The use and abuse of alcohol and drugs

[peeonme]

I have stated in this forum that as a teen that I had tried grass and I have been drunk, more than a few times in my life.

I understand a few friends having a beer or "burning one", what I have trouble dealing with is the need to do it regularly, a sort of self medication that people see as a way of dealing with life.

My son drinks daily and smokes grass, his network of friends do as well, it might be the thread that holds them together.

My brother has been to rehab a few times, I had an uncle die on the streets of Detroit because of drinking.

I could name a dozen others that I know or have known who abuse alcohol and drugs.

I really don't get it, I am not a dummy, but this just makes no sense to me.

It's called a disease, I have read about it as I do with most topics that I have an interest in, I still don't get it, do some people hurt that much? Do they lack coping skills? Is there a predisposition in regards to these problems?

 

[MoufOfKhaos]

People get addicted to things. You don't, I don't - I drink very rarely and only with friends, I tried weed twice and didn't see the point. My aunt did and she died of AIDS, my uncle did and he's in jail, my former best friend did and we no longer speak after getting a place together for a year - last I heard he's back in California, homeless again.

 

[ibill1]

I did all those things in college and for a few years after. I did LSD regularly and smoked weed and drank daily. Payote, ludes, speed, you name it I did it with the exception of heroin. I still managed to graduate with a 3.6 in my field. I got out of college, grew up, became an adult and that was it. I smoked weed for many years after until drug testing came along and then no more. It didn't bother me at all to stop smoking. Some people can handle it and some can't. I was never addicted to anything, when it was time to quit I did, no problem. Of course this was 30 yrs. ago and it was what you did in college in the 70's. From what I read it really hasn't changed much.

 

[Orlandude]

Alcoholism is a disease. Some people have it, most do not.
A true alcoholic needs help. They are unable to control the disease on their own just as anyone is generally unable to control any disease on their own. You have to get professional help. Alcoholics don’t want to drink. They just can’t stop drinking. They can’t help it. The alcohol controls them and consumes them until, if allowed to go on, it destroys their life. The abuse of alcohol is not necessarily alcoholism. It is overindulging (abusing). How many times have you heard people say “Well I’ve had a day and I’m going to go out and get blitzed”. What they’re saying is that they are planning to go out and abuse alcohol to make the bad feelings of the day go away. That doesn’t make them an alcoholic. They are looking for something to make them feel better. Yes, they should find healthier outlets but it’s socially fashionable to drink, so they do it. The next day, they are fine short of a possible hangover and they may not drink again for a few days. An alcoholic can’t do that. A day can’t go by without alcohol. They are unable to drink responsibly. The disease won’t allow it. The disease has a lot to do with chemical imbalances in the brain. Recovering alcoholics, once detoxed, can’t ever drink again. Ever. Only one drink will start up the disease again and they will relapse.

The abuse of drugs is not a disease but they can cause an addiction, either physical, psychological or both. Just like smoking is an addiction (nicotine is a drug), talking pills for everything imaginable can also cause addiction. Millions are addicted to pain pills, which eventually WILL kill you if they’re abused. Personally, I don’t think pot is addictive unless all one does all day, everyday, is smoke pot. To wit, a pothead, which I believe is a psychological dependency. They enjoy being “high” all the time. The greater danger of pot is what it may do to your lungs. Others will disagree with me but I don’t believe pot is a “gateway” drug. I think that’s all political propaganda. I smoked pot in college for years and never “graduated” to any hard drugs. Street drugs like cocaine and crack are very addictive. Addicts and junkies need professional help, otherwise they become lost souls, trapped in the downward spiral of drug addiction. Why do people do it in the first place? Usually innocently. Peer pressure. Because it’s “cool” and makes them feel good instead of looking for other healthier ways to feel good. For too many, the addiction creeps up on them until they are high all the time, always looking for the next high and going broke in the process.

 

[Kulindahr]

Alcoholism is a disease. Some people have it, most do not.
A true alcoholic needs help. They are unable to control the disease on their own just as anyone is generally unable to control any disease on their own. You have to get professional help. Alcoholics don’t want to drink. They just can’t stop drinking. They can’t help it. The alcohol controls them and consumes them until, if allowed to go on, it destroys their life. The abuse of alcohol is not necessarily alcoholism. It is overindulging (abusing). How many times have you heard people say “Well I’ve had a day and I’m going to go out and get blitzed”. What they’re saying is that they are planning to go out and abuse alcohol to make the bad feelings of the day go away. That doesn’t make them an alcoholic. They are looking for something to make them feel better. Yes, they should find healthier outlets but it’s socially fashionable to drink, so they do it. The next day, they are fine short of a possible hangover and they may not drink again for a few days. An alcoholic can’t do that. A day can’t go by without alcohol. They are unable to drink responsibly. The disease won’t allow it. The disease has a lot to do with chemical imbalances in the brain. Recovering alcoholics, once detoxed, can’t ever drink again. Ever. Only one drink will start up the disease again and they will relapse.

The abuse of drugs is not a disease but they can cause an addiction, either physical, psychological or both. Just like smoking is an addiction (nicotine is a drug), talking pills for everything imaginable can also cause addiction. Millions are addicted to pain pills, which eventually WILL kill you if they’re abused. Personally, I don’t think pot is addictive unless all one does all day, everyday, is smoke pot. To wit, a pothead, which I believe is a psychological dependency. They enjoy being “high” all the time. The greater danger of pot is what it may do to your lungs. Others will disagree with me but I don’t believe pot is a “gateway” drug. I think that’s all political propaganda. I smoked pot in college for years and never “graduated” to any hard drugs. Street drugs like cocaine and crack are very addictive. Addicts and junkies need professional help, otherwise they become lost souls, trapped in the downward spiral of drug addiction. Why do people do it in the first place? Usually innocently. Peer pressure. Because it’s “cool” and makes them feel good instead of looking for other healthier ways to feel good. For too many, the addiction creeps up on them until they are high all the time, always looking for the next high and going broke in the process.

Nicely explained.

I will note that I know of one exception to the alcoholic never being able to handle alcohol at all: after a long mental/spiritual/emotional struggle, an alcoholic who'd started coming to the church I attended decided that he wasn't going to skip the Sacrament of the Alter (Holy Communion, Eucharist) on account of the alcohol in the wine. It wasn't an easy battle, but every communion Sunday he stayed and prayed until he felt capable of going out.

Just once, he convinced himself that this meant he'd conquered the alcoholism, but one sip in a social setting and he was quickly back in rehab.

Some people called it a miracle; I regarded it as a matter of the weight of deep values.

 

[seven2go]

Did the booze thing........and very badly at that.
Luckily I came to my senses at age 25 and never looked back.
FYI that was 37 years ago.
The World Bank doesn't have enough money to get me to ever take another drink.

Smoking is another matter.

 

[medic1]

When my first partner died i went totally off the rails, i started to drink very, very heavily. To the point where i had to suspend my studies. Those 18 months were the worst of my life, if it was not for my "now" partner, friends and a very understanding senior partner in the surgery
i dread to think where i was heading. Now? I have the occasional single malt, or when out, a few pints. It really is so easy to fall into an addiction of any kind. I was one of the lucky ones.

 

[Kulindahr]

If a true addict just stops, they have health riscs, dts/hallucinations, its one crappy depressing thing to be around.

I've been around a touch of that and have to agree. I acquired a few bruises from being between a certain alcoholic and his booze, too.

But the one I wrote about had been clean and sober for over a year when he made his decision. Everyone at AA and all were certain he was dooming himself, but it didn't turn out that way.


Of course at the other extreme I also once knew an alcoholic who couldn't even touch grape juice, because it triggered the craving -- and so did any whiff of something fermenting.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

1st world econonomics

thankyou

 

[altlover85]

It's called a disease, I have read about it as I do with most topics that I have an interest in, I still don't get it, do some people hurt that much? Do they lack coping skills? Is there a predisposition in regards to these problems?

As someone who has dealt with and is dealing with issues regarding alcohol, yes, some people do hurt that much and yes, some people do lack effective coping skills. I think there is a predisposition to addiction and I assume most if it is genetic.

If you'd like to know more, PM me.

 

[eastofeden]

I am an addict and always will be though my addictions now are relatively harmless.

I never wanted to destroy myself but I never wanted to have to feel anything because I was busy blocking my feelings and my pain and anything that might lead me to them. Alcohol and drugs and cigarettes and sex were my medication...and a necessary one. Learning to exist without those medications is very difficult but considering the alternative...not so bad...

To answer the OP's question...yes...some people do hurt that much...more than you can probably imagine....

Traditional coping skills may not be available in the mind of someone who doesn't see a way out. I think the prison's we build for ourselves in our minds are the most powerful ones and sometimes the addict simply cannot get beyond the walls that they built....

We are all different and all have our own strengths and weaknesses and so the things that might be easy for one person might be an enormous obstacle for another.....I have to remind myself of that all the time when I find I don't understand "why" some people do what they do....

As for a predisposition...there are certainly alot of contributing factors and the physiology of addiction is complex ...depends on the individual I suppose....

....

 

[vulgar_newcomer]

^ what he said.

I'm enjoying a half dozen 16 oz buds on this hot afternoon, and was smart enough to only pop 3 Xanax first. Smart because I use the ER Xanax instead of the regular released.

 

[Kulindahr]

As someone who has dealt with and is dealing with issues regarding alcohol, yes, some people do hurt that much and yes, some people do lack effective coping skills. I think there is a predisposition to addiction and I assume most if it is genetic.

If you'd like to know more, PM me.

And sometimes people hurt that much because the ordinary coping skills they have get overwhelmed.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

world a nations decalre evary thang okay
-glugglugglugglugglugghic-

ha