Mental or Physical? Which addiction is stronger? (heroin, drugs, regular)

[kb09]

Recently I've been wondering this question. Why is it that a man who indulges in child pornography cannot stop, even though his body does not physically need it? Why is it that he cannot quit on his own, but needs the help of others to stop?

Then again, what about a person who is addicted to heroin? Is there addiction any more - or less - lethal for that matter? People addicted to herion have to use methadone to get off the drug. Unlike a mental addiction, someone who has a physical addiction can die if the withdrawal symptoms are that severe.

I pose this question because I really want to know what you all think. Personally I think the two are on even ground because people with a mental addiction cannot function just as people with a physical addiction cannot.

What's your opinion?

[Tricky D]

The problem with addictions is that the body tricks the mind into believing that it cannot survive without the junk.
Junkies believe that they cannot survive without their heroin, porn or whatever else they're addicted on.
Heck, most modern people nowadays are addicted to luxury.

[GloryB]

What an interesting thread topic and thought. I'll have to kick that one around awhile. I really am prone to believe all addictions are mental in origin....but I'm not sure.

[texdav]

Well I would say that physical addcitions often get to the point of madness and life threatening. Mental addiction opften leads to mental diseases IMO.Looking at alcohol or drug addiction like on the TV shows deminstrates how reallt rterriable and often incaurable they are in manycases after they damage the mind itself ;besides the physical damage they do.

[Tungsten_Udder]

First off, I think that the mental is physical. However, that may be not necessary to state, as I agree that "mental addiction" probably refers to a different set of ideas than physical addiction refers to

Originally Posted by kb09

Recently I've been wondering this question. Why is it that a man who indulges in child pornography cannot stop

I do not agree that we know that this is the case as a universal generalization, by the way.

. . . even though his body does not physically need it? Why is it that he cannot quit on his own, but needs the help of others to stop?

While this is probably not every case, I would guess that at least in some cases we might be referring to, the person does not agree that there is anything wrong with child pornography as such. I would think that the only cases where the person believes there is really something undesirable with their behavior, but they can not manage that behavior in a way that they'd like to be able to manage it, is when they engage with something like child pornography obsessively to a point where it interferes with their ability to otherwise lead a normal life. Maybe it interferes with their ability to perform a job, to have social relationships, etc. In that case, the problem is more generalized--obsessive/compulsive behavior to an extent where the person can no longer function in a way that they desire, and obsessive/compulsive behavior to that extent is well-understood to be about "brain chemistry". People often need help to change their brain chemistry, where that refers to perpetual states that cause the (or are the) undesirable behavior.

Then again, what about a person who is addicted to heroin? Is there addiction any more - or less - lethal for that matter?

We probably need to clarify just what counts as a child pornography addiction. Liking child pornography and regularly looking at it might count as addiction, but not be anything that interfere's with that person's ability to otherwise lead a normal life (where "normal" refers to statistically normal, and assuming that most folks do not routinely look at child pornography). So if that counts as addiction, I do not agree at all agree that it's "lethal". On the other hand, the same thing goes for heroin for that matter. You can regularly do heroin and not be in danger of dying or otherwise losing control of your life because of it, although that might be relatively rare in that case.

People addicted to herion have to use methadone to get off the drug.

Not everyone gets off of heroin that way, but it's certainly easier than going cold turkey for example.

Unlike a mental addiction, someone who has a physical addiction can die if the withdrawal symptoms are that severe.

Possibly, although I'm somewhat skeptical of that. I'd have to review the literature that makes those claims.

[GT71]

I was a heroin addict for 6 years. Sure, it was great at first, but after about 4-6 months, it was the most horrible part of my life. Mentally I hated every second of it to the point of hoping to die, and physically I had to have it ever few hours to stop the horrible withdrawals. I wanted to stop so badly, but wasn't physically strong enough. Then eventually I went to rapid detox, and that was real pain, and when it was over, I never looked back. For 5 years it hasn't ever been a thought. I have often wondered what the difference in the 2 addictions is. I've heard of many a person that seems mentally controlled by the h, but maybe they were just physically addicted like I believe I was, but then again, maybe I was just fooling myself. I'd be curious if someone has an answer.

[rory00]

mental addictions are more culpable than physical addictions for obvious reasons. most mental addictions start with one's value system. that is why those who are sociopathic tend to also have addictive personalities because they are rather parasitic with low moral threshold.

mental can largely be controlled by the will, whereas a physical addiction cannot be controlled just by the will (such as withdrawal from drugs). the will is required to change.

this is why people are not given a free pass for just mental addictions such as child pornography.

when there are severe penalties, you will see just how fast they find thier 'will' so to speak. in this case, it mostly has to do with lack of moral values which exacerbate the problem. you cannot be repulsed by something if one's values don't allow for it. if your values won't stop you, then the only thing that will is consequences to yourself though the law or punishment. most people are self-preserving and do what they want until that is seriously threatened.

[tyvin]

Many junkies aren't mentally ill; they have an addiction from mind altering dope. Same thing with alcohol, these drugs make a slave out of you for the drugs. You have to have the drugs to materialize the addition

Sex offenders are diagnosed with a whole slew of mental illness that are severe. There is an illness in the mind that doesn't require drugs but a an absolute need to carry out deviant delusional behaviour accompanied with well thought out fantasies.

Sex offenders are already twisted and IMO should serve life or the death penalty, depending of the level of the crime.

Nature vs Nurture

That's your view

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by tyvin

Sex offenders are already twisted and IMO should serve life or the death penalty, depending of the level of the crime.

A statement like this indicates a psychosis even more extreme than pedophilia. You have a burning, insatiable need to punish people with the most extreme measures. even death, because of a sexually imbalanced fixation you have on one certain category of criminality. Look inside yourself for a sex-driven attitude that triggers uncontrollable reactions in you that make you want to lash out and kill people. You seriously need help---please get it.

At lleast a quarter of all women in the USA report having been sexually abused in some way during their lifteime. If sexual abuse is so widespread, it appears that you want to incarcerate or execute tens of millions of people. A cruel and inhuman crusade of papal proportions.

[skel1977]

Ill have to go with physical addiction being stronger than mental. Take marijuana for example. Its mentally addicting but not physically addicting. Heroine is physically addicting. Which is easier to quit?

Cigarattes are both mental and physical. I promise you the physical is more challenging when quitting than the mental is. I cant explain the feeling to you of smoking 15 years and then trying to quit. The first week is terrible to the body physically. Its like starving and there is a steak on the table but you have to force yourself not to eat it ever again.