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by ajkdhcb2 845 days ago
This error really bothers me:

>How can pursuing pleasure lead to less pleasure? But that’s how our brains are wired (perhaps as a protective mechanism). At a certain point, addicts still pursue the stimulus, but more to avoid the pain of dopamine deprivation. People addicted to painkillers have the same experience. Beyond a certain level, opioid dependence actually makes the pain worse.

This is simply incorrect when it comes to opioids. With opioids, at some point tolerance hits a limit and the chronic pain patient (or heroin user) can keep taking opioids and continue to have a desired effect. For some people it is crucial for them to keep taking it and it really enhances their life by reducing pain. Anti-opioid propaganda has really gone too far.

Somewhat problematic for what the author is trying to argue.

2 comments

Most of what this guy says is incorrect
Then why do you have an opioid crisis if none of this is a problem?
I didnt deny that addiction exists or that opioids are addictive. That being said, I think the fentanyl crisis and addiction in general is typically a symptom of other complex issues. We are sprinting into a horrific dystopia with intense cost of living pressures. People who can't adapt to that are medicating themselves because there is no other way to cope available to them.