If someone's been clean of meth for 2 yrs are they an addict?

[hovadagod]

This would be a better question. Sort of a joke though. I don't know how to do a poll.

[GMorris]

I'd say it depends. If a person was addicted to opiates/opiods, decided to quit and went to a Methadone clinic, completed the program after a period of time and then did not ingest Methadone for 2 years, then hell yes, they are still an addict. On the other hand, if a person was prescribed Methadone for pain and used it for a short time until such pain was gone and no longer needed it, then did not touch the shit for 2 years, most likely hell no they are not an addict. It all depends on the circumstances...

[Coddfish]

Most won't agree with me, but I believe addiction is a frame of mind. If a person had a problem, got help (or didn't) and then quit, and then KNEW he wouold never touch the shit again, then no he is no longer an addict. Look at the definition of addiction; if the person no longer does something that damages him, and he is no longer obsesses over it, then he no longer has the disease or condition or whatever the f addiction is. Plain enough, isn't it? The NA folks say that addiction is a "disease for which there is no known cure." Bullshit on that. Even if it were a disease (which it isn't) people can change their frame of mind to get rid of the use and the desire to use, happens all the time. People can abjure drugs, but never really get them outta their minds. I think they might still be considered addicts. Others wash that drug right outta their hair: not addicts. Methadone being an Rx drug doesn't, in my mind, put it in a different category from any other addictive drug.

[GMorris]

Well, I'm not gonna just say that addiction is a disease necessarily, but studies have already proven that certain genes cause individuals to be prone to addiction, and that those genes are passed on. I believe that not just because of the studies, but also because of my family. My dad's dad was a serious drinker, probably an alcoholic. My dad had serious problems with alcohol in his younger years, but a shrew of an ex-wife put the nix on drinking which may have saved him from becoming worse, maybe not. He still smokes weed every single day, and gets really ill-tempered when he can't get it. In fact, when I was in high school and would smoke it with my friends, he would scream and holler at me if I didn't bring him some. I'd catch mortal hell if I came home stoned and he had nothing, even though it wasn't my weed to begin with. So I know it runs in families. My cousins (dad's sister's kids) were/are ALL druggies and drinkers (one died of Oxycontin OD), again on that side of the family.

On the other side, my mother's, I know of zero alcoholics or addicts (unless they are REALLY good at hiding it!). Both of my sisters are pretty much straight as can be. Now here is what has me convinced: I also have two half-sisters, same father as me, different mother (who is also straight as can be), and one is a stoner, but the other isn't. Just seeing the ratio of addicts on my father's side compared with my mother's side is evidence enough for me at least, but you can believe what you want to. I don't think there is any way to avoid addiction if you have the genes that make you prone to it, short of complete and lifelong abstinence. I knew from my first few beers that I wasn't going to be one of the lucky ones.

[shaunclo]

Goddamn, not another one of these again..........

[hovadagod]

LOL...It was a joke but I sortof knew it would happen.