Protestantism

» paper_turtle - Causes of Drug Addiction

In response to You Might Find Interesting posted by pink101:
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I found this article which explains drug addiction from my point of view. Its a plug for the author and his program, but his message is still a good one.
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http://ezinearticles.com/?Understanding-...
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Here's another article with good basic information which also backs up what I've said so far.
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http://www.drugaddictiontreatment.info/c...
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle

» pink101 - Causes of Drug Addiction

In response to Causes of Drug Addiction posted by paper_turtle:

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My question was entirely directed at the causes that drive an addict back to their dependency once they have internalized the idea that the substance is bad for them. Remember?
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As to what causes a person to become an addict in the first place, there must be many reasons.
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-- posted by pink101

» paper_turtle - Causes of Drug Addiction

In response to Causes of Drug Addiction posted by pink101:

I still question your assumption that the addict has firm knowledge that taking drugs is bad for him. What I mean is, there's a huge difference between spouting the words, and really owning them.
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The same factors which caused the addiction in the first place may still be in place. If the addict went through a detox program rather than a recovery program his emotional/psychological issues were probably not addressed. And if he did go through recovery, he would still need support and additional counselling to help him stay clean and further address his emotional/psychological issues.
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Question for you, Phil: When you took up smoking, were you aware of how bad cigarettes were? Even if you had been counseled that smoking was bad for you, or a nasty habit, or whatever, did you really care? Or did you still want to smoke? You knew better, didn't you, at least on some level, but you did it anyway. Taking drugs is no different. Knowing better is not much of a deterrent if your emotional motivations are strong enough.

peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle

» pink101 - My Assumption

In response to Causes of Drug Addiction posted by paper_turtle:
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Once again, let's take a look at what I posted:
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I wrote, with emphasis added, "My question was entirely directed at the causes that drive an addict back to their dependency once they have internalized the idea that the substance is bad for them. Remember?
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And, you responded with, my emphasis added, i"I still question your assumption that the addict has firm knowledge that taking drugs is bad for him.
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Explain where you find my assumption, please.
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-- posted by pink101

» paper_turtle - My Assumption

In response to My Assumption posted by pink101:

Your assumption is in this:

once they have internalized the idea that the substance is bad for them

As I see it, you are assuming that one who attempts to break his addiction knows, fully and completely, that drugs are bad for him.
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And the assumption underneath that assumption is that people, faced with any temptation (from a double order of fries to offing someone because they insulted you), will only be motivated by pure logic. This is not always the case, particularly if the temptation yields a high degree of pleasure, no matter how fleeting.
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And you didn't asnwer my question about smoking.

peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle

» pink101 - If You Analyse

In response to My Assumption posted by paper_turtle:
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As I see it, you are assuming that one who attempts to break his addiction knows, fully and completely, that drugs are bad for him.
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I don't want to be trite; but, I am very sorry to say that you are clearly misreading me.
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If you analyse my question you will plainly see that I am ONLY asking about those people who HAVE decided that the substance or thing is bad for them. And, there are those people. I have made no reference to anyone else.
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And, my question is, What is it that they use to justify their return to that substance? This is regardless of anyone else's opinion about whether the substance is either goor or bad for them--regardless.
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http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writ...
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-- posted by pink101

» paper_turtle - If You Analyse

In response to If You Analyse posted by pink101:

I made reference to what I saw as your assumption several posts ago. Frankly, I don't see how else I could have read it.
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And even if the person tells you they know they "shouldn't have" obviously something was more persuasive than what logic (or even common sense) would dictate. In the moment they decide to revert to their addiction they no longer know better. They have chosen on the basis of their emotional need rather than their intellectual knowledge.
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle

» pink101 - Wooden Shoe?

In response to If You Analyse posted by paper_turtle:
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And, so, does resentment or anger play a part in that decision?
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If so, how?
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If not, I'd say we've burned this one out.
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:~)
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Wouldn't you?
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-- posted by pink101

» paper_turtle - Wooden Shoe?

In response to Wooden Shoe? posted by pink101:

I thought I already answered that question.
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Anger might be a factor, but I do not see it as the major one. The drug addict is literally hooked on a feeling. He doesn't understand that he can get high on life without drugs. He wants to feel good. He wants to be free of pain. He wants to forget how poor he is. He wants to forget whatever is making him feel bad.
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Seems to me there is an awful lot we could say about drug addiction. Seems to me we all bear some responsibility, in our daily lives, to help those who are addicted.
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You still haven't answered my question(s) about smoking. (wink)
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle

» pink101 - Smoking As An Addiction

In response to Wooden Shoe? posted by paper_turtle:
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Question for you, Phil: When you took up smoking, were you aware of how bad cigarettes were? Even if you had been counseled that smoking was bad for you, or a nasty habit, or whatever, did you really care? Or did you still want to smoke? You knew better, didn't you, at least on some level, but you did it anyway. Taking drugs is no different. Knowing better is not much of a deterrent if your emotional motivations are strong enough.
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When I took up smoking, there were messages out there that cigarettes could be and, most likely, were good for you. Believe it or not.
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Have you heard of the "T Zone"? Have you heard the slogan, "For a treat instead of a treatment"? What about ads that used doctors to explain how cigarettes could be good for you? Ads with Perry Como smoking a Chesterfield cigarette and enjoying it. How about the Pall Mall ad, "Filters its own smoke best", or the, "Not a cough in a car load" or "I'd walk a mile for a Camel" and "LS/MFT" (Lucky Strike/Mighty Fine Tobacco)? And, on and on. I once did a income analysis about how much the Kalamazoo Gazette realized in income from tobacco companies for advertising revenue and I discovered a big reason why the tobacco companies were getting away with murder for profit. Tells you a lot about the wonderful way capitalism helps people make honest profits. My-Yass!! I have no sympathy for big corporations whatsoever.
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I began smoking--seriously--in the Marine Corps where cigarettes were issued to us as part of our basic package in boot camp. Cigarette smoking was associated with other pleasure experiences when the "smoking lamp" as lit. Usually during some heavy working out such as marching or PT.
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It was only seen as bad for some ideological reason.
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Later, I knew it was bad for what it did to me. That's when I finally quit. And, that was about when the hype put out by the tobacco companies was finally met with truth. I think it was a good example of the effort it takes to speak truth to power. Not an easy task.
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I suppose smoking is the basic addiction in the world of drugs--the gateway of all gateway drugs.
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-- posted by pink101