UKking

Not all addictions are illegal - prescription drugs, shopping, gambling, etc. Do you think that makes them more difficult to overcome? Are they worsened by factors such as accessibility and societal acceptance?

telekinetic

I'm not sure this is enough info to start a thread, but I definitely think that legal addictions are much more difficult to beat, because they're difficult to explain or to get people to understand. They're also difficult to define.

I'd say perscription drug addiction is illegal, but the most common legal addictions are pornography (or, more broadly, sexually compulsive behavior), gambling, and food. Anything that causes endorphin release can become an addiction.

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twisted no more

MSD

People are only now starting to understand that addiction is not just a matter of poor willpower. When we overcome that and people learn the difference between immaturity, compulsive behavior, and addiction, then we'll be able to make progress.

pan6467

The number 1 group growing in addiction is those over 55 and it is to prescribed drugs.

The major factor 99% of doctors average at most 8 hours of addiction classes and most of those are as electives.

The fact of the matter is the drug companies can come to a doctor and swear there is nothing wrong with this pill..... then the doctor sees the patient running out faster and faster and decides to just cut the patient off, not realizing there can be serious withdrawals or addiction problems there.

I see it way too often with Benzodiazepines and the narcotic and non narcotic (like Ultram) painkillers. These people once the doctor cuts them off 9/10 times will get their drugs off the street or doctor shop or steal RX pads... they will do whatever it takes to feed the addiction.

The saddest part of my job is when I have clients who never did drugs, barely if ever drank but needed painkillers or anti-depressants for some reason and got hooked. They have the hardest time reconciling with their addictions because, "the doctor prescribed them and I never did illegal drugs but these were prescribed by a doctor who knows what I need." too many lives destroyed because of that and the doctors who never cared enough to learn about addiction.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

vanblah

Addiction in and of itself is neither legal nor illegal--any more than any other neurotic behavior.

I'd say the most difficult addictions to overcome are the ones that don't have any serious spotlight on them (like narcotics anonymous, alcoholics anonymous, etc.).

Pornography addiction is a difficult one to beat because the "triggers" are EVERYWHERE (movies, tv, radio, print ads). Sexual gratification in the male is probably the strongest physiological impulse in the human body--higher even than hunger (up to true starvation when the body starts to shut down). When that impulse gets tied to some addiction then it can be almost impossible to control. Impulse control is not quite the same as addiction though; so just because someone looks at pornography doesn't mean they are addicted any more than someone who sometimes takes a pain killer on a whim for fun. It's when it starts to control your life that you should be worried.

So, there may well be support groups out there for people addicted to pornography ... but what about deviant pornography? What about the stigma associated with that kind of pornography (snuff, rape et al)? Those are the kinds of people who can't get help at all because if they do try to get help then at best they are shunned and worst they are thrown in jail. I'm not talking about the PRODUCERS of those kinds of porn ... they do need to be punished by the law AS WELL AS receive psychological help. I'm talking about the "so-called" passive types -- who just need help getting over the addiction and impulsive behavior.

I'd say the next most difficult kind of addiction to overcome would be LEGALLY obtained prescription painkillers. I had back surgery a few years ago. I know exactly what to say and how to act to get a prescription for pretty much any kind of painkiller I desire. However, I don't do it. But once you know how to act (and a good doctor can tell if you've never experienced a ruptured disk) you can waltz in there and proclaim, "My back hurts!" and they'll write a prescription for 20 Lortab without a bat of an eye; especially if there is already a history of back pain.

After porn and painkillers, I'd say the next addiction would be pancakes or waffles.

(Actually, there is some truth to that ... food addictions are notoriously difficult to beat.)