Addictions

[IchHabe]

Are alcohol and other drugs addicting in the same way as behavioral addictions are such as, "food addiction?" A friend and I got into an "semi-argument" about this earlier. I said that alcohol was addicting. He said, "Food is addicting too." I explained to him that they were different because one is a drug addiction and another isn't. He didn't acknowledge the difference. What is your opinion on the matter?

[Jack]

Perhaps those addictions are symptoms of deeper psychological or physical conditions. Correct the underlying cause and the degree of addiction may ease or be erased.

[ALIHAYMEG]

Are alcohol and other drugs addicting in the same way as behavioral addictions are such as, "food addiction?" A friend and I got into an "semi-argument" about this earlier. I said that alcohol was addicting. He said, "Food is addicting too." I explained to him that they were different because one is a drug addiction and another isn't. He didn't acknowledge the difference. What is your opinion on the matter?

There is no significant difference between an addiction to a drug and an addiction to any other "substance". A food addiction is a form of "substance" abuse just as a drug addiction is. Once a diet of high fat high calorie food is in place, the physical addiction to those substances is just as strong as a physical addiction to cocaine or heroin. (Nicotine is actually more addictive than either cocaine or heroin)

"To rank today's commonly used drugs by their addictiveness, we asked experts to consider two questions: How easy is it to get hooked on these substances and how hard is it to stop using them? Although a person's vulnerability to drug also depends on individual traits -- physiology, psychology, and social and economic pressures -- these rankings reflect only the addictive potential inherent in the drug. The numbers below are relative rankings, based on the experts' scores for each substance:
100 Nicotine
99 Ice, Glass (Methamphetamine smoked)
98 Crack
93 Crystal Meth (Methamphetamine injected)
85 Valium (Diazepam)
83 Quaalude (Methaqualone)
82 Seconal (Secobarbital)
81 Alcohol
80 Heroin
78 Crank (Amphetamine taken nasally)
72 Cocaine
68 Caffeine
57 PCP (Phencyclidine)
21 Marijuana
20 Ecstasy (MDMA)
18 Psilocybin Mushrooms
18 LSD
18 Mescaline
Research by John Hastings
Relative rankings are definite, numbers given are (+/-)1%
Relative Addictiveness of Various Substances

The distinction comes in with strictly behavioral addictions such as an addiction to gambling, or shopping, or any other Non-substance related addiction. They are more commonly referred to as a “compulsion”.

[IchHabe]

There is no significant difference between an addiction to a drug and an addiction to any other "substance". A food addiction is a form of "substance" abuse just as a drug addiction is.

Oh really? So you don't think an addiction to nicotine is significantly different from a food addiction?

[loser]

Addiction is merely desire squared. What I mean is that people get addicted to things that bring them pleasure whether you are talking about sex, food, or football. You mistakenly talk about 'drugs' as if they are some alien product. Technically, ALL chemicals are drugs, including <shock> water! If you think a chocolate cookie is less of a drug than alcohol or cocaine, then you need to take some refresher courses in chemistry. People have been brainwashed into thinking that some chemicals are drugs (i.e., bad) and others are medicine...by the biggest drug peddlers in the world...Big Pharma!

Take crack cocaine, for example. In it's natural form, it is a leaf from a tree. The natives of South America (Bolivia, Peru) chew on the coca leaves and it is a mild stimulant much like coffee. In the laboratory, the coca leaves are processed into a more concentrated powder, cocaine. Because it is extremely concentrated, it becomes much more addictive and dangerous. It is concentrated even more into a 'rock' called crack and thereby becomes deadly addictive.

The same is true of opium: it's concentrated to morphine and then even further to heroin, becoming progressively more addictive and more dangerous. Marijuana becomes hashish and then THC. This scenario is repeated time and time again. Most things in moderation are therapeutic and beneficial (including alcohol, etc.). The problem with desire (addiction) is that moderation is not acceptable.

Most everything in it's natural state is basically safe.

[Aussiemodo]

There is no significant difference between an addiction to a drug and an addiction to any other "substance". A food addiction is a form of "substance" abuse just as a drug addiction is. Once a diet of high fat high calorie food is in place, the physical addiction to those substances is just as strong as a physical addiction to cocaine or heroin. (Nicotine is actually more addictive than either cocaine or heroin)

"To rank today's commonly used drugs by their addictiveness, we asked experts to consider two questions: How easy is it to get hooked on these substances and how hard is it to stop using them? Although a person's vulnerability to drug also depends on individual traits -- physiology, psychology, and social and economic pressures -- these rankings reflect only the addictive potential inherent in the drug. The numbers below are relative rankings, based on the experts' scores for each substance:
100 Nicotine
99 Ice, Glass (Methamphetamine smoked)
98 Crack
93 Crystal Meth (Methamphetamine injected)
85 Valium (Diazepam)
83 Quaalude (Methaqualone)
82 Seconal (Secobarbital)
81 Alcohol
80 Heroin
78 Crank (Amphetamine taken nasally)
72 Cocaine
68 Caffeine
57 PCP (Phencyclidine)
21 Marijuana
20 Ecstasy (MDMA)
18 Psilocybin Mushrooms
18 LSD
18 Mescaline
Research by John Hastings
Relative rankings are definite, numbers given are (+/-)1%
Relative Addictiveness of Various Substances

The distinction comes in with strictly behavioral addictions such as an addiction to gambling, or shopping, or any other Non-substance related addiction. They are more commonly referred to as a “compulsion”.

"To rank today's commonly used drugs by their addictiveness, we asked experts to consider two questions: How easy is it to get hooked on these substances and how hard is it to stop using them? Although a person's vulnerability to drug also depends on individual traits -- physiology, psychology, and social and economic pressures -- these rankings reflect only the addictive potential inherent in the drug. The numbers below are relative rankings, based on the experts' scores for each substance:

Are these the "experts" ex or practising addicts? Personally I wouldn't place too much value on the opinions of someone who has only read about or observed addictions.

[Aussiemodo]

Perhaps those addictions are symptoms of deeper psychological or physical conditions. Correct the underlying cause and the degree of addiction may ease or be erased.

You only need to earnestly ask Jesus to take away your addiction and it's gone like the wind. Ask the fuckwitted fundies like George Dubya Bush. I never did learn though why they, like run-of-the-mill drunks such as me, can never drink again if Jesus does such a shit hot job!

[lsbskins1]

Are these the "experts" ex or practising addicts? Personally I wouldn't place too much value on the opinions of someone who has only read about or observed addictions.

Do you only trust a surgeon who has had the procedures he preforms preformed on him to be an expert in those procedures? There is value in the perspective of a recovering addict when attempting to treat addiction, but there is also value in the objective view of someone who does not carry the baggage of the personal bias of the addict. We need both perspectives to arrive at any level of "truth".

[R.F.]

As an [ex] drug addict- I see no correlation between the two. Severe drug addictions can permanently alter the way the brain works [on a physiological level]. The addictions are entirely different. Let’s compare a meth addict to someone who is addicted to eating. Let M= meth addict and F= fatty.

M: Addicted to a chemically induced euphoria that permanently affects receptors in the brain [namely dopamine]. Will often lose all regard for well-being and hygiene. Will, in many cases, do anything to get the next high. Many experience paranoia, insomnia, delusion and convulsions. Becomes mentally and physically dependent to drug.

F: Likes to eat. Won’t stop eating. Often ashamed of their excessive eating. Often brought about by a pre-existing [psychological] condition.







Methamphetamine Effects - The Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Methamphetamine
Binge Eating Disorder Medication, Treatment, Symptoms, Statistics and Causes of Compulsive Overeating by MedicineNet.com

[barts]

Just something to add to the debate,

Sugar Addiction and Fast Food Addiction is similar to Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Scientist have previously proven links between drug addiction and fast-food addiction, but now there is a growing body of research that is finding out how junk food is hard wiring our brains for cravings.

The latest study, published March 28 in "Nature Neuroscience," likened the affects of high-fat, high-calorie fast food to those of cocaine or heroin, in animals at least.

The researchers showed that the pleasure-center in rats brains were overstimulated from the fast food similar to an addict's cocaine binge. Eventually, the pleasure centers became so overloaded that rats needed more and more food to feel normal...

Also, Fast food 'as addictive as heroin',

Hamburgers and French fries could be as addictive as heroin, scientists have claimed.

Researchers in the United States have found evidence to suggest people can become overly dependent on the sugar and fat in fast food.

It's interesting reviewing the scientific literature. There is reasonable consensus, it seems, that fast foods with high fat, salt, and, in particular, sugar content are addictive, in the same way as cocaine, heroin, and other illegal substances.

If that's true, should the sale of these foods be regulated (like cigarettes and alcohol) or banned (like marijuana or cocaine)? Like these drugs, fast food can be--and often is--injurious to health especially when children consume them.

[IchHabe]

Drug addictions are different from behavioral addictions. People that are addicted to a drug such as cocaine use it because they have developed a dependence on it. People that have behavioral addictions such as food addiction are addicted to the actual process of eating. People that have drug addictions have actually developed a dependence on the drug, and in some cases will do extreme things to get their fix. Take for example, heroine addicts. They inject heroine into their veins. Let's say, for some reason they are unable to do this any longer. Then, the addict would resort to snorting it as an alternative to get his fix. Food addicts wouldn't get a "rush" from food if they were to take in an IV any other alternative method of consumption
Drug addictions are addictions to drug (the actual psychoactive effects). Behavioral addictions are addictions to the acts. They are addicted to a type of behavior because of how the behavior makes them feel. It's not like a food addict would feel great the same after getting nutrients sent to him through an IV as opposed to consuming food by himself. However, a marijuana addict (hypothetical) would get the same feeling if he ingested marijuana instead of smoked it.

Does anybody see where I'm coming from? Or is my argument flawed? I'm perfectly open to being rebutted. Maybe I'm not thinking broad enough and am being too arbitrary. I want to know what you all think of my points. Maybe this argument are my points are complete bullshit. Maybe what I have said will get beat. I want to see what you all have to say about my points.

Drug addictions are addictions to the actual psychoactive effects. Behavioral addictions are addictions to the acts. They are addicted to a type of behavior.

Does anybody see where I'm coming from? Or is my argument flawed? I'm perfectly open to being rebutted. I want to know what you all think of my points.

[Aussiemodo]

Do you only trust a surgeon who has had the procedures he preforms preformed on him to be an expert in those procedures? There is value in the perspective of a recovering addict when attempting to treat addiction, but there is also value in the objective view of someone who does not carry the baggage of the personal bias of the addict. We need both perspectives to arrive at any level of "truth".

Put it another way. If you want to know what combat is like, whose word would you trust more, a combat veteran or a war gammer? Hands on experience will always trump a head full of theory, The only doctors I've seen in A.A sharing their experience were drunks themselves.