Hypothetical Qs - Drugs

33girl · #1 05-25-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I do drink a lot of coffee, but that's because I had to study a lot when I was doing my classroom work, plus I've been studying a lot for my board exam.

Classic addict rationalization. The only difference between your addiction and that of an alcoholic or a crackhead is the societal acceptance (or lack of same) and the degree of side effects.

cheerfulgreek · #2 05-25-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

Classic addict rationalization. The only difference between your addiction and that of an alcoholic or a crackhead is the societal acceptance (or lack of same) and the degree of side effects.

Exactly, it's the degree of side effects, that's why crack is illegal and should be. But, I'm not addicted to coffee. I don't get headaches or anything like that. I used to think my headaches were from the coffee, but when I went to see my Dr. she said it was from lack of sleep.

DrPhil · #3 05-25-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Exactly, it's the degree of side effects, that's why crack is illegal and should be. But, I'm not addicted to coffee. I don't get headaches or anything like that. I used to think my headaches were from the coffee, but when I went to see my Dr. she said it was from lack of sleep.

You don't need to get headaches or an uncomfortable side effect to be addicted to it. You feel as though you need coffee because it gives you a "high."

I rarely drink coffee (maybe once every 5 months) and when I do it's because I like the coffee flavor.

I have never smoked a cigarette but I puffed on a cigar a couple of times (puffed, meaning, puffed out but too paranoid to puff in or inhale...or whatever...LOL--still no fun).

dreamseeker · #4 05-25-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You don't need to get headaches or an uncomfortable side effect to be addicted to it. You feel as though you need coffee because it gives you a "high."

I rarely drink coffee (maybe once every 5 months) and when I do it's because I like the coffee flavor.

I have never smoked a cigarette but I puffed on a cigar a couple of times (puffed, meaning, puffed out but too paranoid to puff in or inhale...or whatever...LOL--still no fun).

cheerfulgreek · #5 05-26-2010, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You don't need to get headaches or an uncomfortable side effect to be addicted to it. You feel as though you need coffee because it gives you a "high."

I rarely drink coffee (maybe once every 5 months) and when I do it's because I like the coffee flavor.

I have never smoked a cigarette but I puffed on a cigar a couple of times (puffed, meaning, puffed out but too paranoid to puff in or inhale...or whatever...LOL--still no fun).

A high? But I'm still in my right frame of mind when do drink it. And I haven't had coffee in a few weeks, because I was using one of my 3 week vacations because of my rotations. I mean, I studied, but I went to bed when I felt sleepy. When I did drink it a lot, that was when I was doing my classroom work. I would think an addict drinks it almost daily, like someone who smokes cigarettes. I didn't drink it like that. I will be when it gets closer to my board exam, but right now, I don't stay up all night like I did during my 1st 2 years of school. Now, I have to perform surgeries, give anesthesia etc. It's hard to do that without any sleep. I mean, I don't even know why anyone would compare coffee to crack, or any of the other illegal drugs. Those drugs not only get you high, they make you do things that you normally wouldn't do, like kill, steal, hurt people, etc, just to get it. And smoking? Ewwww, that's just gross, to me.

DrPhil · #6 05-26-2010, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Those drugs not only get you high, they make you do things that you normally wouldn't do, like kill, steal, hurt people, etc, just to get it.

No, the average drug addict (who would be a law abiding citizen if not for the illegal nature of drugs) does not kill, steal, hurt people, or commit crimes to support the habbit. That scare tactic was used to shape public opinion on drugs.

The average motivated offender (who is a lawbreaker beyond the illegal nature of drugs) who is also a drug addict (most are) does kill, steal, hurt people, or commit crimes to support the habbit. Moreover, offenders often take drugs or consume alcohol to further free themselves from a law abiding mindset before commiting a crime. This is what it means that drugs are a facilitating factor for crime.

BTW, a high = whatever utility the substance had for you.

cheerfulgreek · #7 05-26-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

No, the average drug addict (who would be a law abiding citizen if not for the illegal nature of drugs) does not kill, steal, hurt people, or commit crimes to support the habbit. That scare tactic was used to shape public opinion on drugs.

The average motivated offender (who is a lawbreaker beyond the illegal nature of drugs) who is also a drug addict (most are) does kill, steal, hurt people, or commit crimes to support the habbit. Moreover, offenders often take drugs or consume alcohol to further free themselves from a law abiding mindset before commiting a crime. This is what it means that drugs are a facilitating factor for crime.

BTW, a high = whatever utility the substance had for you.

I didn't look at it like that. That makes sense. It's just that I was thinking addict as in meaning someone who's "gotta have it." Ya know what I mean? I guess I was just thinking that if someone is doing coke or crack, at work, they really wouldn't be able to function and would look a mess, and their work would suffer. With coffee, people can drink it at work, function, and look normal. But, I never thought about the high as being the way you pointed it out to be. Makes sense.

DrPhil · #8 05-26-2010, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I didn't look at it like that. That makes sense. It's just that I was thinking addict as in meaning someone who's "gotta have it." Ya know what I mean? I guess I was just thinking that if someone is doing coke or crack, at work, they really wouldn't be able to function and would look a mess, and their work would suffer. With coffee, people can drink it at work, function, and look normal. But, I never thought about the high as being the way you pointed it out to be. Makes sense.

"Intervention" has people thinking that addicts have to look and act a certain way to people who don't see them in intimate settings.

One of the points of addiction is the ability to hide it and suffer in silence. People can be alcoholics for years until it begins to impact their professional lives. Their home lives may have suffered for a long time. An example is bigtime corporate execs and politicians who are celebrated in the public eye--while their families know they use cocaine and drink alcohol everyday. Some call this "functional/recreational use," but I don't believe that anything that you "need" is "functional/recreational use."

33girl · #9 05-25-2010, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Exactly, it's the degree of side effects, that's why crack is illegal and should be. But, I'm not addicted to coffee. I don't get headaches or anything like that. I used to think my headaches were from the coffee, but when I went to see my Dr. she said it was from lack of sleep.

You didn't read the original proposition properly. Go back, read it again, and THEN answer.

And I hate to break it to you, but your doc is full of shit. You're addicted.