Current Events > Once an addict, always an addict.

(+) Yeah! (+)

nt

It's obvious people can change even their most fundamental inclinations and characteristics with enough concerted effort through at least incremental habitual adjustment. Believing otherwise is mainly an exercise of hubris- a thinly veiled attempt to feel superior.
---

Kombucha posted...

It's obvious people can change even their most fundamental inclinations and characteristics with enough concerted effort through at least incremental habitual adjustment. Believing otherwise is mainly an exercise of hubris- a thinly veiled attempt to feel superior.

Hard drugs physically and psychologically change a person. They will never be the same.

agree. if i were to start drinking again, even after 8+ years dry, i would be right back to where i was before i quit within a couple of weeks. i cannot ever drink responsibly which is why i choose to abstain.
---

I believe people can change and learn to abstain from their addiction effectively. However, they have to be extremely cautious not to fall back into their old habits and that can be a lifelong fight.
---

CiIantro posted...

Kombucha posted...

It's obvious people can change even their most fundamental inclinations and characteristics with enough concerted effort through at least incremental habitual adjustment. Believing otherwise is mainly an exercise of hubris- a thinly veiled attempt to feel superior.

Hard drugs physically and psychologically change a person. They will never be the same.

While I agree with this- Identifying them indefinitely as addicts and having them internalize themselves as "addicts for life" is a great way to create a self fulfilling prophecy (relapse). I don't buy into the idea that it's needed for an effective recovery.
---

Kombucha posted...

CiIantro posted...

Kombucha posted...

It's obvious people can change even their most fundamental inclinations and characteristics with enough concerted effort through at least incremental habitual adjustment. Believing otherwise is mainly an exercise of hubris- a thinly veiled attempt to feel superior.

Hard drugs physically and psychologically change a person. They will never be the same.

While I agree with this- Identifying them indefinitely as addicts and having them internalize themselves as "addicts for life" is a great way to create a self fulfilling prophecy (relapse). I don't buy into the idea that it's needed for an effective recovery.

the idea of "addict for life" just means that we cannot ever use our DoC responsibly. once that line of casual vs addictive use has been crossed there's (almost never) no going back
---

Giant_Aspirin posted...

Kombucha posted...

CiIantro posted...

Kombucha posted...

It's obvious people can change even their most fundamental inclinations and characteristics with enough concerted effort through at least incremental habitual adjustment. Believing otherwise is mainly an exercise of hubris- a thinly veiled attempt to feel superior.

Hard drugs physically and psychologically change a person. They will never be the same.

While I agree with this- Identifying them indefinitely as addicts and having them internalize themselves as "addicts for life" is a great way to create a self fulfilling prophecy (relapse). I don't buy into the idea that it's needed for an effective recovery.

the idea of "addict for life" just means that we cannot ever use our DoC responsibly. once that line of casual vs addictive use has been crossed there's (almost never) no going back

Thanks for explaining that. I still would not self identify myself as a slave to a drug (addict) once I've managed to effectively leave the physical addiction behind. There's just too much negative connotation involved. I think it's good to recognize that you cannot ever use whatever it is responsibly, but calling yourself an addict when you've left your physical addiction behind seems like short-selling your accomplishments.

I don't know if this sounds convoluted, but on its face I just don't care for it.
---

Giant_Aspirin posted...

agree. if i were to start drinking again, even after 8+ years dry, i would be right back to where i was before i quit within a couple of weeks. i cannot ever drink responsibly which is why i choose to abstain.

dont project your weakness onto others

Once an infant, always an infant

It's just basic science
---

gunplagirl posted...

Once an infant, always an infant

It's just basic science

Stupid analogy.

People can break addictions, so I disagree.
---

gunplagirl posted...

Once an infant, always an infant

It's just basic science

This isn't even comparable.

To answer to topic question, I would say generally, yes. Once you're addicted to something, it changes your brain. You can abstain from it for long periods of time but the second you go back to trying it, it pulls back all those old emotions and chemicals and you can very easily fall back into it.
---

gguirao posted...

People can break addictions, so I disagree.

To be fair, you can break an addiction but still be an addict. As Post #4 said, he/she has broken their addiction but is still technically an addict, should they ever even attempt to return to their vice.
---

CiIantro posted...

Kombucha posted...

It's obvious people can change even their most fundamental inclinations and characteristics with enough concerted effort through at least incremental habitual adjustment. Believing otherwise is mainly an exercise of hubris- a thinly veiled attempt to feel superior.

Hard drugs physically and psychologically change a person. They will never be the same.

Just because there are little to no proper rehab facilities and programs wherever you live (I know we don't have them in the US), doesn't mean they don't exist and don't work. They do.
---

Most recovering addicts will tell you this
---

CiIantro posted...

gunplagirl posted...

Once an infant, always an infant

It's just basic science

Stupid analogy.

Humans aren't humans - cilantro
---

gunplagirl posted...

CiIantro posted...

gunplagirl posted...

Once an infant, always an infant

It's just basic science

Stupid analogy.

Humans aren't humans - cilantro

No he's just saying you aren't smart. And he's right.

OP is correct. Addiction is a lifelong mental illness :/

I'm surprised this is a 50/50 split. I thought the whole thing about addiction is you're more or less stuck with it for life.

My dad still gets urges to smoke cigs, he hasn't smoked in at least 15 years. I can't imagine what it's like trying to get over something way more dangerous like Heroin or Meth.
---

MC_BatCommander posted...

I'm surprised this is a 50/50 split. I thought the whole thing about addiction is you're more or less stuck with it for life.

My dad still gets urges to smoke cigs, he hasn't smoked in at least 15 years. I can't imagine what it's like trying to get over something way more dangerous like Heroin or Meth.

It's the same. It gets better, it gets easier, but it's always there to some degree.

Giant_Aspirin posted...

the idea of "addict for life" just means that we cannot ever use our DoC responsibly. once that line of casual vs addictive use has been crossed there's (almost never) no going back

I feel like this is a pragmatic and in some cases probably necessary way to view things - that said before I was born my dad kicked his alcoholism after an ultimatum from my mom, and afterwards was able to have a drink every once in a while without it becoming a problem

So perhaps situational/environmental changes can make a difference in these cases
---

Agree Ive been sober for a little over a year now and if I pick up anything again I know where itll take me

C

I could go years without alcohol, but I'd still be an alcoholic
---

As a person who suffers/suffered from addiction, it really depends on the individual. The urges to go overboard will always be there, but you can train your brain to let you enjoy things like other people. It takes practice.
---

CiIantro posted...

gunplagirl posted...

Once an infant, always an infant

It's just basic science

Stupid analogy.

Well, look who posted it
---

MC_BatCommander posted...

I'm surprised this is a 50/50 split. I thought the whole thing about addiction is you're more or less stuck with it for life.

My dad still gets urges to smoke cigs, he hasn't smoked in at least 15 years. I can't imagine what it's like trying to get over something way more dangerous like Heroin or Meth.

I still take a puff at the bars if Ive been drinking. Stopped habitually smoking about three years ago.
---

Deadpool_18 posted...

As a person who suffers/suffered from addiction, it really depends on the individual.

Yup. Also the reasons they're using drugs in the first place. Can you really say Im addicted to pain killers if Im in actual pain without them? Or am I just addicted to not being in pain like everyone else. Id say no. Id say Im addicted to them because sometimes I feel fine and I take more to feel even better >_>.

I also use to be addicted to Adderall but that shit was making me deteriorate mentally and physically at a crazy pace. So I deaded that. But if I didn't fear for my life Id still probably be using it. Iunno. I don't crave it anymore. I was at the point where if it was brought up it would bring down my mood if I didn't have any.
---

C.

Seems like you can keep addiction in check, but never get rid of it for good.
---

Studies these days are showing addiction itself is a disease. That doesn't mean you can't force someone to have a chemical addiction, but it does mean that for instance a gambling addiction is due to the individual's addictive personality.
---