higher than the average. That wasn't what I was talking about. I'm talking about how as a kid I didn't have friends over to my house in the evening or on weekends - cause my dad was drinking himself into a stupor and MIGHT get 'angry' or decide he needed to drunkenly interact with me and my friends.
Do the kids happily bring home friends (maybe have a sleepover) and just nonchalantly say "don't mind the drunk guy... it's just my dad... smile, wave, and keep walking til we get to the basement/my room - oh and me can't make too much noise because he'll hear and come stumbling in to 'talk' to us... and we'll never be able to get rid of him. We have to wait until he passes out for the night." OK, maybe if you live in a 3000 plus square foot house - you can avoid the 'problem people' you live with.
I'm talking about how the spouses of my alcoholic relatives are forever making excuses - because at some point during social occasions their high functioning alcoholic spouse stops being high functioning. They have to keep a constant eye on their spouse - assessing the situation so they can avoid a scene. There's alot of stress to maintaining the "we're a normal happy family!" image when you're not.
There's a lot of stress behind the scenes when you've got a drunkard in your family - even if they go to work, come home, and drink themselves to sleep every night... I know I lived it.
Of course, maybe everyone just accepts the stuff that alcoholics do and just gloss over it? Kind of like when you have a dog and your guests are a little bit afraid of dogs (or are allergic) but you still feel comfortable letting your dog jump all over them - cause the dog is just being friendly and how can they not like dogs??
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 12:11:41 GMT -5
A lot of them do. to be fair, my uncles are old and I think it was different back then. You stayed with your spouse no matter what. But I also have cousins that are functioning alcoholics and their divorce rates are no higher than the average. That wasn't what I was talking about. I'm talking about how as a kid I didn't have friends over to my house in the evening or on weekends - cause my dad was drinking himself into a stupor and MIGHT get 'angry' or decide he needed to drunkenly interact with me and my friends.
Do the kids happily bring home friends (maybe have a sleepover) and just nonchalantly say "don't mind the drunk guy... it's just my dad... smile, wave, and keep walking til we get to the basement/my room - oh and me can't make too much noise because he'll hear and come stumbling in to 'talk' to us... and we'll never be able to get rid of him. We have to wait until he passes out for the night." OK, maybe if you live in a 3000 plus square foot house - you can avoid the 'problem people' you live with.
I'm talking about how the spouses of my alcoholic relatives are forever making excuses - because at some point during social occasions their high functioning alcoholic spouse stops being high functioning. They have to keep a constant eye on their spouse - assessing the situation so they can avoid a scene. There's alot of stress to maintaining the "we're a normal happy family!" image when you're not.
There's a lot of stress behind the scenes when you've got a drunkard in your family - even if they go to work, come home, and drink themselves to sleep every night... I know I lived it.
Of course, maybe everyone just accepts the stuff that alcoholics do and just gloss over it? Kind of like when you have a dog and your guests are a little bit afraid of dogs (or are allergic) but you still feel comfortable letting your dog jump all over them - cause the dog is just being friendly and how can they not like dogs??
I never had to deal with that. But I did have to deal with my mom being drunk and trying to hang out with us. My friends thought she was hysterical but I was mortified that my mom was slurring and trying to be cool...ugh.
For the most part, I don't have mean drunks in my family. At least not that I have seen a family functions.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 8, 2017 12:13:05 GMT -5
I think one problem that needs to be addressed is that doctors prescribing narcotics need to think about and plan for the physical withdrawals that occur with prescription narcotics use. Even if used responsibly for a short time there will be a physical reaction (often uncomfortable) to discontinuing use of a narcotic. This has nothing to do with a mental addiction, which I would classify as self medicating, psychological issues, and stress type reactions.
Not everyone responds the same way to narcotics and has withdrawal symptoms. If I took a rough poll from my hip group, very few wind up with withdrawal symptoms after hip surgery and usually this is after a couple week prescription, I doubt if it is as high as 5%. Most of the people who do are those who have issues with alcohol, which is similar to what is found in the literature.
FWIW....I was on them for damn near a year and didn't have a single withdrawal symptom.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 8, 2017 12:14:10 GMT -5
They are much higher...and obviously more deadly since swamp's post was about funerals. But that's ok...if we pretend that heroin is no worse than alcohol, the deaths will just stop. The bigger problem is that the drugs are adulterated. That is the reason for the upswings of heroin overdoses, because addicts are not getting what they think that they are getting, but are getting drugs that have been adulterated with fentanyl or other drugs that are waaaay more potent than heroin. And because drug dealers have lousy QC, then purveyors have absolutely no idea what they are putting into themselves. But that isn't exactly a secret. Why would anyone take the chance?
And what about those that don't OD? Are you saying that heroin junkies can go on to be productive members of society of their heroin was controlled?
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