Pubdate: Mon, 30 May 2005
Source: Peak, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Peak Publications Society
Contact:  http://www.peak.sfu.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/775
Author: Warren Haas

Haas Of Commons

I CALL BULLSHIT ON ADDICTIONS

So, I think we finally know each other well enough that I can talk about 
another issue that has peaked (oh, get it? Peaked! That's what I call 
writing, fool) my interests - addictions. There are all sorts of flavours 
of addictions, from alcohol to drugs to smoking to gambling, and all of 
them coming in different shapes and sizes. Okay maybe they don't, but I'm 
sure you know at least one person has some form of addiction. In fact, I'd 
put money on that the majority of you kids out there reading this have an 
addiction (or maybe you're just not being honest with yourself, huh?). The 
point is that addictions are everywhere, and, well, I'm just plain sick of 
hearing people whine about their addictions and how they can't quit. I 
mean, take some control of your life, will you?

Having an addiction is a sign of weakness as far as I am concerned. If you 
can't control every aspect of your life, then what are you really doing? 
The way I see it is that I don't have any addictions, and it has been 
plenty easy for me to keep this up my entire life. Therefore, anyone else 
can avoid having an addiction. How does that compute, you ask? Well I am 
not a particularly special person, meaning that I'm not a superhero whose 
only ability is unbreakable willpower. I am a regular, non-mutant. Any 
run-of-the-mill Joe or Jane Schlub can be addiction-free. And that is why 
everyone should be.

Sure, some people say, for example, that they just wanted to try smoking 
but then got addicted. That's bullshit. Okay, so you tried, but you can't 
tell me that after one cigarette, smoking was so damn desirable that you 
had to have another. Smoking tastes gross. You kept smoking because you 
wanted to look cool, then you got addicted. This is a sign of weakness in 
your personality. You are insecure, so you pick up an addiction to make 
yourself feel better. You should've done it the old fashioned way and just 
stopped acting and dressing like an un-cool person. And if you want to quit 
smoking then quit - deal with the cravings as they come and don't give in. 
If you can't do that, then you are weak.

So smoking as an addiction is out. Let's talk about addictions like alcohol 
and drugs. I think the common explanation for these types of addictions is 
that they are an "escape" from a miserable life. Boohoo, cry me a fucking 
river. Everyone's got problems, and most of us cope with them without 
having to rely on our good friends Jack Daniels, Dr. Yayo or Mr. "Buddy" 
Budweiser.

Those who turn to substance abuse when the going gets rough are not worth 
my, or anyone else's time. If they really do have issues, then why don't 
they spend their money on a psychiatrist or something else that would 
actually benefit them long-term? Again, the answer is that these people 
can't control their lives because they are weak-willed. If they are allowed 
to wallow in their own self-pity while nursing a bottle (or syringe) then 
they will never get better. Blaming your problems on alcohol or drugs is a 
cop-out. The problem is you. And you suck. If you can't take responsibility 
for your life being suck-tacular, then you are a very sad individual.

The truth is that I have a zero-tolerance policy for addictions. I will 
never listen to anyone complain about how they can't quit because they had 
no reason to get addicted in the first place. I don't care how bad your 
life is, an addiction is not any form of a solution. Any single person has 
the willpower to stop doing whatever it is they are addicted to. Don't even 
get me started on that rehab cockamamie.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth