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The fact that many people are prescribed highly addictive drugs (adderall, opiates, and even in some cases, methamphetamine (under the name Desoxyn) without bec

The fact that many people are prescribed highly addictive drugs (adderall, opiates, and even in some cases, methamphetamine (under the name Desoxyn) without becoming addicts gives the lie to the second statement. In fact, merely using drugs doesn't lead to addiction - it requires the use combined with underlying environmental and genetic factors. As for preventing use, good luck!

ChemicalWarfare 10y ago
So you're saying someone is "wired" to proactively seek out illegal substance to get addicted to it then? As for "legal drugs" vs. street - you're not seriously comparing the Desoxyn dosage some kid with add would get prescribed to him with a dosage a user would smoke are you?
- aminorex 10y ago
  Many users of illegal drugs are self-medicating. They would generally prefer legal drugs, were they available and effective. The draconian legal regime prevents them from conducting responsible self-care. Law-breaking is preferable to death, or even severe disability, if you have dependents who require your support.
  - ChemicalWarfare 10y ago
    I can totally sympathize with someone who is self-medicating, although to me that is a completely different situation as I'm sure they are not self-medicating with heroin and crack.
    - onetwotree 10y ago
      Heroin use is absolutely self medication - it relieves emotional pain as well or better as it does physical pain.
- onetwotree 10y ago
  Yes of course people are wired (if you mean influenced by genes and environment) to seek out and use substances that fulfill a psychological need. Not only is this the dominant view in the various recovery communities, it's supported by considerable scientific evidence - for example, addiction is well known to be inheritable, and childhood trauma is very strongly established as being predictive of addiction in later life. I take it you don't know many addicts, especially former addicts with a mature perspective on their own addiction. There are some really good books written by folks who've been addicted and gotten over it that could clue you in on how addiction works. > you're not seriously comparing the Desoxyn dosage Most meth addicts start with a dose that helps them, emotionally or as a performance enhancer for work, school, sex, etc. These doses are roughly the same as those prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy. Eventually, meth stops helping and takes control - this is the hallmark of addiction.

ChemicalWarfare 10y ago

So you're saying someone is "wired" to proactively seek out illegal substance to get addicted to it then? As for "legal drugs" vs. street - you're not seriously comparing the Desoxyn dosage some kid with add would get prescribed to him with a dosage a user would smoke are you?

aminorex 10y ago
Many users of illegal drugs are self-medicating. They would generally prefer legal drugs, were they available and effective. The draconian legal regime prevents them from conducting responsible self-care. Law-breaking is preferable to death, or even severe disability, if you have dependents who require your support.
- ChemicalWarfare 10y ago
  I can totally sympathize with someone who is self-medicating, although to me that is a completely different situation as I'm sure they are not self-medicating with heroin and crack.
  - onetwotree 10y ago
    Heroin use is absolutely self medication - it relieves emotional pain as well or better as it does physical pain.
onetwotree 10y ago
Yes of course people are wired (if you mean influenced by genes and environment) to seek out and use substances that fulfill a psychological need. Not only is this the dominant view in the various recovery communities, it's supported by considerable scientific evidence - for example, addiction is well known to be inheritable, and childhood trauma is very strongly established as being predictive of addiction in later life. I take it you don't know many addicts, especially former addicts with a mature perspective on their own addiction. There are some really good books written by folks who've been addicted and gotten over it that could clue you in on how addiction works. > you're not seriously comparing the Desoxyn dosage Most meth addicts start with a dose that helps them, emotionally or as a performance enhancer for work, school, sex, etc. These doses are roughly the same as those prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy. Eventually, meth stops helping and takes control - this is the hallmark of addiction.