Who here has been addicted to a substance?

[Fixated]

Have you ever been hooked on any kind of drug (alcohol included), and are you past it if yes? I've personally been lucky enough to avoid getting hooked on anything physically, but I am mentally attached to sex and pot.

[catzies]

1. I'll have withdrawals if I suffer a lack of morning caffeine.

That's the very definition of addiction. I keep drinking coffee because the headaches are intolerable.

Did you know you can get caffeine added to an IV if you're having surgery, so you won't be doubly miserable when you come out of anesthesia? I had my tonsils out last year and when I found out I could wake up with caffeine already in me, I jumped at it.

[Cleita]

2. Nicotine.

Smoke free now over a decade although I had done year long stretches without cigarettes before then.

[Lostmessage]

3. Pop

I use to drink 24 cans in 3 days and it was regular not diet pop.

[whathappened]

4. sugar

got a big sweet tooth , and it is a big problem for me , since i'm diabetic i had to give up this addiction , so i have with drawal pains everyday of my life , had to give up the brooze , blood pressure as to high , had to give up pot , could'nt breath , wtf , all that is left is sex and food and it seems that is getting slow to

[GURUving]

5. I made a 5 month mistake

I decided to try crack with a "friend". It destroyed our friendship and hurt everything I was trying to accomplish positively at the time. It is unbelievably horrible.
Just say no!

That was 6 years ago, and I will never forget how quickly that piece of shit drug dragged me down.

[dsc]

6. booze three and 2/3 years sober

wouldn't wish it on anyone. Don't make the mistakes I did.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. Congrats to you and Mikimouse

[jonnyblitz]

11. I ditto the congrats.

alcohol was never an issue for me. I didn't need to add that to the mix.

[Mikimouse]

7. Alcohol; 10 years, 4 months, and 17 days sober

and I am grateful that every day. I am really one of the lucky ones; lots of very good, bright, caring people still out there.

[jonnyblitz]

8. yup.

nicotine is the legal thing. I quit 6 years ago. I love pot but after the first day of no weed after having it I survive but I could smoke everyday and function quite normally. I have had issues with other stuff in my younger days but I won't go there. I don't have those issues anymore.

[populistmom]

9. Sugar and nicotine

rarely do I touch the first, never to I touch the latter

[Heyo]

12. opiates.

Horrible. Absolutely horrible.

I didn't know that magnitude of suffering was possible.

I never want to go through that again... and yet still not a day goes by that I don't think about it at least once.. and here I am about 2 years clean.

Heyo

[Liberal Veteran]

13. Ativan....

When I first found out I had HIV disease, my temporary physician put me on them for anxiety and didn't mention how fucking addictive they were. He even told me I could take two at a time if I needed. Two months later I tried to stop taking them and wound up in the ER due to withdrawal.

Lesson learned.

[scarlet_owl]

14. I used to be addicted to nicotine and caffiene. I am currently

addicted to one of my medications. I can't get off of it without severe physical and mental stress.

[Susang]

15. I've abused substances

But never been addicted to anything that I'm aware of.

[ET Awful]

16. nicotine, and I kicked over a year and a half ago n/t

[LynneSin]

17. Carbohydrates - especially those in process foods

37lbs and counting.

It's an addiction - I've been through periods where I'm craving sugar so badly I'm scrounging through my desk and purse for just enough change for the candy machine.

It's pathetic!!

[hlthe2b]

26. Me too LynneSin. Carbs, especially sugar, Fats, and Chocolate!

and of course, caffeine....

Modifying my carb intake is the only thing that has kept the scale from continuing to go up,up, and away!

I've got a ways to go, though... LynneSin, your weight loss is inspiring. I expect to meet you at our respective goals within the year though!

[TXlib]

18. Vaseline

[Whitacre D_WI]

19. I am addicted to nicotine.

n/t

[bobthedrummer]

20. I drank for 16 years

I'm an alcoholic and thank God my drinking came to an end back on 6-18-81.
My father died from his alcoholism shortly after my recovery began.
I know there is a genetic component to addiction to alcohol, fortunately there are many ways out of it IF one has a sincere desire to quit.

I have a lot of respect for AA and the 12 Step program despite criticism of it from some quarters-it gave me my life back and a remarriage to my soulmate and true love.

I also went through a period of time using the needle and was hooked on meth, Desoxyn and later downers in the late 60's and early 70's-as bad as that was it was nothing compared to my alcoholism.

I do smoke cannabis for relief of pain {I'm disabled}, that is not a daily thing nor is it the focus of my life, that is the one drug that
has really been misrepresented IMO and I'm for legalization of the entire hemp industry {like many other people} as the benefits are many.

That's my story on addiction.

[Kamika]

23. damn ok

This will sound corny from a total stranger but I'm proud of you

[bobthedrummer]

24. Thank you, Kamika.

:hi:

[tinnyguy1777]

21. Nicotine for

approximately 40 years. Quit flat out, when told that I had had a "silent heart attack", at some point in the past. I did'nt want to temp fate any longer, so I quit 'cold turkey". It's easy to quit, when there is some motivation for you to do so.

[INTELBYTES]

22. Caffenine and the Simpsons

[matcom]

25. coke

during the 80's

is $1200/week a habit?

been off it for more than 10 years. don't bring me near it though. told the Mrs, if we EVER are at a party and someone pulls it out, take me home IMMEDIATELY

reason i signed up for the Army. out of sight out of mind

[GOPisEvil]

28. WHOLEY SHITE!!!!!

$1200/week???? :wow:

Glad those days are behind ya. If you ever come to MY house, I'm even hiding the sugar, salt and baby powder! :P Edit - the flour, too!

[matcom]

31. even worse

lived with a dealer. no desire for the sugar/flour/etc... :D

afterall, i AM a fairly good cook

tell me you got pink Peruvian laying around and we gots ourselves a prob though

[hlthe2b]

33. Geez, dare I ask how you were able to finance a habit like that?

My God, were you able to work? Blow through an inheritance?


Glad you got out from under that!

[matcom]

37. work?

hell i 'BLEW' through work! :)

worked 12 hours a day and partied for HOURS afterwards!

can't believe i ain't dead. should be for oh so MANY reasons

[GOPisEvil]

36. Yikes!

:scared: Just having a hard time spending $1200/week on anything, even something good. :o

[jonnyblitz]

29. yup...me too(not $1200 but still)....i smoked it tho

pure evil. keep me the hell away from it.

[GumboYaYa]

30. Been there, done that, too....

I haven't done any at all since 1992, but I had a major problem for about four years. A good friend got really screwed up from doing too much and I stopped cold turkey. Haven't done it since.

I was at a party in New York about three years ago and a guy pulled out a half ounce of some really nice looking blow. I didn't do any, but I had to get out of there ASAP. My hands were sweating and I was pacing around. If I had stayed another half hour, I would have been rolling up a twenty myself.

[jokerman93]

27. I abuse everything

Chocolate, caffiene and pot mostly. No addictions so far.

Is sex a substance?

[mantis49]

32. Alcohol

and cocaine. Alcohol was my drug of choice. Cocaine was whenever it was readily available, but didn't go actively seeking it like I did alcohol. Also smoked a lot of weed and liked speed.

13 yrs, 6 mo, 3 wks clean and sober.

Also nicotine........2 wks since I've had a cigarette.

[bobthedrummer]

34. Welcome to DU, mantis49!

And congratulations from one who knows.
:hi:

[VOX]

35. Downers, booze, hashish -- but clean and dry for 21 years now...

I've had panic disorder since I was 17, and have always been quite mentally active and imaginative -- thus the long-term attraction to substances that tranquilize and/or knock out. I had an elephantine resistance, and used to double or triple-up on pills/hash/alcohol, and I'm lucky to be still kicking, and without any apparent ill effects. Most of my college years were a slow, smeary blur. (How I graduated is still beyond me.)

But I'm also very, very lucky in that I've been able to say goodbye to bad stuff without looking back. I received counseling, and it helped immensely.

My doc weaned me off downers (it took a couple of years to phase them out); I haven't had a drop of booze since January 1, 1983, and have no interest in it any more.

The weirdest part of getting your life back is that you have to make your own way without crutches -- and it's not easy for anyone!

To anyone who has a substance problem -- hang in there. The junk doesn't own you, and don't be the Lone Ranger -- there is help available out there. All you have to do is want it.

Best to all -- :hi:

[NightTrain]

38. Does sugar count as a drug?

If so, label me an addict.

[Draven]

39. Pain killers and caffeine.

I tried to kill my self on a few occassions. :( I don't want to go there. Bad memories. :cry:

[Piperay]

40. Caffeine

and I am still hooked on it, have a terrible headache right now because I need an espresso badly. I have tried decaffeinated but I always end up going back to the caffeine. :hangover: