this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2023
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[–] Plopp@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If it's not too harmful - what's the problem with being addicted? I'm addicted to coffee and drink at least two cups per day, as do most people around here.

[–] Goo_bubbs@lemmings.world 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Nobody out there is just buying Nicotine gum for the flavor. The overwhelming majority are struggling with an addiction that may one day kill them.

Also, as a former smoker of over 20 years as well as a current coffee addict, I can tell you from personal experience that there is no comparison between the two. Some substances are simply more addictive than others. Nicotine is one of the worst on the planet.

[–] nxdefiant@startrek.website -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You say that, but even if there was a pill that instantly cured all addiction, I'd probably still crave coffee every day.

[–] abraxas@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

...because there isn't a pill that instantly cures all addiction. Addiction is a complicated thing that combines a lot of factors between physical dependence, pleasure-seeking, memory formation, and a lot more.

[–] nxdefiant@startrek.website -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

nah, it's cause it's delicious.

[–] abraxas@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

It becomes delicious. That's part of the whole addiction process. Taste/smell is one (or two, however you count it) of the most unique senses in that it is largely driven by links in the brain. Tastes beget memories, and our favorite foods and beverages are the ones tied positively. Drugs tie us positively.

I used to hate the smell of skunks. I've used to have one of those things where smells effect me worse than other people and I cannot handle them. I would actually retch up from the smell of skunk. It got worse after the family dogs were sprayed near their eyes and my memories tied a night of chaos and stressed mother to it all. Fast forward YEARS later; I smoked a little pot when I was younger. I dunno if you've ever heard of the term "skunk weed". Guess why? Well, after that, immediately after that, the smell of skunk was pleasant to me and I didn't retch at all. And it's stayed that way. I STILL like the smell of skunk spray.

The same with whiskey. Distilling is legal where I live. As such, I've acquired a taste for high-proofs. Things that would make most other whiskey drinkers spit out their drink saying the it would taste like rocket fuel. Why? Because a distilling run is a nice, mostly chill, 8 hour process where I hang out and have a sip here, a sip there. For a while, I stopped drinking regular-proof whiskeys entirely in favor of barrel-proofs. It may come as no surprise that wanting to drink 120-proof whiskey over 80-proof whiskey has almost nothing to do with the tasting notes.

[–] gmtom@lemmy.world -2 points 1 year ago

Idk man, I vaped for years many times a day and was able to quit very easily, but sugar and caffeine I just can't, they're so much more addictive to me.

[–] abraxas@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The problem with addiction is that it's safe to say that NOTHING is good if used to excess.

I used to be so hooked on caffeine I drank a 30-cup pot each day. It was giving me all kinds of issues, and I was only in my 20's. I'm still addicted, but I've learned to moderate. It took me years. And my 4th latte of the day is telling me that I'm not exactly great at it.

If I smoked/vaped Nicotine, I would have serious problems of taking too much all the time.

[–] Plopp@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Are you suggesting you want caffeine banned?

[–] abraxas@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Not at all. I don't suggest any bans. I said elsewhere I would not oppose pre-rolled cigarette bans because they are especially dangerous and would not reduce access to the product itself. But I also don't suggest pre-rolled cigarette bans.