The real cause of addiction?
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The real cause of addiction?
On the heels of the acid thread, a very interesting piece on addiction, with link to the book:
What are you doing about it?
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
Very interesting. I heard an interview a while back with a researcher that proposed that almost all addictions are a result of some form of childhood trauma such as abuse, poverty, neglect, loss, etc... I don't remember all the details, but do recall I was skeptical at the start of the interview but by the end I was in agreement with most of what he said.Stay calm, be brave....wait for the signs. Possibly precariously prevaricating.
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
This seems to be based on good experimental evidence.
It certainly makes sense.IMAGINES VEL NON FUERINTComment
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
Very interesting read, clearly what we are doing now as a society is not only not working, but is mostly exacerbating the problem. . .
It should be said that many many addicts do receive phenomenal amounts of love and support from family and friends, are not ostracized, have access to mental health care, and do have a place in society as well as a sense of purpose; yet they continue to use. I think the author of this article touches on that with regards to nicotine addiction. Smokers are generally treated quite differently than say junkies or crack addicts.
And while a sense of emptiness and or isolation or listlessness or lack of purpose in life may well be among 'the real cause of addiction', attaining those things or being given those things does not seem to actually be a reliable reversal of the addiction itself - in humans. I think in many cases, despite our best efforts, addiction must run its course. The addict himself or herself has to eventually reach a point where they've had enough - brutal perhaps, but less brutal than treating addiction as a moral failing and criminalizing what is actually a mental health issue.Last edited by Paul Pless; 01-22-2015, 06:28 AM.Simpler is better, except when complicated looks really cool.Comment
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
In taking addiction assessments for 25 years I'm not going to disagree. I won't dismiss a brain chemical hook, genetic predisposition, past trauma, pharmaceutical indoctrination, youthful partying and a mess of other ways to become chemically dependent.
Late stage benzodiazepine addicts and alcoholics who go into withdrawal may die from seizure caused by a chemical response in the brain.
Problem gamblers who step up to a craps table have distinct brain chemistry changes as they indulge in the activity. The brain does set up a craving even for these non substance users which keeps them in a loop of destruction.
I could site situations for current patients that are amazingly baffling and have unique characteristics.
AA, with all of its shortcomings, remains a flagship for the maintenance of sustained abstinence because people who speak the language of brutal and life threatening addiction can come together and love each other into a lively existence, confirming some of what this author is putting forth.
Think carefully about the feelings of new love, blind hate, deep grief, extended stress. These feelings can easily manifest into physical disease. How does that happen? Brain chemistry. Probably not found so much in rats. I'd refer you to Robert Sapolsky's "Why Zebras don't get Ulsers" for a layman's introduction to human brain chemistry.Last edited by Chris Coose; 01-22-2015, 08:08 AM.Study PeaceComment
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
Thanks for posting the article. Makes sense.TZ
"One can say with certainty that he is not with us at present. It is worth adding, however, that he himself did not always understand what time ought to be considered the present." - Laurus, Eugene Vodolazkin.Comment
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
A word of caution about the writer:
IMAGINES VEL NON FUERINTComment
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
Whether he is a plagiarist or not seems to be irrelevant in this case because he is telling the truth. A truth that those in recovery have known for a long time. Alcohol and drugs are used for one thing and one thing only-to change the way a person feels. Addicts use simply for the effect.Last edited by Memphis Mike; 01-22-2015, 08:52 AM.Comment
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
I agree; I added the information just for the sake of completeness.IMAGINES VEL NON FUERINTComment
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
Interesting to note - thanks, Andrew.What are you doing about it?
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Re: The real cause of addiction?
Addiction, like probably everything else about humans that is worth talking or thinking about, is over-determined. Many complex factors. Not everyone is the same or has the same experience, yet there are certainly many things that are common. Taking a route that has caring and belonging and things that address self-worth and positive aspects of membership in society is probably better than other strategies that don't, especially if those happen to be simple, one-idea things, like tough-love. I understand that concept, and it probably has some efficacy, but I have always hated it. There shouldn't be anything tough about love.
Portugal's effort sounds a lot like the state of Nevada's effort to relieve homelessness. If you wanted to call that tough love, it would be that the taxpayers get to take it tough long enough to realize that it is in their favor to spend that money to save those few folks rather than spend all that money arming a bunch of socio-sadists and supporting an industry that would otherwise, hopefully, dry up eventually.
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