when do you become addicted to cocaine?

[onlyme1]

When do you become addicted to cocaine. When you are doing it twice a week at weekends? what do you think?

[Blu_berrytoke]

Doesn't sound too bad to swim. Just keep a close eye on that shiat, addiction can creep up very subtly.

[Junket]

Originally Posted by onlyme1

twice a week at weekends? what do you think?

Since I don't think the above post answers the question.. at all.. I will give you my opinion.

You are addicted when you want to stop but cant.

You are addicted when your use is negatively effecting you, your friendships, your relationships, your job or your education.

ANY one of them.

You are addicted when you start losing a sense of your own self.

Example: You begin to lie to people, you become deceiving, sketchy, self-centered.

You are addicted in one way or another when its all you can think about it.

Perhaps a bit controversial, but most of all:

You are addicted if you need to ask.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	good summary
	Good answer about what addiction might mean. I'm with you on the "if you have to ask" thing.
	This is exactly how I would describe addiction. Good post.
	Good point. Solid definition. Thorough, yet succinct.

[PsychoActivist]

SWIM said this in another post but he will say it again here.
He believes addiction is not based on how often one engages in a particular activity or how much they do when they engage in it.

He believes addiction is when one engages in that activity and cannot stop or has a hard time stopping.

By his definition, it is when whatever they are engaging in sets off a physical craving and/or mental obsession for more.

Another sign is when one no longer uses a substance to feel good, but when they feel the need to use it so they don't feel bad.

[Junket]

Originally Posted by PsychoActivist

Another sign is when one no longer uses a substance to feel good, but when they feel the need to use it so they don't feel bad.

Although I agree with you in a sense, I wanted to say that my friend used coke over and over again to feel good, without having any actual withdrawals and use to make him not feel bad. Addiction can start way beyond that in my opinion..

Stay up homie

[PsychoActivist]

Junket,

Agreed.
I should clarify.
At this point it is safe to say one is addicted.
However, just cause one isn't at this point yet doesn't mean they're not addicted - in which case see the first part of my post

[miffy]

Swim has never had physical withdrawal symptoms from coke or crack, but swim certainly has a habit. . .

The lack of physical symptoms makes it difficult to know when you're addicted. . . at least with heroin, you know you've got a habit when, if you try to discontinue use, you end up curled in a small ball, vomiting, crying and shitting yourself. This tends to mean one has to admit to having a habit, no matter how strong one's ability to remain in denial. .

Cocaine is much more subtly. . . swim finds that he can miss a day, or even a few. . . but after two or three days without coke or crack, he becomes moody, depressed, unable to sleep. . .

You're addicted, swim would suggest, when you feel like you're no longer in control of your drug use. . . when you can decide you're going to stop, really meaning it. . . and still find yourself loading that needle, smoking the pipe. . . hating yourself while you're doing it, but feeling as though you're a puppet and the drug is pulling the strings. . .

[AceOvArts]

Once a week, once a month it don't really matter but you're addicted when you crave something, the . annoying thing SWIM has found with coke is that he has felt the tug of addiction even after many days, even months free from the white lady. SWlM finds cocaine addiction really annoying. Boredom triggers it in SWIM

[Grabnar]

Craving something doesn't necessarily mean swiys are addicted, i crave cheesecake once in a while doesn't mean i'm going to boot it every day 3x a day for the rest of my existence, addiction is when swiys has lost control , remember that.

[Junket]

Grabnar,

that kind of eliminates the possibility of a functional addict,

which i believe to be very real.

[rokman nash]

Totally agree Junket,addiction is not about losing control,its about a substance taking control.My friend was a functioning addict(he prefers junkie) for years.He never necessarily lost control,but could feel his doc start to take control of every aspect of his life.

Even knowing that,it still took him years to regain that control back.The worst part is that so far(4 months clean) he has to constantly fight the battle not to use.

You become addicted when the drugs take control of your life,and your just a passenger trying to enjoy the ride.


Good thoughts