Is there such a thing as addiction?

[Stopandthink]

If you smoke cigarettes and say you can't quit because you are addicted to the nicotine I think you just dont want to quit. Some people start smoking and soon realize the buzz isn't worth the damage and money they are wasting. So they get ticked off enough and just quit somehow. If they were addicted, then they just made the decision to quit. Smokers that say they can't just don't really want to.

 

[Omgitsme]

Addiction is very real. I knew someone who tried quitting smoking and couldnt because they would start shaking if they didnt have a cigarette. Just because you dont understand addiction doesnt mean it isnt real.

 

[Stopandthink]

Addiction is very real. I knew someone who tried quitting smoking and couldnt because they would start shaking if they didnt have a cigarette. Just because you dont understand addiction doesnt mean it isnt real.

Don't you think if that person really wanted to quit they would somehow find a way to overcome it?

 

[winston53660]

Don't you think if that person really wanted to quit they would somehow find a way to overcome it?

I've actually been addicted to morphine from a motorcycle wreck. I've also been addicted to cigarettes. The later was the worse of the two addictions.

 

[TheDemSocialist]

Im addicting to dipping tobacco. And yes there is such thing as an addiction. And sometimes it sucks.

 

[Omgitsme]

Don't you think if that person really wanted to quit they would somehow find a way to overcome it?

Yes if they have enough willpower they can overcome addiction but that doesnt mean that addiction isnt real or that it isnt extremely hard to overcome.

 

[Pinkie]

Addiction has levels. There is physical addiction...like a heroin addict who may die without care if they don't get a fix, or an alcoholic with the DTs. What you're prolly talking about is psychological addiction. Things like animal hoarding. If you remove the animals, the person has a meltdown, but that's a psychological reaction. They won't die from it.

This kind of addiction has many layers. For some people (mebbe 20%) quitting smoking is not possible because the shakes, depression, skin crawling sensation, etc. are intolerable. Or, less tolerable than smoking.

For people "addicted" to pain meds etc., the line can be crossed. It's possible that person can die without a dose if they are not under a doctor's care...but it's not likely. What is certain is, they have a deep psychological addiction that won't be broken without a lot of help.

 

[Pinkie]

Don't you think if that person really wanted to quit they would somehow find a way to overcome it?

Well, I used to think that about people who do strange things, like hoarding. But I have learned they have to be helped to rewire, so they can let go without excrutiating psychological pain.

As for cigarettes, you need to remember they are legal and easily obtained....we're not talking meth here. Someone can throw you in jail for whatever reason, but in most jails, you can still smoke.

 

[Rosie1]

Yes, addiction is real. Some types are more mental. However, someone who uses a lot of alcohol, and some other drugs for a long period of time, can have both physical and mental withdrawal symptoms when they stop. Withdrawing can make them physically ill and they can even experience hallucinations.

 

[Thunder]

If you smoke cigarettes and say you can't quit because you are addicted to the nicotine I think you just dont want to quit.....

nicotine is very addictive. I know, cause I am addicted to nicotine.

I don't smoke now, but I still..every soo often..feel an urge to smoke. its a powerful drug.

nicotine makes me feel good. I like that feeling...but I like even less.....getting bronchitis.

 

[Stopandthink]

nicotine is very addictive. I know, cause I am addicted to nicotine.

I don't smoke now, but I still..every soo often..feel an urge to smoke. its a powerful drug.

nicotine makes me feel good. I like that feeling...but I like even less.....getting bronchitis.

But the difference between you and someone who does still smoke is that you are making a decision not to give in to the urge

 

[Stopandthink]

Im addicting to dipping tobacco. And yes there is such thing as an addiction. And sometimes it sucks.

If you really wanted to quit you would. You just dont really want to.

 

[winston53660]

What got me off the addiction to the addiction to morphine was pot. After not taking the morphine pills for a week and staying up for that entire week and going through hell I took two hits off a joint. And guess what.....I fell asleep and woke up the next day never wanting those pills gain.

 

[Thunder]

If you really wanted to quit you would. You just dont really want to.

are you saying that he can't intellectually understand the great harm of smoking, but psychologically be unable to stop due to the chemical nature of nicotine?

dude, the tobacco industry did their very best to make cigs. as addictive as possible.


...if nicotine is not addictive, than neither is heroin.

but most of us know better.

 

[winston53660]

If you really wanted to quit you would. You just dont really want to.

Crack heads find their fix.....

 

[grip]

It takes a certain amount of experience combined with other factors before someone can summon the willpower to face down an addiction. At different times of my life I've kicked many habits all for productive reasons.

 

[Thunder]

a good friend of mine had a very bad accident.

he was prescrived percacid...or one of those other very powerful pain killers.

this guy..is VERY straight edge. does not smoke, probably never did. probably never did any drugs.

excersizes like a maniac.

and yet, he became addicted to his pain killers. took him weeks to get off it. that's how powerful the addictive qualities of some of these drugs are.

 

[Anagram]

Can you please define addiction, Stopandthink? I feel like you are using a different definition as everyone else.

Dictionary.com's definition is this: "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma."

This obviously, and empirically happens, so yes there is a such thing as addiction.

 

[lizzie]

Smokers that say they can't just don't really want to.

Yes, there is such a thing as addiction. If you don't believe it, I suggest trying some high-grade narcotics for a few weeks, and then you can come back and tell us what you know, rather than what you think.

 

[Stopandthink]

Can you please define addiction, Stopandthink? I feel like you are using a different definition as everyone else.

Dictionary.com's definition is this: "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma."

This obviously, and empirically happens, so yes there is a such thing as addiction.

The state of being enslaved to a habit. A habit is a choice. You need to make a choice to change a habit

 

[Stopandthink]

Yes, there is such a thing as addiction. If you don't believe it, I suggest trying some high-grade narcotics for a few weeks, and then you can come back and tell us what you know, rather than what you think.

I understand that the substance has its effect on you. But all addicts make a choice to let it own them or quit.

 

[Thunder]

a habit has no bio-chemical element nor cause......while a chemical or physical addiction does.

resolved: addiction to drugs & alchohol is real.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

If you smoke cigarettes and say you can't quit because you are addicted to the nicotine I think you just dont want to quit. Some people start smoking and soon realize the buzz isn't worth the damage and money they are wasting. So they get ticked off enough and just quit somehow. If they were addicted, then they just made the decision to quit. Smokers that say they can't just don't really want to.

Why don't you think addiction can occur on a cellular level?

Want is a flighty word to use - someone might 'want' to quit just as much as someone might 'want' to smoke or drink. 'Want' is relative.

 

[lizzie]

I understand that the substance has its effect on you. But all addicts make a choice to let it own them or quit.

But your initial question was "Is there such a thing as addiction", not whether or not people make choices to quit.

 

[grip]

The state of being enslaved to a habit. A habit is a choice. You need to make a choice to change a habit

Oh you want a better definition for addiction? It's a physical and psychological chemical change that creates an unpleasant experience when ceased.

Eating is a habit of choice you can literally stop and die.