[littlewing]

I've know a few addicts. They were brother and sister.

The brother was addicted to meth and recreationally used other things (pot, various uppers and downers, etc.). He went to jail for selling, then cleaned up, was eating healthy, got another college degree, held a respectable job, then went back to hanging out with an old boyfriend who was bad news, and ended up back in jail for carrying a large amount.

The sister just used pot, which many argue isn't an addictive, but I think when you get up every morning and have to have it and then divorce primarily because of substance abuse, that's a problem. She finally beat it after 30+ years of use.

Here are some common characteristics:

* Their mother had a pro-medication attitude. I don't think this causes addiction, but I think it may have been a contributing factor.

* They are both very intelligent and confident.

* They have both historically been very opinionated and were not easily swayed to other opinions.

* Both associated with people and lived in communities that were more liberal.

It's possible they have a predisposition to addiction, but I don't think it's possible to prove that one way or the other.

People can be chemically addicted. Heroin and meth for example are both very tough to beat after you've started. I've know people that died early because of past heroin addiction. It is a terrible thing, and it scares me to think that some day all drugs may be legalized.

Environment influences attitude toward drug use, and then personality traits can reinforce behavior. If you can avoid people that use drugs or have a liberal attitude towards drugs, you can avoid addiction. If you are a parent, talk with your kids about drug use. Let them know that you care about them and that you want them to avoid those that use drugs.

Addiction is a product of environment, personality traits, possibly innate tendencies, and exposure to chemically or psychologically additive substances. Whether addiction is a disease or not isn't important to me. Just stay away from people that do drugs, and if you get addicted, get off of drugs, and get out of that environment.

[forgetsusername]

>If you can avoid people that use drugs or have a liberal attitude towards drugs, you can avoid addiction.

Almost everyone I know has a "liberal" attitude towards drugs. And they're all great, functional, non-addicted people.

>Just stay away from people that do drugs

You're going to live a pretty solemn existence in modern society, where the majority of Westerners require morning caffeine.

[VLM]

"where the majority of Westerners require morning caffeine"

Also alcohol.

My observation of popular HN culture shows its believed to be easier to live and socialize as a vegetarian than a non-alcohol drinker. This comes up often in semi-unrelated topics about new urbanism and the perceived level of importance of living within walking distance of bars, not to mention the supposed death of car culture. And it also comes up in "how do I meet people" socialization topic discussions. And health oriented discussions. Occasionally hobby related discussions, also.

Given the enormous PITA it is, according to some, to not drink alcohol, it would seem an obvious startup opportunity for social media inspired socialization or whatever. I'm not currently aware of any non-alcohol related startups. There is at least some love for vegetarianism, so there should be space for not getting drunk as a lifestyle, given that it is supposedly an even stronger social death sentence.

[littlewing]

> Almost everyone I know has a "liberal" attitude towards drugs. And they're all great, functional, non-addicted people.

And that sister I was talking about was thoroughly convinced for years that pot had a beneficial affect on her well-being, there were studies to prove it, but she was addicted.

It can happen.