A Nation of Addicts and bad attitude toward it

Stonedpilot · 07-12-2016 05:16PM #1

Are we a nation of addicts in this country?.
I ask because many people I've met are on something and have a compulsion to take it or are addicted to something. From weed to alcohol to heroin to benzo's to xanax to sleeping pills to painkillers to porn to gaming addictions to gambling to internet it seems Ireland is one small island with a big addiction problem.

One thing I can't stand is the hypocrisy of some people whom are addicts. For example addicts judging others are vulgarly dismissing them as 'junkies'. How many times have you listened to some elderly woman on Joe Duffy berate heroin addicts only to be addicted to over the counter medication like Solpadeine herself or abusing prescriptions she's on. (seen people abuse prescription drugs, just as bad if not worse than illegal)

Former housemate of mine was good friends with a Garda and as sound as he was he clearly was a drug addict. Always needing more and buying more and having phenomenal craving for his drug of choice yet judging the young lads he'd bust with 1 gram of weed of judging those he'd arrest whom are stoned or high on whatever. Of course he'd recount these stories off his face on illegal drugs late at night!. The irony. (In a way felt sorry for him as he lived in the pocket of a rather manipulative/smarter dealer.)

Just think the attitudes people have to addiction are awful considering it's so incredibly commonplace. Often remember Gerry Ryan or people on his show having a moan about addicts on the Quays etc only for him to be one himself!. A classic example of a addict not facing the truth and physiologically projecting.

Totally sober people in Ireland seem to be in the tiny minority. No drink no drugs ever. No self indulgent/destructive behavior at all.
(Know a guy whom has a good job as a librarian but he wouldn't take prescribed painkillers after injuring his leg badly as he use to be a alcoholic and heroin addict and was afraid to get addicted to the prescribed painkillers.) That level of devotion I mean in sobriety.

I think there is a lot to learn from recovered addicts whom are completely sober (of ALL substances for years). They grow mentally emotionally and spiritually and mature. Lose their judgement and become more giving so to speak. Guess they humbled themselves and learned.

The flying mouse · 07-12-2016 05:18PM

That's why we have that party AAA ?

ED E · 07-12-2016 05:18PM

The irony of your username.

DrumSteve · 07-12-2016 05:19PM

There are a lot of strawmen in that post.

The Backwards Man · 07-12-2016 05:19PM

Might as well face it

The flying mouse · 07-12-2016 05:19PM

Stonedpilot wrote: »

Are we a nation of addicts in this country?.
I ask because many people I've met are on something and have a compulsion to take it or are addicted to something. From weed to alcohol to heroin to benzo's to xanax to sleeping pills to painkillers to porn to gaming addictions to gambling to internet it seems Ireland is one small island with a big addiction problem.

One thing I can't stand is the hypocrisy of some people whom are addicts. For example addicts judging others are vulgarly dismissing them as 'junkies'. How many times have you listened to some elderly woman on Joe Duffy berate heroin addicts only to be addicted to over the counter medication like Solpadeine herself or abusing prescriptions she's on. (seen people abuse prescription drugs, just as bad if not worse than illegal)

Former housemate of mine was good friends with a Garda and as sound as he was he clearly was a drug addict. Always needing more and buying more and having phenomenal craving for his drug of choice yet judging the young lads he'd bust with 1 gram of weed of judging those he'd arrest whom are stoned or high on whatever. Of course he'd recount these stories off his face on illegal drugs late at night!. The irony. (In a way felt sorry for him as he lived in the pocket of a rather manipulative/smarter dealer.)

Just think the attitudes people have to addiction are awful considering it's so incredibly commonplace. Often remember Gerry Ryan or people on his show having a moan about addicts on the Quays etc only for him to be one himself!. A classic example of a addict not facing the truth and physiologically projecting.

Totally sober people in Ireland seem to be in the tiny minority. No drink no drugs ever. No self indulgent/destructive behavior at all.
(Know a guy whom has a good job as a librarian but he wouldn't take prescribed painkillers after injuring his leg badly as he use to be a alcoholic and heroin addict and was afraid to get addicted to the prescribed painkillers.) That level of devotion I mean in sobriety.

I think there is a lot to learn from recovered addicts whom are completely sober (of ALL substances for years). They grow mentally emotionally and spiritually and mature. Lose their judgement and become more giving so to speak. Guess they humbled themselves and learned.

What you want to know ?

ScumLord · 07-12-2016 05:22PM

Are you by any chance calling anyone who uses any drug an addict? You don't seem to have a cut off for recreational use.

Maybe having a little bit of an addiction isn't a bad thing? It only really seems to be a problem if you're poor and can't afford the drugs.

Life is for living, drugs are an experience, and elevating experience to some. I honestly don't think the human race would be were it is today without the influence of drugs.

Stonedpilot · 07-12-2016 05:22PM

ED E wrote: »

The irony of your username.

Haha true, off of all that crap now. Living sober; easier said then done but be worth it me thinks.

Trent Houseboat · 07-12-2016 05:31PM

I was going to say that you lost me with the phrase "Growing mentally, emotionally and spiritually" but I don't think I was ever on board with you.
I don't listen to the radio though, which seems to be where a lot of you anger is derived. Perhaps you should avoid it too, who know the level of spiritual growth you might achieve.

feargale · 07-12-2016 05:32PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I honestly don't think the human race would be were it is today without the influence of drugs.

Indeed. It has been said that all medieval history can be explained by the fact that everybody was more or less permanently p1ssed.

Ferrari3600 · 07-12-2016 05:34PM

The OP does have a point in saying that there are socially acceptable forms of addiction and less socially acceptable forms.

But heroin addicts are more likely to engage in violent crime so maybe the prejudice has validity to it.

MeatTwoVeg · 07-12-2016 05:35PM

Stonedpilot wrote: »

How many times have you listened to some elderly woman on Joe Duffy berate heroin addicts only to be addicted to over the counter medication like Solpadeine herself or abusing prescriptions she's on..

No times.

seamus · 07-12-2016 05:36PM

Stonedpilot wrote: »

I think there is a lot to learn from recovered addicts whom are completely sober (of ALL substances for years). They grow mentally emotionally and spiritually and mature. Lose their judgement and become more giving so to speak. Guess they humbled themselves and learned.

Often those with the worst attitudes to addicts are former addicts.

Ask any smoker and they'll tell you there's often nobody more condescending than an ex-smoker.

In fact, the smug attitude above is often at the root of it - a belief that having beaten the addiction has "grown" them into a better human being. From where they look down upon addicts.

Anyway, for the most part your assertion that most people are addicted to something is flawed because you're lumping any old nonsense like "internet" addiction into the same class as actual chemical dependencies like heroin.

Next you'll be wittering on about people having to shed themselves of worldly desire or something.

Pat Mustard · 07-12-2016 05:37PM

Stonedpilot wrote: »

I think there is a lot to learn from recovered addicts whom are completely sober (of ALL substances for years). They grow mentally emotionally and spiritually and mature. Lose their judgement and become more giving so to speak. Guess they humbled themselves and learned.

I'll drink to that

diomed · 07-12-2016 05:39PM

Stonedpilot
Ryanair or Aer Lingus?

caff · 07-12-2016 05:40PM

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

The OP does have a point in saying that there are socially acceptable forms of addiction and less socially acceptable forms.

But heroin addicts are more likely to engage in violent crime so maybe the prejudice has validity to it.

The violence isn't due to the drug its the money for the drug. Give it to them on a medical card eliminate the crime then treat the addiction

Didas · 07-12-2016 05:41PM

Stonedpilot wrote: »

I think there is a lot to learn from recovered addicts whom are completely sober (of ALL substances for years). They grow mentally emotionally and spiritually and mature. Lose their judgement and become more giving so to speak. Guess they humbled themselves and learned.

I'll inject to that...

07-12-2016 05:42PM

seamus wrote: »

............

Ask any smoker and they'll tell you there's often nobody more condescending than an ex-smoker.................

I think I remember someone I know who went off the cigarettes and onto e cigs or the liquid yokes remarking how smoking is such a stupid habit since the alternatives became available. I don't even smoke but I found it condescending.

He's a fat pr1ck too, one of these muppets who tells you his arms are killing him after a gym session (twice a year gym session).......... if he ever lost 12 stone I could see him being condescending to fat pr1cks too.

Ferrari3600 · 07-12-2016 05:42PM

caff wrote: »

The violence isn't due to the drug its the money for the drug. Give it to them on a medical card eliminate the crime then treat the addiction

That probably is the most rational solution right enough.

CaptainR · 07-12-2016 05:44PM

Its a very simplistic argument that OP is trying to make. Its assuming that all things that are addictive are equally bad.

I think there's a small bit of difference in an old lady who's addicted to solpadeine or other pain killing drugs (let's be honest a lot of older people do actually suffer from pain) and someone out of their head on heroin. When was the last time an old woman addicted painkillers mugged someone?

fuzzydunlop85 · 07-12-2016 05:44PM

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

The OP does have a point in saying that there are socially acceptable forms of addiction and less socially acceptable forms.

But heroin addicts are more likely to engage in violent crime so maybe the prejudice has validity to it.

What are you basing this on? Most heroin addicts I see are so strung out they would be blown over blown over be a stiff breeze, it would be the boozed up /coked up lads I would be more wary about. Edit - Missed the first part of your post.

Ted111 · 07-12-2016 05:44PM

DrumSteve wrote: »

There are a lot of strawmen in that post.

Are you saying he is addicted to them.

ScumLord · 07-12-2016 05:49PM

feargale wrote: »

Indeed. It has been said that all medieval history can be explained by the fact that everybody was more or less permanently p1ssed.

The whole of early human history is the same. When they find early Jewish religious sites the whole place is littered with drug paraphernalia and trace amounts of all sorts of drugs. It seems just as likely to me that most religions started out with drug use because most tribal groups saw drugs as the doorway to communing with god, the after life, the universe, whatever you want to call it. Organised religion sought to block that doorway so that people had to go through them for enlightenment.

It's funny to think that puritan religions today are probably founded on the musings on people out of their mind on drugs.

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

The OP does have a point in saying that there are socially acceptable forms of addiction and less socially acceptable forms.

But heroin addicts are more likely to engage in violent crime so maybe the prejudice has validity to it.

They turn to crime to feed their addiction. The UK ran a program were they gave heroin to people and they had a completely different lifestyle to those that had to hussle for their drugs. One woman gave up prostitution, she only did it for heroin, another man held down a job supporting his family. When they stopped the program those people were dead inside of two years.

Drugs aren't so much the problem, it's how we deal with the people who use drugs that really affects people.

CaptainR · 07-12-2016 05:50PM

fuzzydunlop85 wrote: »

What are you basing this on? Most heroin addicts I see are so strung out they would be blown over blown over be a stiff breeze, it would be the boozed up /coked up lads I would be more wary about. Edit - Missed the first part of your post.

That's when they're high. When they're not they need money and obviously they don't work so they steal it.

The flying mouse · 07-12-2016 05:52PM

I am an addict, well my main drug was alcohol, but throw in cocaine & ecstasy plus any other upper drug & I took it, Clean nearly eight years now, Anyway I wouldn't look down on anyone else nor judge them ,I do work & help & support where I can, if I can help, as I am only human & have human flaws like us all.

I have certainly grown in spiritually, mentally & happiness in my life since I stopped self abusing. All my life has improved in every way, there is not one downside to me stopping & I have not yet met one person who like me was an addict who has regretted it.

Don't really know what your question is op ?

Working class heroes · 07-12-2016 06:01PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Are you by any chance calling anyone who uses any drug an addict? You don't seem to have a cut off for recreational use.

Maybe having a little bit of an addiction isn't a bad thing? It only really seems to be a problem if you're poor and can't afford the drugs.

Life is for living, drugs are an experience, and elevating experience to some. I honestly don't think the human race would be were it is today without the influence of drugs.

A little bit of addiction? You are either addicted or you aren't. You'd have to be on drugs to think otherwise.
Oh and "drugs are an experience" good god!

ScumLord · 07-12-2016 06:05PM

Working class heroes wrote: »

A little bit of addiction? You are either addicted or you aren't. You'd have to be on drugs to think otherwise.
Oh and "drugs are an experience" good god!

So people who drink alcohol are either addicts or tea totallers?

If drugs aren't an experience what are they? There are thousands of artworks and even scientific breakthroughs made under the influence of some drug or another. Most ages of enlightenment also included drug use. Hell even most music scenes we know today are linked to a specific drug.

Ted111 · 07-12-2016 06:13PM

You could say that all addicts are addicted to dopamine. Because whatever substance or habit they are engaged in causes the release of the 'reward' chemical in the brain.
This may not be entirely factual but it sounds clever.

andekwarhola · 07-12-2016 06:17PM

Does addiction to pontification count?

Ferrari3600 · 07-12-2016 06:18PM

Working class heroes wrote: »

A little bit of addiction? You are either addicted or you aren't. You'd have to be on drugs to think otherwise.
Oh and "drugs are an experience" good god!

You are vastly oversimplifying.

People who drink coffee during the week at work but not at weekends can get mild withdrawal effects for example (headaches).

Working class heroes · 07-12-2016 06:20PM

ScumLord wrote: »

So people who drink alcohol are either addicts or tea totallers?

If drugs aren't an experience what are they? There are thousands of artworks and even scientific breakthroughs made under the influence of some drug or another. Most ages of enlightenment also included drug use. Hell even most music scenes we know today are linked to a specific drug.

No, I never said that I was questioning your nonsensical "a little bit addicted"comment.
You seem to be glamorising drugs. You seem to be suggesting we would still be in the Stone Age if it weren't for ug and og getting stoned. Stop glamorising drugs. Artistic and scientific development was achieved in spite of not because of the influence of drugs.

A Nation of Addicts and bad attitude toward it

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