[genewitch]

in AA they call those people "dry drunks" instead of "recovering alcoholics".

if you're in treatment or AA for alcoholism - just as a single example - you're recovering. If you're merely "not drinking" then you're not recovering, you're just "not drinking."

i don't even understand why this is an issue, there are a lot of people where a 12 step program helps them recover; there are in-patient and outpatient care facilities that also can facilitate recovery.

and yes, some small segment of the population can be a "dry drunk" for the rest of their lives, but thinking you can overcome addiction by yourself is one of the reasons that addiction is prevalent.

[astura]

>thinking you can overcome addiction by yourself is one of the reasons that addiction is prevalent.

This is complete BS, the majority of addicts overcome addiction without any specific treatment.

https://psmag.com/social-justice/people-addiction-simply-gro...

https://aeon.co/essays/most-drug-users-stop-without-help-so-...

[genewitch]

I'd rather listen to a literal board certified addiction medicine specialist than some rando on the internet that links an article about "a meth user for 20 years that just quit!" and an article that talks about how the prefrontal cortex somehow magically allows people to opt out of addiction in their mid-20s.

Several "hard" drugs interfere with the brain, especially if the drug use begins when the brain is still plastic. Another thing, why does Louisiana have more opioid prescriptions than citizens? I guess these "addicts" don't count.

Do you have some kind of angle, here? "complete BS" is a bit combative, for this forum.

I would suggest that an "addict" is someone who can't "just quit" because they "want to."