If anyone doubts that alcohol is addictive: several hospitals that MrsGrahamS worked at have had problems with alcoholic patients drinking the alcohol gel from the hand sanitisers!

But surely this depends on the definition of addictive. You can become addicted to any substance if you take it every day your body will eventually start to crave it.

But some things are clearly more addictive than other, alcohol is a lot less addictive than nicotine for example.

It just depends where you start the bar for something being an additive substance. Personally I wouldnt see alcohol as addictive as if you take it once or twice you dont start craving it and having withdrawal symptoms you really got to work to become addicted to it.

So how do you explain the survival rates amongst recovering alcoholics?

Some die not all.

Do you people not think to google before giving your view on a subject you know nothing about _ holds hand up admits I did not know alcohol withdrawl could kill BUT I DID GOOGLE BEFORE POSTING

scu98rkr

Unfortuatly thats not how it works. You have to work quite hard to get addicted to heroin. Similar to alcohol.

You don’t get addicted to “any substance”. MDMA is a good example of a non addictive drug.

My experience of a bit of work with people with drug and alcohol problems is alcohol is a far nastier addiction with far worse withdrawal

I didn’t know that alcohol withdrawal could kill either but it’s something new I’ve learned today from this very debate. The question I asked was a genuine question, nothing more. However I could JUST SHOUT AT PEOPLE TO USE GOOGLE rather than participating in an on-line conversation and learning from the experiences of others.

TJ, what are your thoughts on the arguement that some people are more susceptible to becoming addicted than others, a personality trait as it were?

now… I like heroin… and I like alcohol.. but which one is better..?

there’s only one way to find out…
FIIIIIIIIIIIGGGHHHTT!

Coyote – Member

………………………
TJ, what are your thoughts on the arguement that some people are more susceptible to becoming addicted than others, a personality trait as it were?

Agnostic basically. Unproven theory IMO

There might well be some actual biochemical difference as well that makes people susceptible – IIRC there is some evidence in this direction.

I have only done a bit of work in this field – I am no expert just have some knowledge

TandemJeremy: You don’t get addicted to “any substance”.

Really?

But it would stop the aivailability of cheap industrial “ciders”

Who drinks these drinks, that’s what confuses me? I mean even at school age no-one bought the cack cheapo stuff, even the poor kids, they’d just save up until next week. The practicing alcoholics I’ve met have used drinks that would fall outside the minimum pricing threshold.

It just seems a tad misguided and likely to hit those looking for a good deal on cheaper mixing alcohol (cheaper vodka/rum for mixing into ‘tails).

Bluebird. Yes. Really.

As i stated last time this argument raged, im currently sat not 10 minutes away from an industrial grade of uncut stash, yet i dont use it every day, am not tempted to use it all, it’s there to enhance special nights out.

Same with beer, there is a kitchen full of real ales at home. They wont get touched until a gathering of freinds for a meal on december the 16th.

U31, that’s not what I asked. TJ stated you don’t get addicted to any substance.

I appreciate there are many people who can take or leave drugs (incl alcohol) as and when they like, but some people clearly have a problem controlling their intake. I was just asking are these people genuinely not addicted.

I’m open to the idea that’s its not addiction to the substance but a way of escaping a miserable life.

its the peer encouraged nature of alcohol that causes a lot of the direct problems
the going out getting smashed mentality
if anyones been near A&E on a friday/saturday night youll have seen how grim it is

at the same time heading down the boozer and knocking back 6 pints while watching the game a packet of fags and a kebab on the way home is doing your body no favours

smoking now makes you a social outcast, why doesnt drinking alcohol

I’m saying the kind of person that gets addicted, will get addicted. It doesnt matter the poison, weather its chemical or internet porn.
As you stated, its escapism, a reason to blame anyone but yerself.

I also cant understand this “go out with the sole intention of getting smashed” mentality.

I drink / partake only to enhance my night, always with the wife, usually with very good freinds. to go over the top would ruin the night.
You wouldnt drink 8 pints of Tea or Pepsi on a night out, youd feel like shite, so why do folk drink that amount of booze?

It’s like the ‘more people are killed by toasters than sharks’ thing. but duh we don’t keep a shark in the kitchen for everyday use! 🙄
Then again would you prefer a bath with a toaster or shark?

Bluebird – we are slightly at cross purposes. I was answereing this

scu98rkr
You can become addicted to any substance if you take it every day your body will eventually start to crave it.

which is clearly wrong. You cannot get addicted to MDMA for example

What I meant was you only get addicted to addictive substances not any substance

Coffeking – many of the alcoholics I have met drink the cheap industrial “cider” or tenents special brow of cheap vodka

Some of the ciders are a few pence a unit of alcohol

Then again would you prefer a bath with a toaster or shark?

Er… neither thanks.

TJ, yes, I’ve just re-read your post again and I think you’re right – I’ve taken it out of context.

U3 – I agree. I don’t get the lets get completely F’up for the sake of it mantra. But then again I don’t eat twice as much as I need to, or try to ride my bike for 48 hours at a time.

Of course, that’s not to say I don’t over do it every once in a while.

Bluebird – when I re read it I could see why you did.

Prohibition doesn’t work, it never has.

30 years ago how prevalent was illegal drug use? How prevalent is it now. The war on drugs just isn’t working.

So why do we continue with it? Most of the illegal drugs do no more harm (or less) than the legal ones.

Isn’t one of the definitions of madness doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?