Addictions -drugs alcoholism etc

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

People need to know their limits. When people are doing drugs, of any kind, they need to realize Goal #1 is to stay alive and Goal #1A is to not become addicted. If people do drugs to have fun, they're doing them wrong. The fun needs to be there, and the drugs probably enhance it, imo.

Anyway, I'm always amazed at the people (anywhere from public figures to personal friends) that don't realize there is a very real and dangerous risk to any type of chemical that alters the body: hard drugs, alcohol, pain pills, sleeping pills, pot, nicotine, caffeine, statins, etc etc etc. That's a pretty generic list and pretty much in decreasing order of danger. And, the risk reward ratio needs to be understood before doing any of them. People that OD are either completely unaware of it or so schmammered they can't remember it.....which probably shows a complete disrespect or unawareness in the first place....

[Vidor]

What stopped me from ending up like PSH and so many other famous people? First, I had a job that required me to not be high/addicted. Second, I couldn't afford it. Those restrictions don't necessarily apply to actors, musicians and others who don't have to work continuously and have a lot of money plus easy access.

I dunno--there are a hell of a lot of drug addicts out there who aren't rich, and there are drug addicts out there who have jobs that require staying sober. They just steal to get the money and lose the jobs.

[Freed Roger]

more addiction-related articles yesterday in P-D, on writer William Burroughs.

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/b ... 46065.html

An addict managed to live into his 80s. Weird how he managed to live that long, because he sounded like an ass - an had plenty of enablers.

never heard the story about how he killed his wife either.

[Arthur Dent]

Prescribed as a cough suppressant and a cure for morphine addiction, and apparently worked very well as both.

$4.85/oz in 1901, huh? That's like $130/oz in today's money. Awfully expensive for a cough medicine. I wonder how that compares to the price of heroin today.

[Vidor]

I'm a caffeine addict. Honestly, I have a cup of coffee sitting right in front of me right now, I've had a couple already, and I'll have more later. The reason I'm a caffeine addict is that I've held jobs over the last 15 years or so that have required long irregular hours and impinge on my sleep. (I'm a passenger jet pilot.) (No, not really.) Anyway, didn't drink any coffee in high school and college, started drinking coffee in my twenties, and now, if I don't have coffee tomorrow morning I probably won't feel all that great. In fact, when I was younger I'd marvel at how awful my dad looked in the morning before he had his cup of coffee. One day my little girl will probably think "man, dad is useless until he's had his coffee." Heroin's a lot stronger than coffee.

[Vidor]

$4.85/oz in 1901, huh? That's like $130/oz in today's money. Awfully expensive for a cough medicine. I wonder how that compares to the price of heroin today.

They didn't understand quite what they had in 1901, obviously--"heroin" was originally the Bayer trade name for diacetylmorphine--but probably they figured out pretty quickly how much their customers would be coming back for more. Supply and demand!

[obucard]

$4.85/oz in 1901, huh? That's like $130/oz in today's money. Awfully expensive for a cough medicine. I wonder how that compares to the price of heroin today.

They didn't understand quite what they had in 1901, obviously--"heroin" was originally the Bayer trade name for diacetylmorphine--but probably they figured out pretty quickly how much their customers would be coming back for more. Supply and demand!

I remember reading that it was originally developed as a non-addictive alternative to morphine.

[Arthur Dent]

The wife had an attack of vertigo the other day--really weird, completely out of nowhere--and we were in the doctor's office, and naturally I was bored so I started reading the posters. They had a flier dedicated to how Kaiser Permanente was going to manage your pain medication, how they were going to keep tabs on what you'd taken, wouldn't replace lost pills, etc etc etc. And, as you say, that's the stuff you get from doctors, which isn't as potent as heroin.

I've never really understood how people get hooked on pain medication. For me, it doesn't seem all that helpful in actually suppressing pain but quite effective at making me feel nauseous. I was given morphine after surgery many years ago, and it was just miserable, although I suppose it's hard to separate the effect of the drug from everything else you're feeling post surgery. Similar with various pain pills (like codeine, I think?) after stuff like dental procedures, though less intense. I wonder whether there is some biological difference that makes the experience of being on pain medication better for certain people.

[Freed Roger]

depressing list -drug related deaths of people that achieved some sort of celebrity

Availability is one thing, but I'm thinking your celebrity artists & athletes types often have OCD traits for thrill-seeking, sensual experiences - a satisfaction they may get a fix for in their creative endeavors. But with lulls in their works and idle, their make up puts them at higher-risk to fill the void with something harmful, like drugs. Then add the money/availability - even more risk .

[wart57]

I can't take Vicodin - makes me nauseous and unable to sleep.

I mentioned in the other thread that I think my Catholic upbringing had an effect on me, but probably not in the way most here would think. I learned that our time here on Earth is to prepare us for what comes next. We must endure pain to be able to reach heaven and the joy that is there. The thought that there is something that I could ingest to that will make me feel so good that the rest of the time I would feel awful, scared the crap out of me. Why would I want only a few minutes of pleasure while the rest of the time I would be missing and chasing that high. Sounds counter productive to me. But what do I know, I endure daily emotional abuse from Mrs. Wart and I keep going back for more, so maybe I am addicted to that pain....and Mt. Dew.