Addiction Archives - Page 8 of 8

Under one dollar: My record low monthly electrical use: 10 kWh ($0.96 + fixed costs)

This month set a record low electrical use at only 10 kWh, or less than one dollar on supply charges. I don't remember what I did this month to keep it so low, or rather what I didn't do. Note I still use hot water for my showers, which my building heats with natural gas, though my showers are only a couple minutes. The two reasons I'm sharing I'm sharing my results for two main reasons. My first reason to share is the reason recovering addicts share how long they've been clean. We hope to find support from people who have been clean longer to help us on our journey. I'm polluting and intend to pollute less. The second reason is the role models who…

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April 9, 2022

Addiction / Habits / Relationships

My brief conversation with a heroin addict thanking me

As you know, I pick up litter daily, including at least three pieces from the northwest corner of Washington Square Park since the pandemic brought such hopelessness to it in the form of syringes, pipes, and the community and police abdicating responsibility to it. I don't expect to revitalize the area by myself, but I'm not going to do nothing. I'm going to do something. As I walked along yesterday, on my way to teach at NYU (another abdicating institution in the situation), I picked up litter. I often quietly say "that's one," "that's two," and "that's three" as I pick up successive pieces. Just as I said "that's two," from my right and slightly behind, I heard a hearty "thank you!" I turned to…

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April 5, 2022

Addiction / Podcast

565: Sam Quinones, part 2: Fentanyl feels worse but addicts more (like Facebook, McDonald’s, flying, etc)

In one of the highlights (lowlights?) of our second conversation, Sam shares that fentanyl users don't like its experience as much as heroin's. On the contrary, it's worse. It pops them out faster from the euphoria, which makes them want to take more. It's a worse experience that addicts them more. Their suppliers don't care about the experience. They care that it sells more, which makes them more money. It's cheap to make, so they make huge amounts and flood the market, not caring about the waste that they consider someone else's problem (as if a crumbling society didn't hurt them too) nor the health of their customers, as long as they keep returning. They will, doing whatever it takes to get the money, laying…

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March 30, 2022

Addiction / Freedom

Two ways you became addicted without realizing

Different people define addiction differently, but this one covers the bases: “a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences.” Once, almost the only way to addict yourself to something was to try something you knew might addict you, expecting you'd stop before the addiction set in, and then find yourself addicted. That is, you may have underestimated the risk, but you consciously chose to risk gambling, smoking, drinking, or whatever. Maybe peer pressure felt overwhelming, you lacked accurate information, or you had other extenuating circumstances, but you anticipated the situation somewhat and assumed the risk with some awareness. I suggest that today we find ourselves addicted without choosing to risk and without awareness. I have empathy, compassion, and sympathy for…

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March 28, 2022