Evening RIU community,
Ive been paying attention to the rising debate over legalization of medical and recreational marijuana and i have seen something lacking. There is this a basic misunderstanding on what addiction actually is. Addiction and chemical dependency are totally separate issues.
For professional reasons I want to keep some anonymity but I work in the medical field in an autonomous role. I have done this job for 12 years and during my career I spent 8 months living and working with inpatient addicts in a recovery program.
The most commonly accepted view of addiction is that it is a symptom. A symptom of something more troubling, the addiction serves as a distraction. Take away the distraction, address the issues and the "addiction" will be contained. I say contained as I dont want to give the impression that the addict cant relapse, which Ill try to explain...Addiction can take many shapes, from illicit and prescription drugs to food and exercise. Its a compulsive behavior in defense of stress, anger or pain as a means of escapism.
Chemical dependance is what many people assume with the term addiction. Several medications (vicoden, percoset, valium) and illicit drugs (heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine) can create a strong physical dependance on a substance. In the medical field the doctor increases the dose, on the street people become desperate and rob, cheat and steal. They are both chemically dependent on the (lets say) opiate. One is an addict with a painful past, the other is a patient. Physiologically they are the same, psychologically they are different.
I can further back any of this up if someone wants empirical data etc, I just hope that this can in some way help bring some clarity to the topic
OK I have rambled on away for a bit now... I could keep on going for hours
Do some good in the world everybody
Ive been paying attention to the rising debate over legalization of medical and recreational marijuana and i have seen something lacking. There is this a basic misunderstanding on what addiction actually is. Addiction and chemical dependency are totally separate issues.
For professional reasons I want to keep some anonymity but I work in the medical field in an autonomous role. I have done this job for 12 years and during my career I spent 8 months living and working with inpatient addicts in a recovery program.
The most commonly accepted view of addiction is that it is a symptom. A symptom of something more troubling, the addiction serves as a distraction. Take away the distraction, address the issues and the "addiction" will be contained. I say contained as I dont want to give the impression that the addict cant relapse, which Ill try to explain...Addiction can take many shapes, from illicit and prescription drugs to food and exercise. Its a compulsive behavior in defense of stress, anger or pain as a means of escapism.
Chemical dependance is what many people assume with the term addiction. Several medications (vicoden, percoset, valium) and illicit drugs (heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine) can create a strong physical dependance on a substance. In the medical field the doctor increases the dose, on the street people become desperate and rob, cheat and steal. They are both chemically dependent on the (lets say) opiate. One is an addict with a painful past, the other is a patient. Physiologically they are the same, psychologically they are different.
I can further back any of this up if someone wants empirical data etc, I just hope that this can in some way help bring some clarity to the topic
OK I have rambled on away for a bit now... I could keep on going for hours
Do some good in the world everybody
