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Something to keep in mind is that how fast dependence builds can vary very largely between people. I have a few times taken opioids for weeks on end because I

Something to keep in mind is that how fast dependence builds can vary very largely between people. I have a few times taken opioids for weeks on end because I had very invasive surgery with quite extraordinary amounts of pain during recovery, and have never felt the desire to take more after the pain stopped being above a very high threshold. I've known others who have taken opioids for a couple days for something that healed much more rapidly, being very afraid to take them, and had to be sure they disposed of any left because they definitely felt the urge to take more beyond relieving immediate pain.

danielbln 3y ago
Ok, but this is not an opioid, and it has no known rebound effect. The compound had been on the market and in use in consumer products for more than 20 years.
- denton-scratch 3y ago
  > it has no known rebound effect That sounds like "famous last words". The fact that they don't know of the effects is probably because they carefully avoided looking for them. I've tried cocaine; didn't like it. I use OTC codeine/paracetamol for pain; I don't need the paracetamol, but you can't buy straight codeine OTC in the UK, so I'm forced to buy a proprietary compound. I'm never tempted to take it if I don't need it. So it probably sounds as if I'm the type who doesn't fall to addictions; but in fact I've been addicted to alcohol and nicotine for 40 years. I've tried repeatedly to quit both, and failed. There's just one psychoactive drug I've used that is definitely not addictive: LSD. If you can bear to continue tripping for more than about 3 days, it stops working, no matter how high the dose, and you won't get re-sensitized until several weeks of abstinence.
stordoff 3y ago
I suspect it also varies between drugs in the same person. I've been using temazepam (as prescribed) for years, and if I don't take it for a while, it's not a huge issue - I don't crave it, and I don't have any withdrawal symptoms. Similarly with opioids - I was using them for months due to chronic pain (codeine or tramadol, again as prescribed), and when I was advised to try stopping them in case they were contributing to some other symptoms, I just stopped that day without any issue (even though the consultant said it might be "worse than quitting heroin"). On the other hand, I tried _one_ cigarette at university, and spend the next day or so with a near constant thought in the back of my head - "I should get some more cigarettes".
- denton-scratch 3y ago
  I'm pretty sure that's not chemical dependence. The "one shot and you're a junkie" myth is a myth. I think it takes a bit of determination to get addicted to nicotine.

danielbln 3y ago

Ok, but this is not an opioid, and it has no known rebound effect. The compound had been on the market and in use in consumer products for more than 20 years.

denton-scratch 3y ago
> it has no known rebound effect That sounds like "famous last words". The fact that they don't know of the effects is probably because they carefully avoided looking for them. I've tried cocaine; didn't like it. I use OTC codeine/paracetamol for pain; I don't need the paracetamol, but you can't buy straight codeine OTC in the UK, so I'm forced to buy a proprietary compound. I'm never tempted to take it if I don't need it. So it probably sounds as if I'm the type who doesn't fall to addictions; but in fact I've been addicted to alcohol and nicotine for 40 years. I've tried repeatedly to quit both, and failed. There's just one psychoactive drug I've used that is definitely not addictive: LSD. If you can bear to continue tripping for more than about 3 days, it stops working, no matter how high the dose, and you won't get re-sensitized until several weeks of abstinence.

stordoff 3y ago

I suspect it also varies between drugs in the same person. I've been using temazepam (as prescribed) for years, and if I don't take it for a while, it's not a huge issue - I don't crave it, and I don't have any withdrawal symptoms. Similarly with opioids - I was using them for months due to chronic pain (codeine or tramadol, again as prescribed), and when I was advised to try stopping them in case they were contributing to some other symptoms, I just stopped that day without any issue (even though the consultant said it might be "worse than quitting heroin"). On the other hand, I tried _one_ cigarette at university, and spend the next day or so with a near constant thought in the back of my head - "I should get some more cigarettes".

denton-scratch 3y ago
I'm pretty sure that's not chemical dependence. The "one shot and you're a junkie" myth is a myth. I think it takes a bit of determination to get addicted to nicotine.