Crazy addiction.

[Individual]

Geez, with all this crazy stress going on...

A question comes up that plagues my life everyday. How many of you fall under the problems of addiction. In particular tobacco and alcoholism, but if you feel willing to share another addiction feel free.

Also, what are the views from Marxists on the issue of tobacco and liquor? Not the product itself, but as for your views on the people that are addicted?

[Zanzibar]

It's basic strain and conflict theory really. Conflict is a result of inquality. Such inequality forces idividuals to find various modes of adaptation to function. One of these modes of adaptation is retreatism. One can no longer cope with the stagering presence of poverty, and thus decides to drop off the face of the world - believeing there is no hope. I'm sure we all have been there. However, another mode of adaptation I'd like to see people take up is quite obviously revolution!

As for addiction, well I've never had a problem with drugs. I've stoped using acid/lsd, opium, and shrooms for over 2 years. I still drink and smoke hash/marijuana now and then though.

[redstar2000]

A few years ago, some archaeologists found some pots with a faint residue of stains in the bottoms.

The pots, reliably dated to 7000BCE, contained traces of wine and beer.

I think humans have sought out various forms of intoxication for a lot longer than that...and I have no reason to believe they will not continue to do so...forever!

Thus it would not matter what "opinions" that Marxists might have on the matter...it's going to continue.

As we learn more about the human brain and organic chemistry, it's quite likely that new recreational drugs will be discovered and older forms will go "out of fashion".

As a life-long smoker of cigarettes, I mourn the passing of the "tobacco era" -- but, who knows? Opium is making a small come-back (it was always much less dangerous than heroin or morphine)...so perhaps in a hundred years or so, people will once again enjoy the solace of tobacco.

I'm sure they'll be enjoying the pleasures of something.

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.vze.com)
A site about communist ideas

[cubist]

i am addicted to:

caffiene, nicotine, and tetra hyrda canibidimol (THC)

its strange as i wouldn't call it an addiction rather as a resolution to situations in everyday life, THC makes me chill the fuck down, caffiene keeps me assertive at work, nicotine is the bain of my existance but every time i try to quit my lungs get so bad i start smoking again to ease the pain and remove the cough.

[lucid]

I quit smoking cigs on Jan 1st. It's a bad habit and I really hope to be done for good. I used to drink quite a bit on a daily basis. Picking up a 6 pack on the way home from work was normal for me. I started having some anxiety attacks and the Doctor put me on Paxil to help with the anxiety. I have completely quit drinking now. My Doctor said that my binge drinking was nothing more than self medication to help with the anxiety. He said it is very common for people to become alcoholics due to self medicating a disease. Usually stress or something of that nature.

If your having anxiety or stress problems go see your doctor. Being properly treated for my anxiety has really helped me out in several areas of my life. Everyone from my kids to my coworkers have noticed positive changes in me.

I guess what I am trying to say is don't become an alcoholic because of a treatable condition (stress).

Hope that helps.

[cubist]

don't you find doctors often prescribe things that have far worse effects,

prime example uppers and downers,you get dperessed you take uppers get too high and take downers do that for to long and your in a state of psychosis where you need mood stablizers to prevent you form being too high or to low.

i went to the doctor for my insomnia, and i got a shit load of pills but take them and i fell bad in the morning so i bare the sleep thing and rely on caffiene at work as it is less of a head fuck.

[lucid]

Different medications work differently for different people. If my Doctor did what you yours did I would find a new one. Before taking paxil I did a lot of research on the web to find out what the Dr. prescribed me. He could of prescribed me xanax or some other addictive benzo that people use for anxiety and I would be a junky.

As far as having worse effects I guess it just depends. I have gained a little weight from the paxil and get heart burn from it. But the positives far outway the negatives in my situation. Cephas are you bi-polar? That up and down trend you mentioned is dead on with being bi-polar. And your insomnia could be related to mania. I had a good friend that was bi-polar so I have first hand experience with its symptoms.

Have you tried melotonin for your insomnia? Its an over the counter drug that I use when my sleep cycle gets out of whack. It knocks me out in about 30 minutes.

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

I'm a smoker, I enjoy it and have found it difficult in the past to give up.

As for the drink well I live in Ireland, there isnt much else to do and I mean that in all seriousness.
I also like cannabis for getting to sleep but only if I have to be up for something important otherwise its just something I might toke on when its a party etc. I rarely buy my own.

[Hegemonicretribution]

Where in Ireland do you live? I have spent quite a bit of time in Northern Ireland and in the Republic, and if you are near the country there is plenty to do. In the towns then fair enough I agree pubs keep us sane and sociable.

I am an ex smoker, I am always stuck on something. It was pot, then tobacco...I gave it up and switched to exercise and obsessive healthiness, then onto drink...hell the pot is making a come back so I may go full circle yet, but I think I will leave the smoking, tobacco was by far the hardest cycle to break out of.

My drinking habbits are fairly erratic, over here I have the place where I basically allow any of 15-25 up to my pub/bedroom. A house to use has pushed up alcohol abuse by teenagers up about 200% in the North of the island. I leave the party going, and go with my older friends down to the pub for a bit...sing dance and come back sloshed. Then there is normally some uncomfortable sexual confrontation, and I crash out. Repeat every Friday and Saturday. Plus every holiday day, and occasionally at college when I have frees.

It probably came to a head when I fucked of watching Othello to go to the nearest pub with a girl from a local school...still I have cut down.






Wow we should have a Che-lives AA...."Hi I'm Dale and I'm an alcoholic"

[Y2A]

I drink, smoke tobbaco and on certain occasions weed. Most of is drinking though. I mean really who cares? We are all going to die anyway. Pick your poison, a fat greasy hamburger or a joint.

BTW I thought you were a communist, why did you get restricted?

[Individual]

Well it seems as if nobody is ignorant to the point where we should condemn smokers. I'm glad to hear this. I do feel victim to capitalists.

While I believe in smokers rights, I do feel a victim of capitalist greed. It is my complete fault for the starting of smoking at an early age, but I find it a product of slaves. The plantation owners own me, and at little cost to keep me there, I have figured out I myself, spend approxiametely $1,260 a year* on tobacco. Alcohol is a different story.

I do rely on nicotine for relief, but I am not a mere 'stress smoker'. Whether stressed or not, you are addicted. I do not rely on smoking, or drinking, for stress. They just happen to give the relief needed. I do not consider myself an alleged alcoholic, for I do not crave drinking. It just suits my tastes, and there is nothing like coming home from work and having a beer. I do believe that smoking is the right of people, but I also feel that smokers are all slaves. And the only way to quit being a slave, is to 'run-away'(quit) and try your best not to get 'caught'(starting again) by slave hunters (advertising or the craving). I'm glad I'm not the only one out there that is caught in this web.

Y2A: Reason for restriction: reposting a deleted thread. Go figure?

Edit: changed *month to year. typo

[EneME]

Well I smoked for about 4 years from the age of 15 - 19 pretty regularly...as well as drink and bud. I decided to quit 'cause of my low immune system and the smoking (lowers it more) caused me to be sick about once a month. The breaking point was having a cough for a full month so i gave it up. It wasn't so bad b/c I wasnt ever a heavy smoker, but during times of stress and whatnot, it's my refuge. I also cant drink/smoke bud without craving a cigarette so bad i wanna tear my hair out lol Cigz are pretty damn addicting though because at this moment im trying to stop again since I started up again about a month ago...DAMN ME...
I agree with AQ that it definently is a cash crop for the capitalists, so I feel guilty smoking it as well as drinking coffee. I dont think any LESS of anyone for smoking, because it's not as bad as other things in this world...I mean we're only human...

[Exploited Class]

I was pretty straight edge on drugs till I turned 21. I actually made it up to 2 months prior of my 21st birthday never having tasted alcohol, minus one time when somebody gave me a chocolate candy with some in it. I could go to parties with it around me and never touch the stuff, even when I lived in Bulgaria and it was available for me to buy at 18. My mom and grandpa are both alcoholics, both abusive in fact. I think through demonstration of a bad role model (or good) I was able to keep myself away. Being wise to how genes work and all.

I did however start to smoke tobacco when I moved to Bulgaria. They think everybody in America smokes, obviously they are watching old 50s and 60s movies. When I went in for a broken toe, in the ER the doctor was smoking, I shit you not. I taught English as a side job there all the teachers (bulgarians teaching english) smoked and they would constantly offer me one and when I turned it down, they were shocked. When I would come into their class and take over for them to allow the natural speaker to give some lessons, they would constantly tell the class that I was wrong. Completely undermining me. When I finally smoked, I was then an adult and they stopped it. The peer pressure was unbelievable. You think smoking adverts are crazy here, they have them everywhere, if there is a cafe it is covered, if there is a umbrella stand for a table it is covered in marlboro or camel adverts. Bulgarians carry two packs with them, camels or marlboros which they offer friends and thier own Bulgarian crap brand that they smoke themselves.

But yeah gave it up cold turkey about 3 years ago. Then after 3 months of doing really well my job moved me to a different team who's stress ran on level 100,000,000. I smoked 3 days into training classes. Still haven't given it up. it sucks, the physical withdrawls or horrible. Chills, runny nose, mucas everywhere, coughing and the aches. Those jerks put so much additives into those things they want to make sure you never get off. Heroine I think would be easier. Now I live with 2 smokers and all my friends are smokers. I am doomed to never quit unless I start a new job in another town.

And what the hell do non-smokers do with their 15 minute breaks? I am glad that I smoked just for the reason it made me go outside every 2.5 hours and get out of the office.

I did drink. When I turned 21 I drank and didn't stop till i was 22. having not remembered anything from being 21 I cut back. I am not an alcoholic however I escaped the gene, just had an action filled 21st. We live across the street from a bar, decent shit hole, and I have been there 3 times in the last year.

Smoked weed for 2 years never got addicted and just gave it up one day because it was boring to me. Everytime I got high felt just like the last time. However every couple of years I will grab an 1/8th of Purple Coosh, Northern Lights or humbolt and get high to Roadside Prophets. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105267/)

[Commie Girl]

:D I smoke cigarettes, have the occasional beer (gotta be Rickards Red!) and I smoke weed at bed time.

[Stapler]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2004, 03:02 AM
:D I smoke cigarettes, have the occasional beer (gotta be Rickards Red!) and I smoke weed at bed time.
Ah, my good man, Stella Artois is where it's at.

[Commie Girl]

Originally posted by Stapler+Feb 21 2004, 09:11 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Stapler @ Feb 21 2004, 09:11 PM)
[email protected] 22 2004, 03:02 AM
:D I smoke cigarettes, have the occasional beer (gotta be Rickards Red&#33;) and I smoke weed at bed time.
Ah, my good man, Stella Artois is where it&#39;s at. [/b]
:D I&#39;m a good Lady , btw... :D ...haven&#39;t tried that yet, where does it hail from?

[Hegemonicretribution]

Originally posted by Stapler+Feb 22 2004, 03:11 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Stapler @ Feb 22 2004, 03:11 AM)
[email protected] 22 2004, 03:02 AM
:D I smoke cigarettes, have the occasional beer (gotta be Rickards Red&#33;) and I smoke weed at bed time.
Ah, my good man, Stella Artois is where it&#39;s at. [/b]
I&#39;m a bit <_< over interbrew&#39;s beers but still I like the odd one. Normally switch between locally brewed stuff and carling. Although I had a stella last night, just so I could say I was drnking it and at £2.40 o pint it was reasurriungly expensive.

[Fidel Castro]

I have no addictions at all really, everything I do is in moderation (most of the time :lol: )

I don&#39;t smoke, or do heavy drugs, I have a spliff every so often (in my oppinion pot is much better than alcohol cause it dosn&#39;t leave one feelin like shit the next day)

I&#39;ve been out my face on alcohol a few times, spewed in the toilet, tried it on, thought I could dance, even got a scar after one night out&#33; but most of the time I am a man of moderation. :D