tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post113320953433130525..comments2024-03-19T01:48:39.709+00:00Comments on Power and Control: Is Addiction Real?M. Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-37722073538882169592008-11-21T01:30:00.000+00:002008-11-21T01:30:00.000+00:00People function on drugs all the time. Long term a...People function on drugs all the time. Long term anti-depressant use is considered a blessing. At least by those that benefit from them. <BR/><BR/>I don't know where you are getting your information (I have my suspicions) but, you sound like a typically misinformed American. <BR/><BR/>Living in fear is not conducive to top performance. Anti-depressants help.M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-61233128734256961742008-11-21T01:16:00.000+00:002008-11-21T01:16:00.000+00:00Can you point to a cure for pain embedded in the a...Can you point to a cure for pain embedded in the amygdala? I must have missed it.<BR/><BR/>BTW I don't think you read the links I provided. <BR/><BR/>But tell you what. You should take no pain relievers the rest of your life. Because they are not a cure for pain just a cover up. Surgery without pain relievers. Dental work without pain relievers. Get bones set without pain relievers. etc. Stop covering up your pain. Do not let pain deter you from living a normal life under any circumstances.<BR/><BR/>It sounds to me like you are a victim of "therapy". <BR/><BR/>If the pain is severe enough to impair function Western medicine is REQUIRED to provide pain relief. Excepting pain embedded in the brain. When in which case you deserve to suffer unless you can afford the doctor and pharmacy fees. <BR/><BR/>Here:<BR/><BR/>Read this and the Max Planck Institute link provided and then comment there so I have proof you read it. I'm not going to reply further otherwise.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2006/04/ptsd-and-endocannabinoid-system.html" REL="nofollow">PTSD and the Endocannabinoid System</A>M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-79405379489713451192008-11-21T00:57:00.000+00:002008-11-21T00:57:00.000+00:00M. Simon, I see your point but pain relievers are ...M. Simon, I see your point but pain relievers are not a cure but a cover up. They help mask the true problem and create a lot of other problems, as well. We can't all function on drugs.Questhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12384623544306053433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-34872277453946562282008-11-21T00:45:00.000+00:002008-11-21T00:45:00.000+00:00Here is something else that might interest you:Sch...Here is something else that might interest you:<BR/><BR/>Schizophrenia and Tobacco<BR/><A HREF="http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2007/08/post_439.html" REL="nofollow">Schizophrenia and Tobacco</A><BR/><BR/>Really. We have an irrational fear of non-doctor prescribed psychoactive drugs in America. Taboos and superstitions. You would think we were some long lost jungle tribe instead of civilized rational humans.<BR/><BR/>BTW that irrational stuff is another function of the amygdala.M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-42554760135394010132008-11-21T00:41:00.000+00:002008-11-21T00:41:00.000+00:00J-Boy,Of course you treat pain with pain relievers...J-Boy,<BR/><BR/>Of course you treat pain with pain relievers. <BR/><BR/>If you lack insulin you get prescribed insulin. If you have an endorphin deficiency heroin makes a pretty good substitute. <BR/><BR/>See we have irrational phobias in America. Against pleasure. And pain relief is very pleasurable.<BR/><BR/>It really is a class war thing. <BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2007/10/class-war.html" REL="nofollow">Class War</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2007/10/treatment-vs-recreation.html" REL="nofollow">Treatment vs Recreation</A> <BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2007/10/round-pegs-in-round-holes.html" REL="nofollow">Round Pegs In Round Holes</A><BR/><BR/>The upper classes can be trusted with pain relief. The lower classes only deserve pain. <BR/><BR/>And here is a bit of science for you:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2006/04/ptsd-and-endocannabinoid-system.html" REL="nofollow">PTSD and the Endocannabinoid System</A><BR/><BR/>Especially read the Max Planck Institute link in the above.M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-56109860255436717182008-11-20T18:16:00.000+00:002008-11-20T18:16:00.000+00:00M. Simon, I believe you're correct in your descrip...M. Simon, I believe you're correct in your description of what addiction really is, however, your method of treating addiction is off. Sure, addiction is a result of pain, and it's possible there are genetic susceptibilities that make some's trauma get stored in the brain in the form of what you call mental problems. However, the answer to this pain relief can't really be continued drug use? Is that really the point you're trying to make!? I think the only solution is to quit drugs and try to make sense of the pain, and walk through it...hopefully changing your brain chemistry along the way, as much as that's possible that is. You are right about the sick AA'ers, though. That organization has become a sad mockery of itself...full of many of the most screwed up people I've ever met. There are shining stars in the mix, but discerning them amongst the mix of the others is difficult...and to be one of them amongst all the bad in that organization is even more difficult. Also, yeah, cigarettes are an antidepressant for some people, a nasty habit for others, but regardless, they are detrimental, especially to people who want to be in sobriety.Questhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12384623544306053433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-92209173844469583182007-05-18T23:52:00.000+00:002007-05-18T23:52:00.000+00:00As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I am livi...As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I am living proof that Opiates soothe the effects of PTSD. I have seen this effect in several other people. It's a shame that Those in chronic pain are denied pain relief, me being one of them. Although I am not some scientific researcher, rather a college junior, I do believe there is a link between pain tolerance and past trauma. I am certain that mental pain manifests itself as physical pain. The term "addiction" is too loose. They say someone who "needs" these meds is addicted. Well what about someone who "needs" their insulin or high blood pressure meds?How is that any different? Just because the so-called junkie is not going to die without the Opiates does not mean his quality of life will not suffer. S/he will just go to the "street" where it is easier and less degrading to obtain relief. Alcohol, in my opinion, should be outlawed. But it is also a popular self medicating technique, used to dull physical and mental pain. Because alcohol is legal, it is viewed as acceptable. However, more accidents, domestic disputes, and crimes are committed as a result of alcohol use. Opiates are catching up though, probably because too many people are hearing "there's not enough narcotics in the world to take care of your pain", as I hear from my jerk of a doctor. Well I beg to differ! I know there's plenty. The study of addiction is a fascinating topic. There is little we actually know about it and some things are more or less from a jaded opinion. I really think we should take a hint from places like Amsterdam, where they don't care. You can get what ever you want there, and I do believe their crime rate is lower. They don't have people attempting to rob a pharmacy with a hammer, like some desperate soul close to where I live did. To tell people that their pain is not legitimate is not only wrong, it's unethical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1169129064526163242007-01-18T14:04:00.000+00:002007-01-18T14:04:00.000+00:00I was a heavy user of hard drugs for a long time, ...I was a heavy user of hard drugs for a long time, and know many people in the situation. Having some sort of unpleasant past or fractured personality was an almost universal factor- long before most of these people ever started using drugs- physical detox fails because leaves underlying psychological factors intact (in many cases I don't think people can ever really be "cured" anyway). The war on drugs has made criminals people who are mostly either looking for relaxation/stress relief, or escaping some form of psychic torment. <BR/> oh- Literally every female junkie I've met had either been raped or molested.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1165514985007846212006-12-07T18:09:00.000+00:002006-12-07T18:09:00.000+00:00I cannot speak to addiction, although I am more on...I cannot speak to addiction, although I am more on the <A HREF="http://thejacksonianparty.blogspot.com/2006/10/jacksonian-party-agenda-platform.html" REL="nofollow">personal accountability side</A> for use and abuse. I really don't care what harm you do to yourself with these things, so long as you do not put others at danger while under the influence of them. What really gets me is that a number of medications have actual, real utility, and then were moved into the prohibited Schedules because of abusers. Really, the Government shouldn't be telling me what to do with my body so long as I am not endangering society or other individuals in that doing. Drug use and abuse prior to the 20th century was relatively widespread with opiates and morphine, but that was also a distinctly gender biased affair with men preferring alcohol over those other drugs. The amount men drank in that period, especially hard liquor, was prodigious. Morphine use by those wounded in the Civil War and the rather crude surgery of the day was more necessity than addiction. The shift to addiction is problematical, as society still seemed to have gotten along with it, adjusted to it and otherwise only noted a modicum of social ills due to it. The Interstate Regulatory power was pushed for taxation and licensing and has gone far beyond that realm to pharmaceutical regulation for what one does on one's own property at no cost to society. And all Prohibition did was give a hefty kick start to organized crime to let it grow into other areas. Somehow that cure was worse than the disease for both of these, but that is my opinion only.<BR/><BR/>I cannot speak much for addiction as it is a multi-variate problem with underlying systemic concerns. Addiction to pleasure, as in gambling, is also well known, as the low and highs of that are driven by the body's own system and looking for the 'next high' becomes a quest on its own. It is a habituation to addiction, but the underlying physiology must be amenable for that habituation to take hold as an addiction. So addiction just to the way one's brain operates, at a biochemical level, is also well within the scope of this, although some things tend to diminish the actual term 'addiction' when applied to much broader categories. Basically we have yet to quantify the interaction of behavior, personality, temperament and biochemistry enough to call it a <A HREF="http://ajacksonian.blogspot.com/2006/04/when-science-isnt-one-and-why-it.html" REL="nofollow">science</A>. Until someone is willing to put hard fast and measurable means against those, actual understanding and diagnosis will remain more of an 14th century art than a 21st century science.<BR/><BR/>Coming from <A HREF="http://ajacksonian.blogspot.com/2006/10/stem-cells-cure-is-just-around-corner.html" REL="nofollow">another part</A> of those needing medications on a daily basis for physiological survival, I can say that I have *never* been impressed with the pharmaceutical industry, its outlooks, its procedures nor its stringing individuals on with overblown progress which just, somehow, never pans out.<BR/><BR/>But then, I do have strange thoughts.A Jacksonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07607888697879327120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1149280946416084422006-06-02T20:42:00.000+00:002006-06-02T20:42:00.000+00:00San Ysidro was the name of the village. I think.San Ysidro was the name of the village. I think.M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1149280461536773042006-06-02T20:34:00.000+00:002006-06-02T20:34:00.000+00:00Anon from Mexico,Yes.Look at Is Addiction Real?als...Anon from Mexico,<BR/><BR/>Yes.<BR/><BR/>Look at <A HREF="http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2005/11/is-addiction-real.html" REL="nofollow">Is Addiction Real?</A><BR/><BR/>also<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2006/04/ptsd-and-endocannabinoid-system.html" REL="nofollow">PTSD and the Endocannabinoid System</A><BR/><BR/>I love Mexico. I spent some great times in the village across from Hautla up the hill from Puento Fiero in the Oaxaca mountains. The name excapes me at this time. And Mexico City, the Natural History Museum is great.M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1149230224060620642006-06-02T06:37:00.000+00:002006-06-02T06:37:00.000+00:00I want to ask if this trauma-originated addiction ...I want to ask if this trauma-originated addiction to heroin also could apply to marihuana or is marihuana more of a estabilizer or antidepressent substance to someone like a bipolar person, greetings from MexicoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1144201410638993292006-04-05T01:43:00.000+00:002006-04-05T01:43:00.000+00:00Gibbie,We know how to treat "chemical" addiction. ...Gibbie,<BR/><BR/>We know how to treat "chemical" addiction. It is called detox.<BR/><BR/>What we do not know how to do is to erase the underlying trauma from the brain. The "psychological" addiction part.<BR/><BR/>And if the psychology is so well known why are we still punishing users and their suppliers.M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1135374438481720172005-12-23T21:47:00.000+00:002005-12-23T21:47:00.000+00:00"Addiction" is a disease caused by trauma. To thos..."Addiction" is a disease caused by trauma. To those genetically susceptible the trauma gets embedded in the brain and becomes disabling. <BR/><BR/>The question then becomes: if pain relief improves such people's functioning should it be denied them?<BR/><BR/>Suppose tthe trauma is "legitimate" i.e. from warfare. In the 1800s war induced alcoholism was recognized as a legitimate response to the trauma of war. <BR/><BR/>The "new morality" defines such pain relief as illegitimate.<BR/><BR/>I don't think that is an improvement.<BR/><BR/>In fact our current system persecutes the traumatized. The new morality in actiion.<BR/><BR/>In the case of alcoholism, doctors used to try to move such people to cannabis which was much less debilitating. After 1937 such treatment was illegal. We have come a long way. Not necessisarily in a good direction.<BR/><BR/>I do understand your idea that sufferers of PTSD and such do not deserve relief through drugs if no other relief is possible. After all addiction is worse than pain in our culture. In fact we would prefer the sufferers of extreme pain suicide rather than become chronic drug users. That is because we are a kind hearted Christian nation.M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1135223624510564582005-12-22T03:53:00.000+00:002005-12-22T03:53:00.000+00:00RE: "I learned was that in his sample of female he...RE: "I learned was that in his sample of female heroin users 70% were sexually molested before they started heroin use."<BR/>James Frey in his excellent book <I>A Million Little Pieces</I> writes about Lily a girl of 13 who was sold into prostitution by her mother, a heroin addict, and then addicted to heroin by her mother. Does this qualify as sexually molested. Does it really matter how they were addicted, just as long as they were addicted? You are arguing that it is not a disease because of the trauma. But that doesn't take away from the fact that alcohol and drug addiction are progressive diseases. Does it matter that Maleria which is a disease wouldn't have affected anyone if it weren't for the mosquito. It is still a disease.Mover Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13221547684087471775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1135129747932113132005-12-21T01:49:00.000+00:002005-12-21T01:49:00.000+00:00mike,The question is:do you have power over your p...mike,<BR/><BR/>The question is:<BR/><BR/>do you have power over your pain?<BR/><BR/>If you are in pain should you be denied relief?<BR/><BR/>BTW a favorite of the AA crowd is tobacco. Tobacco is an anti-depressant.M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1135014712034813462005-12-19T17:51:00.000+00:002005-12-19T17:51:00.000+00:00the first of the 12 steps of AA is "We admitted we...the first of the 12 steps of AA is "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable." We interpret "powerless" as addicted. If I am not addicted then maybe I am cured. Maybe I'll go test this thory of Power and Control and let you know if I am addicted.<BR/>Mover MikeMover Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13221547684087471775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1133461856785502052005-12-01T18:30:00.000+00:002005-12-01T18:30:00.000+00:00Very good summary post. I blogged it this morning....Very good summary post. I blogged it this morning. You may not get any hits from me because my traffic is so small,* but I personally am impressed with your work. <BR/>(*To me the handfull of readers I have are the most informed and erudite anywhere. They make up in brains for being few in number.)Hootshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01108363655472450828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1133338837797419512005-11-30T08:20:00.000+00:002005-11-30T08:20:00.000+00:0011 29 05Hey M. Simon: I will highlight this post f...11 29 05<BR/><BR/>Hey M. Simon: I will highlight this post for my blogwatch section tmw. Thx, as usual for providing us with your insight:) Have a nice day:)Mahndisa S. Rigmaidenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08507292526980604567noreply@blogger.com