5 ms·

Isn't the idea of distinguishing between physical and psychological addiction outdated?

by toomanydoubts 5y ago

jklinger410 5y ago
No.
- haswell 5y ago
  Focusing too much on the distinction can lead to false conclusions like “I can use cannabis without any concerns about addiction. Ignoring the distinction can falsely equate the severity of dependence with harder drugs. I think it’s important to leave room for both: 1) Yes, there’s a difference between physical/psychological addiction and 2) Sometimes the end result is still addiction, with all of the negatives that come with it.
- toomanydoubts 5y ago
  Based on what? I believed it was common sense that our mental state was a product of the neurochemical interactions going on our brains. If you get addicted to gaming, are you really addicted to gaming, or are you addicted to the huge amounts of hormones like dopamine and serotonin flooding your brain when you win a match? Is this really "psychological" addiction? If the answer is yes, should I decide to inject serotonin intravenously, is it still psychological addiction?
  - jklinger410 5y ago
    I believe human beings have agency, and therefore I find that self control can contribute to curing a mental or emotional addiction. No amount of self control is going to save you from organ failure when going cold turkey off of heroin. There must be a distinction.
    - toomanydoubts 5y ago
      I don't think we are talking about the same thing. I'm specifically talking about addiction, but it seems you're talking about withdrawal, which is related but not the same.
- zepto 5y ago
  True, but the idea that physiological addiction is more real than psychological addiction is certainly outdated.
  - notch656a 5y ago
    Both are real? Of course. However: Psychological addiction can drive you to kill yourself but except in the most extreme of corner cases can I imagine how you could involuntarily die. Physiological addiction can straight up execute you (see alcohol or benzo withdrawal).
    - zepto 5y ago
      Most people who stop drinking alcohol are not ‘straight up executed’, so that seems like that’s a corner case too.
      - notch656a 5y ago
        "Most" seems like a high bar. Corner case I guess is unfair wording because it's totally undefinable. The DTs does choose to execute some people, especially if they can't reach treatment. I guess psychological stress can as well in rare events, although for an otherwise healthy person I would always pick the most crushing psychological stress over suffering untreated DT.
        zepto 5y ago
        Why does it have to be untreated? That seems like a bizarre criterion. It’s much easier to treat DTs than it is to treat a psychological addiction.
        notch656a 5y ago
        Well for one because alcohol and alcoholics are virtually all over the world and it isn't clear to me that the majority of alcoholics in the world both know about the risks of DT and have access to treatment. But it is my understanding even with EARLY appropriate treatment there is an expectation 1+% of those suffering DT will die.

Isn't the idea of distinguishing between physical and psychological addiction outdated?

jklinger410 5y ago

No.

haswell 5y ago
Focusing too much on the distinction can lead to false conclusions like “I can use cannabis without any concerns about addiction. Ignoring the distinction can falsely equate the severity of dependence with harder drugs. I think it’s important to leave room for both: 1) Yes, there’s a difference between physical/psychological addiction and 2) Sometimes the end result is still addiction, with all of the negatives that come with it.
toomanydoubts 5y ago
Based on what? I believed it was common sense that our mental state was a product of the neurochemical interactions going on our brains. If you get addicted to gaming, are you really addicted to gaming, or are you addicted to the huge amounts of hormones like dopamine and serotonin flooding your brain when you win a match? Is this really "psychological" addiction? If the answer is yes, should I decide to inject serotonin intravenously, is it still psychological addiction?
- jklinger410 5y ago
  I believe human beings have agency, and therefore I find that self control can contribute to curing a mental or emotional addiction. No amount of self control is going to save you from organ failure when going cold turkey off of heroin. There must be a distinction.
  - toomanydoubts 5y ago
    I don't think we are talking about the same thing. I'm specifically talking about addiction, but it seems you're talking about withdrawal, which is related but not the same.
zepto 5y ago
True, but the idea that physiological addiction is more real than psychological addiction is certainly outdated.
- notch656a 5y ago
  Both are real? Of course. However: Psychological addiction can drive you to kill yourself but except in the most extreme of corner cases can I imagine how you could involuntarily die. Physiological addiction can straight up execute you (see alcohol or benzo withdrawal).
  - zepto 5y ago
    Most people who stop drinking alcohol are not ‘straight up executed’, so that seems like that’s a corner case too.
    - notch656a 5y ago
      "Most" seems like a high bar. Corner case I guess is unfair wording because it's totally undefinable. The DTs does choose to execute some people, especially if they can't reach treatment. I guess psychological stress can as well in rare events, although for an otherwise healthy person I would always pick the most crushing psychological stress over suffering untreated DT.
      - zepto 5y ago
        Why does it have to be untreated? That seems like a bizarre criterion. It’s much easier to treat DTs than it is to treat a psychological addiction.
        notch656a 5y ago
        Well for one because alcohol and alcoholics are virtually all over the world and it isn't clear to me that the majority of alcoholics in the world both know about the risks of DT and have access to treatment. But it is my understanding even with EARLY appropriate treatment there is an expectation 1+% of those suffering DT will die.