Cannabis

One rule of thumb I have for whether something is an addiction:

are you in it for the effects or are you in it for the taste?

I would say that most people who smoke weed do it for the effects. They want that effect of the feeling of being high, and only incidentally start to kind of enjoy the dank taste or smell.

This is as opposed to something like, say, drinking tea. Sure, you could list all kinds of beneficial effects from drinking tea, but being able to appreciate the subtlety of the taste in a good tea seems to draw me to tea moreso than whatever effects I feel like they may give me.

 

Effects of Addiction to Pornography
Physical

• Sexual dysfunction.
  • Impotence (inability to form or maintain an erection).
  • Premature ejaculation.

Psychological

• Preoccupation with sexual thoughts throughout the day.
• Guilt, shame, confusion.
• Ambivalence about stopping, or cycles of stopping/restarting.
• Tendency towards other impulsive behaviors.
• Depression, anxiety, or other co-occurring psychological disorders.

Social

• Not wanting to seek person-to-person (real life) sexual contact, or diminished patience for sexual contact (e.g., wanting to have sex right away, or fantasizing or obsessing about sexual contact with random strangers).
• Decline in romantic or sexual interactions with partner, such as:
  • Inability to become aroused.
  • Increasing need for more aggression or dominance.
  • Emotional detachment.
  • Viewing pornography can have negative consequences on teenagers down the line, affecting both their psychological and physical wellbeing. These ramifications include:
    • Increase in high-risk behaviors.
    • Skewed view of the world.
    • Decrease in ability to build healthy relationships.
    • Normalization of sexual violence.
    • Increase in aggression towards women.
    Research reveals that teenagers exposed to sexually explicit websites are more likely to be promiscuous and more likely to have used alcohol or other intoxicating substances during their last sexual encounter. This puts them at a higher risk for developing a substance abuse disorder or mental health disorder.
  • The FDA has not approved any medication solely for the purpose of treating porn addiction. Some research of different medications has revealed promising results in decreasing the symptoms of porn addiction but there is a lack of randomized, controlled trials.
    
    Porn addiction and related sexual dysfunctions oftentimes co-occur with mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. These mental health issues can be treated using antidepressants (such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or “SSRIs”) or related drugs, which can reduce sexual cravings associated with porn addiction.
    
    If a patient doesn’t respond well to antidepressants or experiences unpleasant side effects, there are a couple alternatives:
    • Naltrexone, a medication typically used to ease withdrawal symptoms in alcoholics and opioid addicts, has shown a decrease in sexual compulsions.
    • Anti-androgenic medications can help to decrease sexual urges by reducing the amount of male hormones present in the body.
      • There is not an adequate amount of research concerning anti-androgenic medications and severe side effects have been revealed.
      • The effects of anti-androgenic medications lack permanence; hormone levels will return to normal once the drug is no longer taken.
    These medications have only been used to treat those with paraphilia (a condition in which a person is sexually aroused by atypical or abnormal behaviors).
    
    Although some research has been conducted, conclusive recommendations cannot be made due to a lack of reliable evidence.
    
    Mental Health Disorders
    Evidence reveals a high correlation between porn addiction and psychiatric conditions, specifically mood, anxiety, and personality disorders.
    
    Studies have indicated that pornography viewers have higher levels of depressive symptoms and a poorer quality of life. This explains why antidepressants can be effective in treating porn addiction.
    
    Clinical depression, which porn addicts commonly suffer from, is a severe mental health illness that requires professional treatment. Typical symptoms include:
    • Suicidal thoughts or attempts.
    • Irritability.
    • Restlessness.
    • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
    • Fatigue
    • Inability to concentrate.
    • Sleeping too little or too much.
    • Loss of interest in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyable.
    • Continuous sad, anxious, or empty mood.
    If you are addicted to porn and think you suffer from clinical depression, contact your medical provider immediately. It is vital that your treatment plan addresses both your depression and sex addiction.
    
    Substance Abuse
    Research indicates that the use of pornography can cause sexually compulsive and dependent behaviors, which can lead to the development of a sex addiction as well. There is also a significant correlation between sexual addiction and substance use disorders.
    • According to some research, an estimated 40-64% of sex addicts also have a substance abuse disorder.
    • Alcohol abuse is most common, present in 30-40%, followed by marijuana abuse, present in 18-21.7%.
    Furthermore, teenagers who view sexually explicit material are more likely to have used alcohol or other illicit substances during their most recent sexual encounter. The earlier someone begins using a substance, the more likely it is that he or she will become addicted. Therefore, teens who develop a porn addiction are at a greater risk for developing a substance abuse disorder as well.
    
    One study has revealed that frequent use of pornography by boys aged 18 years old has been associated with co-occurring problematic behaviors such as consuming alcohol more often and selling sex.
    
    Treating co-occurring addictions is a complex process. Medical professionals must assess the pattern of drug use and pornography viewing and how they relate to each other. Once the interaction of both addictions is assessed, then appropriate treatment can be administered.
  • 

 

Can you imagine no drugs or alcohol

I think drugs and alcohol are alot of the time an environmental problem .

You wouldn't need many drugs or drink living in alaska salmon fishing

 

>Alaska
>Fishing
>Fishing for salmon.

Utopia.