fuzzyninja

Don't know to consider this rambling or worthwhile...

In order for one to be considered an addict, an uncontrollable desire for either substance, action, or device must be established. If this definition of addiction is accepted, one must then ponder personal addictions.

In order for one to be considered needy, an uncontrollable desire for either substance, action, or device must be established. If this definition of need is accepted, one must then ponder personal needs.

Do people need to live, or is living an addiction?

Need and addiction are so closely defined. Where do we change from a need to an addiction? Could one persons addiction possibly be another persons need?

Cannabliss

Based on the definitions you give I really see no difference between addiction and need. But I think addiction is when you are dependent on something chemically (for example, alcohol, endorphines released by exercise or love). And need is more like a want, or desire, or a established norm in ones life. I do think (generally) one persons need can be another persons addiction.

I dont believe people need to live, it is a choice to live or not, I mean we could all just kill ourselves someway if its ultimately what we want. I think life is a gift from the beyond (whoever you may, or may not, believe put humanity on Earth). I dont think we are addicted to life, its just given to us to do whatever we want with.

I dont really know where I am going with this, I need to get stoned and think it over again... Very interesting post!!

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fuzzyninja

Yeah, I really don't know where I am going with it either. Just wanted to get people thinking and discussing.

xMPLS

Props, cuz most dont often take a step back and look at things that they may not want to.
For me, Cannabliss perfectly summed up everything.
Here are some other stoned thoughts...
There is a want to smoke at many times, and much, much fewer times there is an actual need to smoke for me. Addiction: Want, or need?
Because if we want (insert addiction here...) in our lives undeniably, and it can not be controlled, it is an addiction,
If it can be controlled and monitored, and it is a want rather than an absolute need, it is a pleasurable experience.

As a random thought, im watching austin powers and i just thought of the funniest thing. When fat bastard startes yelling "GET IN MUH BELLAY" to mini me... Imagine that exact man hopping out of a car, coming up to your face and screaming his infamous line, all while you were high. Hahaha.

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"I Smoke A Blunt To Take The Pain Out, And If I Wasn't High, I'd Probly Blow My Brains Out."
--Tupac Amaru Shakur
"Breakin' Down Da Green Weed, Rollin' Da Blunt."
--Juicy "J"

VaporizorMariJ

To sum up what I think in a few words.

To me Need means thats it is something that is a must... there can be no other way.

We need bee's to make Honey
We need water to live

Addiction to me is something that is a physical, mental, or emotional want(Desire) which is uncontrolable by the human mind. ]

I would say im mildly addicted to weed... I could go with out it obviously but I would have withdrawls (mentally)

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4/20

Personally, I think addiction to something is the feeling that you NEED it to feel normal, or complete. You do not necessarily need it, but you think you do.

Need is what you must absolutely have in order to live, or make it through life, or a task, job, etc.

Addiction I think it just an act of habit, repeated time and time again until your brain thinks it needs that certain thing to function properly.

I don't think I am addicted to weed, I know for a fact I'm not because I can go for any length of time without smoking.

I do though think I have gotten into the habit of using it because I smoke very often, almost every night.

I enjoy every aspect of it. I have never thought to myself "why am I doing this?" I know why I do it. I smoke because it is fun, relaxing...I'm not gonna say it's a way to escape reality, but it is a different way to enjoy life.

I think the point where addiction starts is when it controls your life. You put all else behind your "need" to get high. It is when you start to use the drug because you feel that if you don't, it won't be a good day, that you won't be complete or normal.

I don't know if this makes any sense, I have a hard time putting my thoughts down in writing.

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fuzzyninja

Think about this though. I can go a day without smoking, seem normal to the outside and feel normal on the inside. Yet, my mind doesn't feel fully quenched until I catch a high, then I'm psychologically intact which is much more important to me than physically intact. I can then write brilliant papers, poems or whatever without having to take as much time to think of the perfect word but may not be able to play a good game of basketball. I'm not addicted, I don't necessarily NEED weed but when I get it I feel much better. Before I started smoking I felt the same way w/o weed as I do now, but now that I smoke I feel complete. It's not an addiction nor a true need. What do we call this?

4/20

I'd call this a controlled addiction.

Addiction, from Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as "compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful".

You say you don't have a need, but when you smoke, you feel complete. You say you aren't addicted, yet you say your mind doesn't feel fully quenched until you get high. This seems like a mess of oxymorons, for a lack of a better word.

I am not a doctor, nor an addiction counsuler, but I believe that you have the "compulsive need" to get high. A compulsive need does not mean the need as in "we need water to live", but it is a need built up by repetative use. It is a habit built into an addiction.

The exact definition of need, as quoted from Merriam-Webster, is "of, relating to, caused by, or suggestive of psychological compulsion or obsession <compulsive actions>". Your mind has been so used to getting a high that it has formed an obsession, wanting it, and over time needing it.

The reason why I said it's a controlled addiction, is because it is not at the point where it controls your life completely, you can still be sober, yet at the same time, your mind is wanting to get high.

Hope you understand what I'm saying..

4/20

What I got from your post is that when you are not high, you feel that that little bit of something is missing, but when you are high, that something is restored.

Come to think of it...it just seems like a habit, like showering every morning or something. You can go a morning without showering (and shower later hopefully ) but you just don't feel the same way because you are so used to doing it. Maybe that's how you feel?

Again, I'm sorry if this makes no sense, I am not good at putting my thoughts down in writing.

fuzzyninja

Yes. But see, that's where the need and addiction definitions can get mixed up.

Based on your description (quoted) I am psychologically dependent on marijuana. Marijuana makes me feel like whatever was missing is back, so anti-drug people would tell you that's what it does and why its addicting. But I am NOT addicted and this feeling seems like a need for me to be complete, not a need such as that of food, but a mental need.

There is a clear difference between physical and psychological dependence, maybe there should be separate definitions of need for both physical and psychological?