12-10-2021, 09:41 AM
(12-10-2021, 09:11 AM)fredtoast Wrote: Addiction is a strange affliction. I have tried all sorts of addictive drugs and never got hooked. I even used to smoke regular cigarettes for the head buzz they gave me and never became a smoker. But it has nothing to do with my "willpower" because in other phases of my life I have none. I am about 80 lbs overweight and absolutely can not control what I eat for any length of time. I am just as "weak" as a drug addict. I am just lucky that the glitch in my brain, or whatever it is involves a substance that does not get me thrown in jail.Hi Fred,
I do most of my work in criminal court and juvenile court. Over 90% of the issues in those courts involve drug addiction. Almost all the people stealing stuff are doing it to support their drug habit. If you ever hear of a home invasion or violent robbery it usually is a drug deal gone bad or the target is drug money or drugs. Most fights and domestic assaults involve people who are drunk or high. And then there are all of the charges for possessing, selling, or driving under the influence of drugs. In juvenile court BY FAR the number one reason people lose their kids is drug addiction. I have seen so many parents completely fall apart and break down in court when their kids are removed, but they still can't stay clean long enough to get their kids back.
The hardest part is not getting clean. It is staying clean. Addicts have to have proper counselling, after care, and support in order to stay clean. That is where most of them mess up. They get clean for a while (usually while in jail) and they think they have it under control. Or maybe they think they can use "just a little bit". But unless they understand how to deal with their triggers and other underlying issues they will always relapse.
And finally, the number one problem is prescription drugs. There are more people addicted to prescription opioids (painkillers) and benzodiazepines (valium, xanax) than all other drugs combined.
Thank you for some interesting contributions on this thread, and your posts about the Bengals are always fun, too. Earlier in this thread, I posted that I take an edible to help me sleep sometimes. Yes, it works but for the first two hours the next day, I'm usually way too groggy.
There are now dispensaries all over the place in Illinois, and the one in Marion, a town along I-57 is an extremely thriving business that has been totally remodeled and always has a full parking lot when I drive by there. They have strict rules for people out of state buying stuff, but it wouldn't surprise me to see TN license plates in the parking lot since it is pretty easy to get here from western TN and even straight up I24 from Nashville.
As for insomnia, the best approach is to keep your bedtime and waking up time the same, make your bedroom a sanctuary (i.e. keep all electronics and clutter out of it and charge your phone somewhere else), and be active during the day so that you're legitimately tired when you turn in for the night.
