There are at least as many long-term prescription SSRI users as regular cannabis users. And the SSRIs have much more seriously addictive properties- although the withdrawal is referred to by the euphemism "discontinuance syndrome."
There are at least as many long-term prescription SSRI users as regular cannabis users. And the SSRIs have much more seriously addictive properties- although the withdrawal is referred to by the euphemism "discontinuance syndrome."
Benzodiazepine tranquilizers are most commonly prescribed for occasional use, not regular use. But millions of people do use them habitually, or admit to overusing or abusing them. They're much more of an overdose liability than SSRIs or psychostimulants. They mix particularly poorly with alcohol, but also often show up in conjunction with opioid overdoses. The most lethal combination is of course alcohol, benzos, and opioids.
So who are we fooling? Tens of millions of Americans are on habit-forming drugs. They have legal drug habits. That might not be optimal from a health standpoint, but it doesn't appear to have led to mass behavioral dysfunction or societal chaos. Certainly not in comparison with the deleterious effects of social media- especially when used by the young and unwary, and people who haven't developed antibodies to unsupported speculations, logical fallacies, and unkind suggestions from anonymous participants.
Tens of millions of Americans seem to be maintaining their prescription drug habits without undue issues. As long as they have them.
Do I think that cannabis is "addictive"? Using the neologized definition that's become mainstreamed by the APA, for some people, yes, it is.
Does cannabis have as much addictive potential as any of the prescription drugs listed above? No.
so well put. americans already regularly using habit forming drugs might like feeling morally superior to americans who regularly use… different habit forming drugs?… but applying arbitrary standards of morality to human bodies has pretty much always been bad policy. maybe it’s not anyone’s job to tell anybody else what they SHOULD be ingesting to physically and psychologically manage their life and enjoy their time here…maybe it’s our job to keep each other from getting hurt and support each other in our various mental illnesses. which include addiction. AA is supposed to be a safe place for alcoholics, a community to help remain abstinent from an addictive drug that has negatively impacted our lives. recently at a meeting a girl who admitted to being on SSRIs tried to force another girl to leave because she takes stimulants. this was not a meeting for people whose lives have been negatively impacted by stimulants. she felt those stimulants improved her quality of life- but the first girl insisted she wasn’t REALLY sober…despite the fact ALL of us were having a cigarette outside 5 mins previously. superiority complexes about certain drugs have literally no place in addiction treatment, it only helps the people trying to feel better about themselves and feeds into the idea addiction is a moral deficiency and not a chemical response and mental health issue. it’s supremely frustrating and i so appreciate everything you said here about it.
It isn't just alcohol.
There are at least as many long-term prescription SSRI users as regular cannabis users. And the SSRIs have much more seriously addictive properties- although the withdrawal is referred to by the euphemism "discontinuance syndrome."
https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2021/11/07/americas-epidemic-of-antidepressants/
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/one-6-americans-take-antidepressants-other-psychiatric-drugs-n695141
https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-concerns-emerge-about-long-term-antidepressant-use-11567004771
Same with amphetamines: https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/news/20230331/adhd-drug-prescriptions-went-up-during-pandemic-study
ADHD drugs are prescribed as a regular regimen, to be taken every day, according to accepted medical practice. Otherwise, you're doing it wrong.
At least as many Americans use benzodiazepines: https://www.benzoinfo.com/prescribing-statistics/
Benzodiazepine tranquilizers are most commonly prescribed for occasional use, not regular use. But millions of people do use them habitually, or admit to overusing or abusing them. They're much more of an overdose liability than SSRIs or psychostimulants. They mix particularly poorly with alcohol, but also often show up in conjunction with opioid overdoses. The most lethal combination is of course alcohol, benzos, and opioids.
Oh yeah, opioid painkillers: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/rxrate-maps/index.html
So who are we fooling? Tens of millions of Americans are on habit-forming drugs. They have legal drug habits. That might not be optimal from a health standpoint, but it doesn't appear to have led to mass behavioral dysfunction or societal chaos. Certainly not in comparison with the deleterious effects of social media- especially when used by the young and unwary, and people who haven't developed antibodies to unsupported speculations, logical fallacies, and unkind suggestions from anonymous participants.
Tens of millions of Americans seem to be maintaining their prescription drug habits without undue issues. As long as they have them.
Do I think that cannabis is "addictive"? Using the neologized definition that's become mainstreamed by the APA, for some people, yes, it is.
Does cannabis have as much addictive potential as any of the prescription drugs listed above? No.
so well put. americans already regularly using habit forming drugs might like feeling morally superior to americans who regularly use… different habit forming drugs?… but applying arbitrary standards of morality to human bodies has pretty much always been bad policy. maybe it’s not anyone’s job to tell anybody else what they SHOULD be ingesting to physically and psychologically manage their life and enjoy their time here…maybe it’s our job to keep each other from getting hurt and support each other in our various mental illnesses. which include addiction. AA is supposed to be a safe place for alcoholics, a community to help remain abstinent from an addictive drug that has negatively impacted our lives. recently at a meeting a girl who admitted to being on SSRIs tried to force another girl to leave because she takes stimulants. this was not a meeting for people whose lives have been negatively impacted by stimulants. she felt those stimulants improved her quality of life- but the first girl insisted she wasn’t REALLY sober…despite the fact ALL of us were having a cigarette outside 5 mins previously. superiority complexes about certain drugs have literally no place in addiction treatment, it only helps the people trying to feel better about themselves and feeds into the idea addiction is a moral deficiency and not a chemical response and mental health issue. it’s supremely frustrating and i so appreciate everything you said here about it.