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A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum- Alcohol

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This made me laugh so i thought Id share it.
I am resolved to quit tobacco.
I went to the chemist to pick up NRT.
I said to the pharmacist " wish me luck it I'm giving up at midnight."
The pharmacist laughed and said "OOh you had better get a stiff drink inside you before then"
(Purely a light hearted jest at which I took no offence.)
I said "ooh Id better not I am an alcoholic."
(No offence intended of course and I suppose by many measures I am such)
We shared a laugh and I went on my way.
It made me think tho:
I think alcohol, as a drug that kills hundreds of thousands every year, is too socially acceptable.
What do you think?
My dad was an alcoholic something that I started to notice around 16, I could never accept it. Might be why I drink very little as a result.
I saw the personality changes it made in him, his weakness and it was upsetting to watch someone you loved almost destroying himself and drive away the people that loved him too.
I remember at 17 telling him face to face if he died of liver problems I would not attend his funeral, my Mum latter told me he stopped for a week.
So answer to you question no I have never accepted alcohol but it is up to others to decide for themselves.
I will add people complain about smoking but I know of no whole family that was almost destroyed by it. Some will argue on this point of that I am sure.
is alcohol classed as a drug??/ i think not but it can cause disease and emotional heartache through addiction so i can see the similarity.
as someone that was affected by it in my childhood (father) i am weary of over indulging in it as a cure all but do indulge as a relaxant and relaxing nerves etc
it is socially acceptable and as long as people dont abuse it then everything is ok but even things like chocolate which have a drug in it can be abused and can also kill should these be taken so lightly as well
i am a firm believer in people having an addictive gene/personality that make them more likely to become addicted to things more easily and its helping these people overcome their addictions that we should concentrate on not spoiling the fun and enjoyment of the majority for the few who have a problem
am rambling and it probs dont make sense heyho
I've thought as alcohol as a drug only since I stopped drinking/using it.
the definition of drug :- A chemical substance, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addiction.
yup it is a drug.
addictive gene is a load of pants (in my opinion). I think it is a lovely name for those who have been surrounded by others who also have issues with substance misuse and no understanding of the controls that they have internally to change their lives. Being surrounded by others (whether those 'others' are media images or blood relatives) who use substances to excess normalises the behaviour. Changing a behaviour is the trickiest thing that people can do, it would seem. If you don't believe me ask the people who are always dieting, giving up smoking or the people who are being a total prick etc etc
Ben, I think if it wasn't alcohol, it would have to be something else. We do seem to have this need to alter our consciousness with something from time. I'm not sure how we'd get on if we couldn't quite literally get out of our heads from time to time. confused
Splendid, I'd tend to agree with you. Seems everyone I know who's had substance abuse problems has simply learned to indulge their liking for those substances to excess, and they were facilitated by the easy availability of those substances in the environment they were in, and the acceptance of their peers. Alcohol is probably the most widely abused substance for the simple reason it is the most widely available, and the most socially accepted, but I don't really make much of a distinction between alcohol, and other drugs. It's all just self-medicating at the end of the day, whatever your drug of choice.
Neil x x x ;)
Quote by splendid_
yup it is a drug.
addictive gene is a load of pants (in my opinion).

Speaking as one whose whole family seemed to have problems with drink I disagree. Both my parents were heavy drinkers, my brother and my sisters are all heavy drinkers where as I hardly drink by their standards. We were all raised the same way, had the same social influences but it is only me who seems to be able to handle it. The adddictive gene theory only means that given the right stimulus there is a higher chance of that person becoming addicted.
by addictive gene/personality i meant was more prone to become addicted not necessaraly would become addicted
I think after the upset a thread like this caused to some lovely people I know the other day, you really are trying to wind the Forum up.
That's what I think.
I really dont see what a personal experience of mine has to do with winding forums or other people up mar.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
Can you go back to policing somebody else rather than me please.
You may wish to start your own thread:
"Things censored by Mar" then I wont fall foul of your rules.
Quote by The_third_man

yup it is a drug.
addictive gene is a load of pants (in my opinion).

Speaking as one whose whole family seemed to have problems with drink I disagree. Both my parents were heavy drinkers, my brother and my sisters are all heavy drinkers where as I hardly drink by their standards. We were all raised the same way, had the same social influences but it is only me who seems to be able to handle it. The addictive gene theory only means that given the right stimulus there is a higher chance of that person becoming addicted.
Are you saying that your brother and sisters carry the gene and you don't? Or would you say that observing behavioural and societal effects were actually a deterrant to drinking for you ?
'The addictive gene theory' actually means that you have no control over whether you will develop an addiction and you are either saying that you have control and therefore don't have a dependency. Or that you don't have the gene and therefore that is why you don't have the addiction.(if it is the latter you should keep a close eye on your children)
I am being slightly facetious and I am certainly hoping that you take my questions as polite interest rather than accusatory and unpleasant. If you do choose the latter then I humbly apologise in advance.
Quote by benrums0n
I really dont see what a personal experience of mine has to do with winding forums or other people up mar.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
Can you go back to policing somebody else rather than me please.

Excellant response! you know what you're doing,you're not daft and you know the thread I'm talking about.
Policing?? rotflmao class!
Enjoy your thread.
Back to the thread.
This addictive gene is one of the reasons I used to give and one of the reasons I hear discussed every week.
I believe whetehr or not there is an addcitive gene or not environment makes a huge difference.
I also believe that the acceptability of alcohol causes many problems. What other recreational drug, for the want of a better word, is available at the corner shop and has a daily maximum recommended amount?
Edits in bold for clarity.
Quote by benrums0n
Back to the thread.
This addictive gene is one of the reasons I used to give and one of the reasons I hear discussed every week.
I believe whetehr or not there is an addcitive gene or not environment makes a huge difference.
I also believe that the acceptability of alcohol causes many problems. What other drug, for the want of a better word, is available at the corner shop and has a daily recommended amount?

Alcohol has a recommended maximum daily amount not a recommended daily amount. As does Paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen all available from your average corner shop.
Thank you fluff, Ive edited the last post.
Do you ahve any opinions on the issue raised?
Quote by benrums0n
Thank you fluff, Ive edited the last post.
Do you ahve any opinions on the issue raised?

I don't believe in an addiction gene as such, but I do believe there are people with 'addictive' personalities. They lack a level of self-control that most other people possess when it comes to potentially addictive substances. For example, I tried numerous cigarettes as a teenager and consider myself fortunate to have emerged from the experience a non-smoker. My best friend is struggling to give up again. Neither of her parents have ever smoked, so in theory, she should not have become addicted. I have little personal experience of alcohol addiction, but strongly suspect that it stems from a personality trait rather than a genetic predisposition. Nurture as opposed to nature. Growing up in a household where smoking/drinking/taking other drugs is acceptable will inevitably lead to temptation. It depends on your personality whether the temptation becomes an addiction, or pleasurable but controlled consumption. Alternatively, second-hand exposure to the addictive substance and all it's effects could prevent an non-susceptible person either partaking in the 'drug' at all or ameliorating their consumption specifically to avoid addiction. Just my opinion based on observation though.
Quote by fluff_n_stuff
Thank you fluff, Ive edited the last post.
Do you ahve any opinions on the issue raised?

I don't believe in an addiction gene as such, but I do believe there are people with 'addictive' personalities. They lack a level of self-control that most other people possess when it comes to potentially addictive substances. For example, I tried numerous cigarettes as a teenager and consider myself fortunate to have emerged from the experience a non-smoker. My best friend is struggling to give up again. Neither of her parents have ever smoked, so in theory, she should not have become addicted. I have little personal experience of alcohol addiction, but strongly suspect that it stems from a personality trait rather than a genetic predisposition. Nurture as opposed to nature. Growing up in a household where smoking/drinking/taking other drugs is acceptable will inevitably lead to temptation. It depends on your personality whether the temptation becomes an addiction, or pleasurable but controlled consumption. Alternatively, second-hand exposure to the addictive substance and all it's effects could prevent an non-susceptible person either partaking in the 'drug' at all or ameliorating their consumption specifically to avoid addiction. Just my opinion based on observation though.
I'm slightly going off topic here...
My eldest daughters best friends Mum, who became a friend of mine when our kids were at school together.
She is addicted to alcohol, but has been dry for at least 5 years now.
She then became addicted to exercise, and dropped several stone, and looks like a size 4/6 now.
She is addicted to The Atkins diet, and only ever eats the food that, that diet promotes.
She is now addicted to religion, which to be honest may be her best way out of what is going on in here life!
She knows what she is doing, but finds it hard to break one addiction without another getting a grip of her.
Sad and strange to understand.
Quote by Lucyandmike7
Thank you fluff, Ive edited the last post.
Do you ahve any opinions on the issue raised?

I don't believe in an addiction gene as such, but I do believe there are people with 'addictive' personalities. They lack a level of self-control that most other people possess when it comes to potentially addictive substances. For example, I tried numerous cigarettes as a teenager and consider myself fortunate to have emerged from the experience a non-smoker. My best friend is struggling to give up again. Neither of her parents have ever smoked, so in theory, she should not have become addicted. I have little personal experience of alcohol addiction, but strongly suspect that it stems from a personality trait rather than a genetic predisposition. Nurture as opposed to nature. Growing up in a household where smoking/drinking/taking other drugs is acceptable will inevitably lead to temptation. It depends on your personality whether the temptation becomes an addiction, or pleasurable but controlled consumption. Alternatively, second-hand exposure to the addictive substance and all it's effects could prevent an non-susceptible person either partaking in the 'drug' at all or ameliorating their consumption specifically to avoid addiction. Just my opinion based on observation though.
I'm slightly going off topic here...
My eldest daughters best friends Mum, who became a friend of mine when our kids were at school together.
She is addicted to alcohol, but has been dry for at least 5 years now.
She then became addicted to exercise, and dropped several stone, and looks like a size 4/6 now.
She is addicted to The Atkins diet, and only ever eats the food that, that diet promotes.
She is now addicted to religion, which to be honest may be her best way out of what is going on in here life!
She knows what she is doing, but finds it hard to break one addiction without another getting a grip of her.
Sad and strange to understand.
I know what you mean - I believe it substantiates my theory that there are addictive personalities out there. Some people cannot live without one or more addictions which by their very nature may do them more harm than good. Even when the addiction is not a substance in itself. A person addicted to cigarettes or alcohol demonstrates that they have the potential to become addicted to other behaviours or 'drugs'. In the case of excessive exercise, the 'drug' may be endorphins.
Quote by Lucyandmike7
I'm slightly going off topic here...
My eldest daughters best friends Mum, who became a friend of mine when our kids were at school together.
She is addicted to alcohol, but has been dry for at least 5 years now.
She then became addicted to exercise, and dropped several stone, and looks like a size 4/6 now.
She is addicted to The Atkins diet, and only ever eats the food that, that diet promotes.
She is now addicted to religion, which to be honest may be her best way out of what is going on in here life!
She knows what she is doing, but finds it hard to break one addiction without another getting a grip of her.
Sad and strange to understand.

I have a friend who is the same. He went from drugs to alcohol to exercise. Lucky for him that it was that way round I suppose. He puts it down to having a very deep lack of self-esteem and you can see it in his body language. So maybe the 'addiction' in some cases is more a case of providing a form of self-validation or comfort.
Interesting stuff lucy, foxy.
I'm inclined to the view that addictions are about filling an emotional need.
For me, psychotherapy and counselling really helped me to make the changes I needed to.
I'm now an internet addict now but that does me a lot less harm than the booze ever did. ( sex addict goes without saying. grin.)
I find too long on the internet makes my bum go numb - not something I've ever suffered from while drunk. biggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrin
as a kind of response ...there are no bad drugs only good drugs used badly.
I believe that as a "responsible" adult it should be for me and no-one else to choose what I decide to put in my body.
Quote by Staggerlee_BB
as a kind of response ...there are no bad drugs only good drugs used badly.
I believe that as a "responsible" adult it should be for me and no-one else to choose what I decide to put in my body.

oh yes, I agree. I need to be ^^^ this succinct.
I believe in free recreational choice.