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When you consider that (probably) most of the people who exhibit serious substance abuse problems are self-medicating, the numbers aren't difficult to digest. (
by stan_rogers 14y ago
When you consider that (probably) most of the people who exhibit serious substance abuse problems are self-medicating, the numbers aren't difficult to digest. (I say this not as somebody with studies in hand, but as a person who's been clean and sober for more than a quarter-century, and who has significant experience dealing with other addicts and alcoholics. One can make pretty reliable predictions about underlying issues based entirely on the addict's "drug of choice".)
- omarchowdhury 14y agoWhat underlying issues do you see with someone who takes psychedelics (shrooms, LSD, DMT, etc)?
- comlag 14y agoIt isn't about just trying them, it is about using them to medicate or escape other symptoms.
- xk_id 14y agoHmmm let me try… Psychedelics -> Social rejection MDMA -> Problems with parents Weed -> Infantilism Alcohol -> low IQ NOTE: they are not absolute (e.g IQ below average), but relative to what would make that particular individual comfortable given the life challenges he deals with at the time.
- littlegiantcap 14y agoAlcohol abuse has actually been correlated with High IQ and is most commonly abused by this group because of the despair they see in the world due to their high IQ's. Essentially, because they tend to be more educated, and aware of global problems that makes them depressed.
- 7952 14y agoThe causality of that is highly suspect.
- ramchip 14y agoThat sounds like an urban legend.
- stan_rogers 14y agoThe high IQ is a bit of a miss—it covers the spectrum, although it is certainly true that there was a tendency for high-functioning people from relatively affluent backgrounds to find their way into a recovery setting years ago. Self-selection was certainly part of it, but we have to keep in mind that more effort would generally be put into "salvaging" somebody who had displayed a lot of promise once than someone who would be a lot easier to write off. The despair, though, isn't far off: chronic depression, or dysthymia, is common among alcohlics.
- littlegiantcap 14y agoI guess I hadn't considered that, although it makes sense that the people seeking treatment would skew the results.