The reason for addiction
 

Hi guys,

Came across this article, maybe you all have seen it.

The Likely Cause of Addiction Has Been Discovered, and It Is Not What You Think | Johann Hari

Very interesting.

I'm not sure if it's the cause, but it certainly is part of the recovery plan!

Yes, that is what I thought as well, I am constantly relapsing and have to start thinking more about how to handle my life sober

Thanks for posting that Laura567. Johan Hari's basic point seems to be that chemical imbalances are only a small part of the problem of addiction and that having a strong social support network plays a much bigger role in getting people through. I don't think many would disagree with that. Obviously there are exceptions though. Many of us have loving, supportive family members around us and our addiction is still there.

Hmm. I take issue with some of the logic in this article. The author claims shunning addicts like one does in an intervention is wrong and we should instead shower them with love. However, many families have already spent years enabling addicts by supporting them via love. It is only after that failed that they moved on to tough love and ultimatums. I think there is a lot of empirical evidence ignored in this article.

Pedro - looks like you basically said the same thing I did :)

The author has been exposed as liar and cheater.

Johann Hari: ?I failed badly. When you harm people, you should shut up, go away and reflect on what happened' | Media | The Guardian

Quite true. I'll treat what he says with caution, but then I do that with everyone unless I already have a reason to trust them.

Sorry the more I read what he writes, the more it goes against my own personal experience. I'll stop posting, but I can't agree with his broad statements.

I second this. Other than SR, I'm on my own doing this. My family think that quitting should be easy, and I barely see them, as they drink.

SR, god, and me are all I need.