General Discussion

haele

(15,374 posts)

84. Problem with addictions are - is it the personality or the drug that triggers it?

Mon Dec 28, 2015, 02:50 PM

Dec 2015

My husband was prescribed strong opioids, including straight up morphine for his pain - didn't do a thing for him or his pain. He never craved them, because they were pills...and he takes so many pills for other problems, there's no allure at all. His physical withdrawal symptoms lasted about four days when he went cold turkey.
Just as he's not addicted to drinking. While he enjoys an occasional pleasant buzz, he doesn't like anything to interfere with his choices and interests in life.

He is addicted to smoking, because he's slightly OCD along with bi-polar, and the ritual of smoking is what he craves, not the nicotine. He quit smoking cold turkey, but still sometimes craves the "carefully coddle the right amount of flame and char in something, then put it in your mouth" experience.

Likewise, I've seen people who are addicted - defined as someone who is under the control of a substance or practice that in effect controls their actions, choices and relationships - jump from one addiction to another. The over-use/abuse of one substance or practice gets transferred to another as these people seek a "cure" or rather, a relief of some sort from any guilt or "sin" association the previous abuse or over-use was causing. The problem is more often a glitch (or even feature) in the personality than it is in the substance or practice.
And to a one, addicts will abuse, manipulate, or neglect their children and relationships for whatever addiction they are in the grips of. Drugs. Alcohol. Anger. Extremes of Religion. Sex. Lying. Stealing. Gambling. Shopping. Self-Infantilization. Risk-Taking. All "immoral" actions, based on control issues, self-esteem issues, fear...

One of the reasons why Prohibition never worked, why morality can't really be legislated. Punishing the general population who has no addiction to drugs (or alcohol, or sex, etc...) instead of reasonable regulations, oversight, and rehabilitation for the few who do have addictions is like taking a sledgehammer to your computer instead of running an anti-virus/systems troubleshooting scan when it seems there's a problem...

Haele

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It appears a fair number of DUers are unaware of an opioid crisis, [View all] elleng Dec 2015 OP

This is such a huge problem in New England. Chemisse Dec 2015 #1

Very big in the suburbs of Texas too. Texasgal Dec 2015 #5

You're welcome. elleng Dec 2015 #6

It's hard to imagine any family NOT being impacted by this, Chemisse Dec 2015 #33

Right. elleng Dec 2015 #34

+1 Agschmid Dec 2015 #81

They'll undoubtedly do everything but the right thing Warpy Dec 2015 #2

+1000 nt Live and Learn Dec 2015 #7

Yes. Mariana Dec 2015 #11

I agree. LuvNewcastle Dec 2015 #53

there are ample pain meds out there without handing out the massively addictive ones. trillion Dec 2015 #55

They're not lobbying doctors to dispense LuvNewcastle Dec 2015 #56

First, you are conflating dependence and addiction. They are vastly different Warpy Dec 2015 #86

Thank you for this intelligent rebuttal. closeupready Dec 2015 #91

Totally agree. n/t Butterbean Dec 2015 #72

Ever since we invaded Afghanistan heroin is more plentiful and cheaper than ever. hobbit709 Dec 2015 #3

Who ever thought this might be a problem? Downwinder Dec 2015 #15

That's it exactly libodem Dec 2015 #20

Wouldn't be Gary Webb�s �Dark Alliance?� Downwinder Dec 2015 #22

That's it exactly libodem Dec 2015 #32

Always intrigued me: Downwinder Dec 2015 #40

It has always been the civilian contractors (CIA) with their own planes and transportation LiberalArkie Dec 2015 #76

The crackdown on prescription pills has caused many addicts to switch to heroin and meth Kaleva Dec 2015 #48

Bingo! B Calm Dec 2015 #50

The new rules are a burden libodem Dec 2015 #79

I'm caring for a 10 month old 'cause the parents are pill addicts Kaleva Dec 2015 #80

You are a truly beautiful person libodem Dec 2015 #82

Yes. It's one of the roots of this crisis, it deserves some discussion Dems to Win Dec 2015 #30

Curse of unintended consequences... hunter Dec 2015 #4

Right, and some have pretty good approaches to dealing with it, elleng Dec 2015 #8

But the States with Medical Marijuana access have already cut opiate overdoses by 25% and Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #10

'rants about over prescribing and churches?' elleng Dec 2015 #13

Yes. He ignores the progress being made already by many States entirely and his solutions are Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #60

I am in a state with medical marijuana access Chemisse Dec 2015 #38

MA is about to hit your second anniversary with medical marijuna. CA is at 18 years. Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #63

That is really remarkable! Chemisse Dec 2015 #67

My husband just got his medi-mari card and uses topicals, not ingestable. haele Dec 2015 #83

That is interesting about topical cannaboids. Chemisse Dec 2015 #87

meanwhile people suffering from chronic debilitating pain are denied adequate treatment zazen Dec 2015 #9

There has to be some reasonable balance loyalsister Dec 2015 #27

It's just not humane to make it hard for people who suffer pain every day Chemisse Dec 2015 #35

Sadly, the addicts often have children who suffer terrible neglect JNelson6563 Dec 2015 #47

hmm lancer78 Dec 2015 #77

Perhaps not, maybe we should try it. JNelson6563 Dec 2015 #89

I am a big believer in self-medication lancer78 Dec 2015 #93

England use to years ago, but they stopped doing it because they were creating a nation of junkies frankieallen Dec 2015 #95

Problem with addictions are - is it the personality or the drug that triggers it? haele Dec 2015 #84

All very interesting but irrelevant to my comment. JNelson6563 Dec 2015 #88

Actually, it is. What about the childern? is the base of a prohabition argument with addictions. haele Dec 2015 #92

It was a somewhat flippant remark JNelson6563 Dec 2015 #94

So patients with chronic pain get sacrificed in this latest war on drugs? kiva Dec 2015 #12

That frightens me. Boudica the Lyoness Dec 2015 #21

I support O'Malley.. one_voice Dec 2015 #24

these laws affect me getting Percoset to deal with my shingles....and it barely helps... CTyankee Dec 2015 #68

This warms me to the idea of decriminalization of opioids loyalsister Dec 2015 #28

Some addicts around where I live pick at their gums causing sores... Kaleva Dec 2015 #49

I recall not long ago, states cured Meth addiction by limiting MerryBlooms Dec 2015 #64

It is customery in the US to make sure that those in need suffer as much as possible. Mnemosyne Dec 2015 #75

The real crisis is that the sick and the dying go without adequate treatment for their pain. LeftyMom Dec 2015 #14

Puritanical, for sure. Like suffering needlessly will increase the odds you are admitted to heaven. hunter Dec 2015 #16

A woman I knew had two separate terminal cancers, a bad heart and brittle diabetes. LeftyMom Dec 2015 #17

Yep. hunter Dec 2015 #19

scary. and insane. i worry about just that thing happening to me. nt TheFrenchRazor Dec 2015 #42

Aw jeez. laundry_queen Dec 2015 #46

yep. nt TheFrenchRazor Dec 2015 #44

Isn't that why we spent so much time with so many troops in Afghanistan? nt valerief Dec 2015 #18

Somebody has to mule that stuff. LeftyMom Dec 2015 #25

Over the past 3 yrs loyalsister Dec 2015 #23

And about 88,000 Americans die from alcohol abuse each year, O'Malley promotes breweries and Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #66

That's a fair point loyalsister Dec 2015 #70

The internet if full of photos of Marty drinking. 88,000 deaths a year. Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #71

Thanks for posting Omaha Steve Dec 2015 #26

You're welcome, Steve. elleng Dec 2015 #36

Let's start by eliminating the drug laws. jhart3333 Dec 2015 #29

agreed. nt TheFrenchRazor Dec 2015 #43

My 14yo grandson informed me yesterday that someone died of a heroin od in the house across the Mnemosyne Dec 2015 #31

There is a huge problem in PA. blue neen Dec 2015 #37

I can barely stand to drive through town, always see at least one or two and there is no mistaking Mnemosyne Dec 2015 #73

This is what happens when you place public health in the hands of organized crime. leveymg Dec 2015 #39

It's ryan_cats Dec 2015 #41

It is much exaggerated. And many duers are clueless about severe chronic pain cali Dec 2015 #45

Cannot agree enough REP Dec 2015 #90

It's been a huge problem for a long time Lee-Lee Dec 2015 #51

it's made it tough to get pain meds for those who need it Marrah_G Dec 2015 #52

Huge problem in Seattle too. 4 out of 6 of my nieces and nephews have fallen into this - all trillion Dec 2015 #54

Unfortunately, as long as the pharmaceutical ... Whiskeytide Dec 2015 #57

We live 3 miles from the Interstate highway known as the "heroin highway." Vinca Dec 2015 #58

There has been an epidemic in Eastern Kentucky for more than 20 years. kentuck Dec 2015 #59

What is the link with Afghanistan??? malaise Dec 2015 #61

When people experieng severe fredamae Dec 2015 #62

A moment of irony: Alcohol causes about 88,000 preventable deaths each year. Marty promotes alcohol Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #65

you'll hear it again from me first, the poppies are grown in the USA, Canada & Central America Sunlei Dec 2015 #69

Make a law. Make a business. Octafish Dec 2015 #74

I know someone lancer78 Dec 2015 #78

Legalize all the things. TalkingDog Dec 2015 #85