blind_otter Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 You can't really draw concrete lines like that with addiction. Some people get hooked right away. You neglect the phycologica aspect of addiction -- you get addicted to the lifestyle as much as the drug. I disagree with the assessment of coke, heroin, and ecstasy, yx32. "Classes" are usually mostly bull**** anyways....I've been there, lived the life, am a recovering addict. I've seen friends die, and go straight to hell because of their lifestyle....so pretty much, what you took away from that class seems mostly BS. It's not like I can use coke for 4 months and stop and suddenly be OK. I was crazy like sobbing and pulling my hair and licking empty coke bags for residue after a month. Link to post Share on other sites
RecordProducer Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 Bluechocolate, first of all congratulations for seeing your problem on time! You have two options: 1) to quit now 2) to wait until it becomes too late The best way to show yourself that you can get off of that slow murderer once forever is to quit now. Throw away the drugs left and NEVER buy it again. But if you ever try again thinking that you can quit anytime you want, it will prove exactly the opposite - that you can't quit, because you keep going back to it. Quit now and be proud of yourself! If you can't quit, it means you're already an addict and you should ask for professional help. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Anything is better than being a drug junky. If your partner doesn't want to be useful and helpful then ask your friends or family to support you. Link to post Share on other sites
XNemesisX Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 I did read all of the posts, but I haven't been to bed yet so I just re-read it and think some things must not have registered earlier. Sorry The class that taught this was Physiological Psychology...I have this stuff written down in my notes for the class. The professor is an expert on illegal drugs (or so he says) so all of this stuff is written in my notes, but it did come from him so I would have to ask him where exactly he gets his information. I know this will be on our test though...the amount of months to become addicted and so on... I'm sorry Blind Otter that you had to go through that. You are a very strong person for making it through that. I think I will post replies when I'm more awake because I was in a daze while I read it. The nosebleeds and sinus problems are a major problem. So Blue, forget what I said earlier. I do think I have a problem with not taking things seriously such as this. A lot of my friends do various kinds of drugs, particularly cocaine and I guess I never saw them having too bad of problems. They do have to use a lot of sinus meds and nasal spray but I didn't realize it could be so bad. And well, before this class I took drugs a lot more serious. I think I may ask my professor where he gets his information and I will post back tuesday after class. This has got me really interested! Oh, and one more thing about the professor. He told us in class that we could do basically any drug that we wanted as long as we didn't do it daily or without a sober person around. I think my professor may possibly be into different kinds of drugs himself. (Just wouldn't expect it from a 60-something year old man!) I will post back later when I'm more awake because I'm seriously about to pass out at this keyboard. Link to post Share on other sites
moimeme Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 Physiological There's your answer. He's talking strictly about how the body works. As BO said, it's not necessarily the physical addiction that's the problem. (Just wouldn't expect it from a 60-something year old man!) Um. Dearie. He would have been in his twenties in the 1960s when people really got into drugs. Timothy Leary, the biggest proponent of LSD ever, would have been eighty-six next year (he died in '96). He told us in class that we could do basically any drug that we wanted as long as we didn't do it daily or without a sober person around University is supposed to teach you critical thinking; i.e. you don't believe something just because it was in a book or somebody in authority tells it to you. If your school isn't teaching you that, you might as well burn the degree because it will be worthless. This moron is doing a great disservice if he has a class full of people so naive as to believe everything he tells them. You could end up dead thinking there are no risks to what you're doing. I hope you read the whole thread very seriously because people who have 'been there, done that' have plenty of good information you should take into account. Among other things, he should have mentioned that if you have a predisposition to mental illness, drugs could trigger the illness. You see, just because someone becomes a professor doesn't make him all-knowing. The time to believe something is when several reputable sources have confirmed it. Link to post Share on other sites
XNemesisX Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 University is supposed to teach you critical thinking; i.e. you don't believe something just because it was in a book or somebody in authority tells it to you. Yes, this is true. But I am by no means a drug expert, and I do know he has done extensive research in this field and is considered a pretty good source in the department about drugs. He has studied illegal drugs and their effects on the brain for years. I did figure that he would know more than I would about drugs, waaaay more so I did think he must know SOMETHING that I didn't. I guess I should have questioned it more. He did go very indepth in class about exactly how each drug affects you and the whole class was asking questions about this, and he did seem to convince the whole class of this. He had a lot of information to back it up. This moron is doing a great disservice if he has a class full of people so naive as to believe everything he tells them. You could end up dead thinking there are no risks to what you're doing. I think what he's main point was, was that a lot of the drugs that we are told are so awful are really told this because the government doesn't want people engaging in illegal activity. That it isn't so much to do with the health of people, but more something the government wants to scare people with. (if that made any sense?) I will definitely be asking him questions about this in class Tuesday, don't worry. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Please do ask more questions -- I'm sure his tenure and promotion committee would be intrigued to hear what his curriculum has to say about recreational drug abuse. Physiological psych is great for certain areas of study. I wouldn't venture to use it as a resource for drug abuse/addiction therapy. Well, I wouldn't use evolutionary psych either. Different area of concentration. Link to post Share on other sites
Groovy Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 If you cannot confide in your partner please go to Narcotics Anonymous. Every person is there for the same reason and will look forward to helping you, hearing you and being there for you with no judgements. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 I know all about the addictive qualities of both legal and illegal drugs. Everyone is quick to jump up and down about how "bad" cocaine, x and other recreational drugs are because we've all heard stories about them destroying people's lives. I'm not saying they are a positive thing for society, but the sooner people get real about the effect of drugs, the sooner they will lose their appeal as an outlet for rebellion. Those people who do become addicts are in the minority. I see them at my hospital every day and it is awful. But I also go out most weekends and I see a hell of a lot more people using these drugs on an irregular basis and not having any problem with them at all. Like with anything, moderation is the key. Link to post Share on other sites
jmargel Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 You can't be "moderate" on something that is addicting. In order to receive that "same level" high that you did before you MUST take more. It's inevidable. I have a double major and had quite a few professors. There are some who are still stuck in the '60s being in the hippy days and will promote their drug use. Just like political professors will promote their political party. It's awful. These illegal drugs are designed to alter reality which not only has a bad effect psychologically, but also physically. The withdrawl is far worse than the high and illusional "happiness" that you get from doing drugs. Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 BC~ are you around? what is going on? Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 Originally posted by jmargel You can't be "moderate" on something that is addicting. In order to receive that "same level" high that you did before you MUST take more. It's inevidable. I have a double major and had quite a few professors. There are some who are still stuck in the '60s being in the hippy days and will promote their drug use. Just like political professors will promote their political party. It's awful. These illegal drugs are designed to alter reality which not only has a bad effect psychologically, but also physically. The withdrawl is far worse than the high and illusional "happiness" that you get from doing drugs. AS a recovering addict, who has done every drug but smack and crack, I have to disagree with you. I've been to NA, AA, private rehab, therapy, blah blah blah, group therapy. Some people, honestly, can use and quit cold turkey. Some will be addicted for the rest of their marginalized life. Some people have addictive tendencies, some don't. It's not really inevitable. Some people build up tolerances very fast (what you refer to as "in order to receive that 'same level' high that you did before you MUST take more") - some people take days/weeks/months to build up a tolerance. I know people that moderate their abuse so carefully that they never do get to that point. One guy has an 8-ball jar, where he puts his spare change, and when it's full, he buys an 8ball of coke. Which is like 4/5 times a year. He's been doing this for 5 years now. Me, I went crazy on the cocaine and couldn't moderate myself and had seizures. So, it's a flip side of the coin. I happen to have a very addictive personality and I like to get f*cked up. Link to post Share on other sites
jmargel Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 You are only showing one person as an example. There are *alot* of people who are in jail, rehab, hospitals and morgues because of drug use. Is it really worth taking that chance for a temporary high? Is it worth risking your life, your family and everything else out there that can be enjoyed for the sake of some illusion? Don't tempt drugs, it's like tempting fate. It will eventually come back to bite you. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 Originally posted by jmargel You are only showing one person as an example. There are *alot* of people who are in jail, rehab, hospitals and morgues because of drug use. Is it really worth taking that chance for a temporary high? Is it worth risking your life, your family and everything else out there that can be enjoyed for the sake of some illusion? Don't tempt drugs, it's like tempting fate. It will eventually come back to bite you. Sigh. It's ALREADY come back to bite me, I've had polysubstance abuse problems for over 7 years....I'm speaking from the experience of years of rehab. Some people needed it, through my history with drugs, some didn't. It's not worth it to tempt fate, I definatley agree, but I also want to encourage people who did experiment a little, that just because you tried it doesn't mean you will become a raving addict. Link to post Share on other sites
CurlyIam Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 Some people say that if you try heroin once, you've got 99% chances to become an addict because the cells in your brain crave that sensation, evn if your body isn't addicted to it yet. I haven't researched it, but to tell you the truth, I only smoked cigarettes. Never tried pot and unless I'm going to Amsterdam, I don't intend to! That's my religion about drugs. Link to post Share on other sites
Groovy Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 I agree with JMargel. First off, most drugs are not so pure anymore. One guy I knew sprayed his mary jane with roach spray. Smoking that crap cannot be good. Even if you do not have an addictive personality you could get busted just hanging out with someone who does it. And you can kiss your sorry a$$ career good bye. Getting decent work with anything on your record is a challenge, even 15 years later. I say have great sex, sky dive or do something else. And if the thought of getting thrown in the slammer and botching up your future isn't enough to pass it up then you probably have a problem with drugs where they must be pretty important. Link to post Share on other sites
shamen Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 Bluechocolate, What is going on with you? Link to post Share on other sites
westernxer Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 Originally posted by CurlyIam Some people say that if you try heroin once, you've got 99% chances to become an addict because the cells in your brain crave that sensation, evn if your body isn't addicted to it yet. Closest I ever came to heroin was morphine, which they gave me after my appendectomy 17 years ago. Honestly, it was the greatest feeling I'll ever have, but I didn't want to rely on it if the pain was manageable. Still, what a feeling... They say heroin is 2-3 times stronger than morphine. I imagine that must be one helluva high. Link to post Share on other sites
Author bluechocolate Posted May 7, 2005 Author Share Posted May 7, 2005 Thanks to all for posting & for enquiring as to my whereabouts. I've been very busy these past months and hardly at home, consequently not been at the computer. When I have been at home I've either been preparing for music exams & recitals or been entertaining guests from overseas. Now my parents are due to arrive in the next 48 hours & I'm off again until June. Consequently I've managed to keep my nose clean - for most of the time - having succumbed to peer pressure one more time since February (who says peer pressure is only for teenagers??). It's funny though how you can be so busy but feel like all you're doing is running on the spot. I've been feeling very edgy and have been short-tempered and very angry with myself that I've started smoking again (though I suppose I could take small comfort from the fact that 70% of quitters fail on their first attempts). In fact, anger seems to have become a theme for me over the past couple of months - even though I've been busy I'm just angry all the time!! What's up with that? When I opened this thread I had just ended a bout of heavy using & was feeling like ****e. I've never been one to be in denial, so having stepped out of myself for a moment I was forced to reach the conclusion that had I been observing this person (being me) I would have to decide that they did indeed have a problem. Especially considering the fact that at the time I had been mostly using alone, the social aspect was gone - and gone to the point where I didn't want to use any other way - that has got to be bad! Do I still have a problem? I think so, but it's not insurmountable, though having said that I doubt I could resist temptation if it was thrust under my nose (in a manner of speaking). I think I'm just rambling nonsensically here & unsure what it is I want to say. Just an update I guess. Link to post Share on other sites
moimeme Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 I suspect the anger has something to do with dropping the drug. I expect that your system got to the point where it did start to 'need' the coke. Maybe you can call your local hospital or addictions centre to ask what people breaking a coke habit need to do for themselves to help with the sort of problems you're experiencing. Link to post Share on other sites
shamen Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Hey Blue Chocolate! Glad to hear from you again and see that you're doing pretty much OK... The anger thing is, IMHO, a leftover of the reasons why you started using again in the first place. There are usually reasons why people start to self-medicate. I know that I had a whole slew of them. If you start trying to figure that out, then you may be able to separate yourself a bit from the anger. I listen to a lot of very angry music and that gets me by, along with going to the gym. I'm not as pissed off in general as I was at the world. (I've been almost entirely clean from it for about 6 years. Yeah, I've had a couple of mess ups too.) Hope that you keep staying away from the coke. Congrats on what you've done so far! Don't worry so much about the initial downfall on the quitting smoking thing. Like you said, lots of people fail on the first attempt. Link to post Share on other sites
Groovy Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 I like whacking the balls at the batting cages or going for a jog. I think we all need to work on making productive healthy outlets for negative feelings and we all slip making the wrong choice on what to do with negative feelings sometimes! Congrats and glad your doing better Link to post Share on other sites
Author bluechocolate Posted May 7, 2005 Author Share Posted May 7, 2005 Cheers folks! The anger thing & the gym - DOH!! When I used to work in an environment where aggression was the norm that is precisely what I would do - pound it out at the gym. Time to drag that expensive rowing machine masquerading as clothes rack out of the spare room & put it to some use. Shamen, I suspect you may be on the right track here: The anger thing is, IMHO, a leftover of the reasons why you started using again in the first place. There are usually reasons why people start to self-medicate. And that ties in with my feeling of running on the spot. I have been busy and at the same time feeling like I've been doing nothing, which irks me no end! Maybe it's like being busy for the sake of it rather than actually accomplishing anything - and being busy & feeling lethargic at the same time - it's all very strange. Link to post Share on other sites
shamen Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Hey Blue Chocolate, I'm glad that you've considered pulling out the rowing machine again! Going to the gym is half of what keeps me sane these days. That and seeing my therapist every week! Feeling of running in the same spot, eh? I know that feeling all too well. Admittedly, I probably still drink too much on occasion to fill in for the lack of drug use these days. But, there will come a point where you don't feel like you're just filling in time for the sake of it. And you can just enjoy where you are. Be more in the moment. Most of the time I can feel like it's real, life, I mean. There are certainly days where it's all more of life passing me by while I'm just walking blindly through it. I don't know if that weird feeling ever really goes away until you start dealing with all of the reasons that you used in the first place. I'm only now in therapy, for the first time in my life (even though I've been before), really dealing with some heavy stuff that happened to me when I was younger. It's left me really raw emotionally, but I know that before I can come to grips with all of this crap, I'm going to hold onto the anger that induces me to still drink too much sometimes and turn off emotionally. The goal is to be able to feel like a normal person... Does any of this make any sense? Hope so. I hope that you can talk to your beau. Maybe he can help you figure this stuff out. If you've got someone good to talk to in your life, talking about this will be really useful. I'm thinking about ya! Keep your head up. Link to post Share on other sites
latida Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Who gave this class? Creative Rationalizations for All Problems Organization? Very Funny! HEHEHE I took psychology in college and the professor actually suggested that you try LSD because it takes you into a different place in your brain. I was so surprised! And young. I also had a professor (dean of the dept) recently suggest that viagra was a lot of fun and you should try it! I personally believe all things in moderation. When you personally feel that you've done too much, well you have! Link to post Share on other sites
shamen Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 Hey Bluechocolate, What is up? Just checking in to see how you are doing. Link to post Share on other sites
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