Some people think that Chris Christie is much too out of shape to effectively hold office...

[moriah]

21. Showing the effects of meth, yes, I think may be helpful. (Faces of Meth, anyone?)

Making fun of them not so much.

I almost mentioned another issue that's dear to my heart when MADem spoke of other addictions. My dad named me after his favorite drug -- hi, my name is Crystal.

Taking the first hit, drinking the first drink, smoking the first cigarette, eating a dish of ice cream, deciding to fast or purge... all of those are choices. But when those unhealthy solutions end up being psychologically reinforcing, and the person learns to cope with stress by doing those things... that's when it becomes an addiction. My father wished he could quit. He saw the effects on his family. He saw the effects on himself -- a dirty needle gave him HIV, he died July 21, 2009. But even with all of that... he couldn't stop.

Is it just a lack of willpower or laziness? No. After a certain time your brain wires itself differently -- even the thought of the unhealthy coping mechanism releases dopamine, the reward neurotransmitter. It's extremely powerful. It's NOT easy to fight.

And the people who say that it is have never faced the battle, have never had to rewire their brains.