Is drugs really the problem ?

[Sam Sparks]

Being a recovering Addict I am curious to see what people have to say about this subject. I personally believe knowledge is power. I think the more we know and understand about the mentality and underlieing issuses that the Addict experiences.

[Little more info]

Are you asking us if drugs are what cause you to be addicted to drugs?

[jmo]

Sam Sparks wrote:

Being a recovering Addict I am curious to see what people have to say about this subject. I personally believe knowledge is power. I think the more we know and understand about the mentality and underlieing issuses that the Addict experiences.

I believe there is something going on mentally inside of ones self that makes them turn to drugs/alcohol etc. I believe some people are just better at dealing with the ups and downs of life. I have always thought those more sensitive to their environment often fall victim of drugs because mentally they have been beaten down by someone or something in their life. For example: I know a pair of brothers that came from same household, one was treated like royalty and the other treated like dirt. I believe the difference of their upbringing, lack of equal love and support eventually took hold of his fragile state of mind and he fell victim to pills and other drugs. Yet, the child who was praised above all went on the have a very successful life. In other words, it really wasn't the childhood difference that caused it...it was the mind-set of the weaker child that led to drugs, he wasn't able to deal with his feelings appropriately..but I would imagine that if roles had been reversed the outcome would have been the same because the mind-set of one was stronger and more resistant to such treatment. The successful one, I feel, would have been successful anyway because he was full of motivation and determination within himself and didn't let what others did affect him or deter him from his goals. I hope I'm making sense here and you understand what I'm trying to say lol. Loving yourself is hardest thing to do and even harder when those around want to stop you from it.

[Just Me]

My experience as a recovering addict has shown me that drugs are an escape typically a much deeper issue or issues. Me personally, it came as a way to escape the problems and issues of the day, to sleep at night when thoughts would run through my head. Drugs caused me to do and be things I would never have been clean and sober. I became a person who was a class A manipulator. I am ashamed of all I have done and hurt, but realize that one has to work the steps and make amends if possible, to put everything I have done, every person I have wronged on a piece of paper and confess this to another person or persons. Lies and deception are the true evils of recovery. If we can't be truthful with ourselves we will never ever succeed and be whole again in and with recovery. Being truthful with myself and my other community members.......

[Your Thoughts]

I think drugs made it so you can't ask a proper question. "Is drugs really the problem?" Now look at that and tell me what's wrong with that question? Okay now let me tell you - "Is" should be "Are" and you're an idiot.

[derp]

Your Thoughts wrote:

I think drugs made it so you can't ask a proper question. "Is drugs really the problem?" Now look at that and tell me what's wrong with that question? Okay now let me tell you - "Is" should be "Are" and you're an idiot.

Thanks for the much needed enlightenment on the subject. So glad you contributed this astonishing bit of information and cleared it all up for us.

[Your Thoughts]

You're welcome smart ass. Just doing my part to educate the retarded.

[cindy]

"Are Drugs The Problem" Actually no it's people who use them and why they use them as someone else posted it's an escape from reality for awhile, or they take them to just feel good then soon they find themselves hooked and then doing things they never would have done to get the drugs, it's a very sad epidemic i have seen some really good people be destroyed because of them, then they find themselves deep in trouble and nowhere to turn, and no one seems to care .

[a counselor]

Speaking from experience (recovery and education) addiction is genetic condition. A person can become addicted to anything. Food, sex, work, talking, the internet...

Get yourself a DSM book and read up on it.

Everyone has the potential to become addicted to something the reason being that we all have the same chemicals in our brains. Drugs don't produce different chemicals in our brains, drugs cause our already present chemicals to be more plentiful. So, any action that causes a person to feel those feel good chemicals can cause the person to repeat their activity to feel good again and again.

Anyway, read up on it. Im sure you can find a DSM somewhere.

Good luck with your recovery and good luck with educating the retarded.

[truth]

Your Thoughts wrote:

I think drugs made it so you can't ask a proper question. "Is drugs really the problem?" Now look at that and tell me what's wrong with that question? Okay now let me tell you - "Is" should be "Are" and you're an idiot.

When a person comments on a thread with the sole purpose of putting someone down because of spelling or grammatical errors, the reason is obvious. They do so because they have nothing intelligent or insightful that is on topic to add to the conversation. So they criticize in an attempt to make themselves appear important. Sad.

[wow]

a counselor wrote:

Speaking from experience (recovery and education) addiction is genetic condition. A person can become addicted to anything. Food, sex, work, talking, the internet...

Get yourself a DSM book and read up on it.

Everyone has the potential to become addicted to something the reason being that we all have the same chemicals in our brains. Drugs don't produce different chemicals in our brains, drugs cause our already present chemicals to be more plentiful. So, any action that causes a person to feel those feel good chemicals can cause the person to repeat their activity to feel good again and again.

Anyway, read up on it. Im sure you can find a DSM somewhere.

Good luck with your recovery and good luck with educating the retarded.

While your information is useful, your need to put down those less educated about a particular topic is undesirable and speaks more about you than the "retarded" people, in which you speak down to. Since you're a counselor you have training and education in this field and if you are a good counselor you will know your field well. Too bad they don't teach how to interact sociably responsible in college. Calling people retarded is immature and doesn't help you pull off your superior professional attitude. Your job is to help educate others, maybe you need a few more lessons in the way to present your information to those you claim to help.

[Wisdom]

Drugs aren't the problem...it the user/abuser. Left alone, the drugs do not roam the streets at night by themselves, nor do they travel in packs or gangs attacking innocent by-standers.

[on fire]

Sam Sparks wrote:

Being a recovering Addict I am curious to see what people have to say about this subject. I personally believe knowledge is power. I think the more we know and understand about the mentality and underlieing issuses that the Addict experiences.

Its good you recoverd, but the pill dealers should be hung by the neck till dead ..........

[Just Me]

Wisdom wrote:

Drugs aren't the problem...it the user/abuser. Left alone, the drugs do not roam the streets at night by themselves, nor do they travel in packs or gangs attacking innocent by-standers.

Drugs may not be a issue if they quietly sit on Pharmacy shelves unused, however that is not how is goes.

A person does not usually know he will become addicted and an abuser until it's too late. Take me for example, not the average person you would suspect of being an addict, however by being given the medication by a doctor (not at all their fault either) I started like most people using as I should. In addicts there is a condition generally called the phenomenon of craving. It's when you take one pill and it leads to two, two to four, four to eight, anyway, you get the idea. We have what's generally called in recovery an allergic reaction to pills, drinking, gambling, whatever that causes us to keep feeding the craving, at the end of this is what is called a well known spree, where we are fully engaged in addict behavior and usually ends with days high, days drunk or whatever. The AMA has deemed Alcoholism and now general addiction as a disease for years. This isn't something that is cured, rather we have to use tools gained through AA or NA that are usually the 12 steps or based on the 12 steps to control the disease. We cannot simply quit, as that does not address the deeper issues that drove us to addiction, we have to diligently work the steps for the rest of our lives to be healthy and successful in recovery, much like someone who has another disease might have to take medication, yes the 12 steps are our medication. If we are honest and admit our problems and wrongs, work the steps, do the actual work, we can recover, without it, we are doomed to repeat past behaviors. I can tell you it has changed my life and I am very thankful for rehab and AA. By the way, today makes almost (10) months for me clean and sober and I am working the steps, attending meetings and using the tools I have been given to keep my life on the straight and narrow. Peace.

[a counselor]

wow wrote:

<quoted text>
While your information is useful, your need to put down those less educated about a particular topic is undesirable and speaks more about you than the "retarded" people, in which you speak down to. Since you're a counselor you have training and education in this field and if you are a good counselor you will know your field well. Too bad they don't teach how to interact sociably responsible in college. Calling people retarded is immature and doesn't help you pull off your superior professional attitude. Your job is to help educate others, maybe you need a few more lessons in the way to present your information to those you claim to help.

You should think before you post. Re read some of the other posts and maybe you can understand why I said what I said. I wasn't calling anyone retarded I was repeating something someone else had said.

Think before you respond.

[Your Thoughts]

truth wrote:

<quoted text>
When a person comments on a thread with the sole purpose of putting someone down because of spelling or grammatical errors, the reason is obvious. They do so because they have nothing intelligent or insightful that is on topic to add to the conversation. So they criticize in an attempt to make themselves appear important. Sad.

Um that may be your truth - but - it isn't mine. Literacy is lost on the idiotic. Someone has to do something about you? You sure as hell didn't say anything - now did you?

[My thoughts]

Addicts have untreated bipolar disorder and try their best to self medicate to make themselves feel better

[jmo]

My thoughts wrote:

Addicts have untreated bipolar disorder and try their best to self medicate to make themselves feel better

That's funny as hell, bi-polar is just another reason some quack came up with for moody ass ppl. It's mood swings, but the doc's put a label on it so they can prescribe some more meds!!! JMO

[sally ann]

Just Me wrote:

<quoted text>
Drugs may not be a issue if they quietly sit on Pharmacy shelves unused, however that is not how is goes.
A person does not usually know he will become addicted and an abuser until it's too late. Take me for example, not the average person you would suspect of being an addict, however by being given the medication by a doctor (not at all their fault either) I started like most people using as I should. In addicts there is a condition generally called the phenomenon of craving. It's when you take one pill and it leads to two, two to four, four to eight, anyway, you get the idea. We have what's generally called in recovery an allergic reaction to pills, drinking, gambling, whatever that causes us to keep feeding the craving, at the end of this is what is called a well known spree, where we are fully engaged in addict behavior and usually ends with days high, days drunk or whatever. The AMA has deemed Alcoholism and now general addiction as a disease for years. This isn't something that is cured, rather we have to use tools gained through AA or NA that are usually the 12 steps or based on the 12 steps to control the disease. We cannot simply quit, as that does not address the deeper issues that drove us to addiction, we have to diligently work the steps for the rest of our lives to be healthy and successful in recovery, much like someone who has another disease might have to take medication, yes the 12 steps are our medication. If we are honest and admit our problems and wrongs, work the steps, do the actual work, we can recover, without it, we are doomed to repeat past behaviors. I can tell you it has changed my life and I am very thankful for rehab and AA. By the way, today makes almost (10) months for me clean and sober and I am working the steps, attending meetings and using the tools I have been given to keep my life on the straight and narrow. Peace.

Proud of you and you make perfect sense too me. Keep up the good work. I wish i was in your shoes btw, and hope someday soon i can say the same as you. Thank you, peace to you.

[Your Thoughts]

jmo wrote:

<quoted text> That's funny as hell, bi-polar is just another reason some quack came up with for moody ass ppl. It's mood swings, but the doc's put a label on it so they can prescribe some more meds!!! JMO

You should probably educate yourself a little more about bi-polar disorder. Yes it has mood swings but they usually sudden and severe. Left untreated it can be dangerous to both the person having the disorder or to others. There is also what is called "rapid-cycling" which means you go back and forth between mania and depression rather quickly. Some quack probably went to school studied his ass off to find out what cause bi-polar disorder and how it affects the brain - do you know how it affects the brain? What "triggers" are? You sound really ignorant with statements like yours - meaning you don't know shit about it.