Probably most of the world is on drugs

[smiley]

its an in built defence mechanism [pain that is] and we learned to eat barks ; leaves and grasses many eons ago to reduce the pain - full stop- not quite - its just evolved? probably not a bad idea when we realize we are all sitting atop a bloody big volcano about to erupt many times yet??

 

[January]

most societies across the world used some sort of fermented drink - aka consumed alcohol - or some other substance like kava
This isnt a new modern life thing

I drink coffee and sometimes alcoholic drinks - sensible moderation is my aim rather than avoiding everything

Am also on one prescription medication (thyroxine) - which I will continue taking.

 

[HermitHogan]

Social scientists back in the '70s did an experiment with rats where they looked into how much environment factored into their propensity to become addicted to drugs. One set of rats were isolated in small cages with no social interaction. The other set were in "rat park" where they had other rats to interact with, toys to play with, and room to run around. Both sets of rats had the option of drinking plain water or water or water laced with morphine. The isolated rats were far more likely to drink the morphine-laced water and become addicted than those at "rat park."

Morphine is a powerful pain killer. People in pain seek out something to alleviate the pain. People not in pain might try drugs such as morphine as a recreational drug, but generally don't get addicted. But people who are in pain — either physical or emotional — are far more likely to become addicted because when you take away the drug, the pain comes back.

In the "rat park" experiment, the isolated rats experienced the pain of loneliness and boredom, and the morphine-laced water relieved that pain, so many of them became addicted.

Social scientists also studied drug use by military personnel. I think it was a study of injured soldiers and their tendency to continue heavy drug use after they recovered from their injuries and re-integrated back into society.

The soldiers who had healthy social support networks and career opportunities tended to give up heavy drug use once the physical pain was gone. But those who came from dysfunctional families, poverty, and generally unhealthy environments were far more likely to continue drug use and in many cases become homeless or suicidal — even when their physical injuries had completely healed.

Before going off to war, soldiers might have internalized their pain. But in the military, they discovered the pain relief that opioids provided. While on the surface, they appeared to have recovered, the psychological pain that was present even before they were injured was still there.

So the answer to drug addiction so prevalent in society today is not removing access to drugs; it's figuring why so many people are in such debilitating emotional pain that they resort to heavy drug use.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Is that why lots of Oranges are now seedless / taste strange when juiced meat. Use them seeds for profits?

I don’t know.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Social scientists back in the '70s did an experiment with rats where they looked into how much environment factored into their propensity to become addicted to drugs. One set of rats were isolated in small cages with no social interaction. The other set were in "rat park" where they had other rats to interact with, toys to play with, and room to run around. Both sets of rats had the option of drinking plain water or water or water laced with morphine. The isolated rats were far more likely to drink the morphine-laced water and become addicted than those at "rat park."

Morphine is a powerful pain killer. People in pain seek out something to alleviate the pain. People not in pain might try drugs such as morphine as a recreational drug, but generally don't get addicted. But people who are in pain — either physical or emotional — are far more likely to become addicted because when you take away the drug, the pain comes back.

In the "rat park" experiment, the isolated rats experienced the pain of loneliness and boredom, and the morphine-laced water relieved that pain, so many of them became addicted.

Social scientists also studied drug use by military personnel. I think it was a study of injured soldiers and their tendency to continue heavy drug use after they recovered from their injuries and re-integrated back into society.

The soldiers who had healthy social support networks and career opportunities tended to give up heavy drug use once the physical pain was gone. But those who came from dysfunctional families, poverty, and generally unhealthy environments were far more likely to continue drug use and in many cases become homeless or suicidal — even when their physical injuries had completely healed.

Before going off to war, soldiers might have internalized their pain. But in the military, they discovered the pain relief that opioids provided. While on the surface, they appeared to have recovered, the psychological pain that was present even before they were injured was still there.

So the answer to drug addiction so prevalent in society today is not removing access to drugs; it's figuring why so many people are in such debilitating emotional pain that they resort to heavy drug use.

That’s a great post @HermitHogan .

 

[bobcat]

Is it fate or the way life evolved that makes pain so hard to manage? If we find a substance that relieves acute pain, we become physically addicted to it. What the heck for? Why can't we take the substance with no problem? Is life sending us some profound truth about enduring torture is a virtue? Is it built into life that we must endure many illnesses without relief? If so what is the lesson? Really, I am still trying to understand why this is? I know about pain being there to warn us of danger, and let us know about being injured so we will survive. Is that it? The struggle to survive is more important than progressing without pain.?

I think you're right. We have just evolved to move away from pain, and move toward things that make us feel better. Eventually though, our bodies begin to betray us, and some level of pain can become a constant. We end up like Mick Jagger (I Can't Get No Satisfaction).

Every religious tradition has their own brand of answer, but none of those answers seem very right on to me. Buddhists think it's because of desire, and if you get rid of the desire, you get rid of pain. Maybe I don't get it, but that seems to say that if you get rid of your desire to be pain free, then you will feel better. Really?

IDK, I think pain is just part of the Yin and Yang of life. Nothing lasts forever, and we just have to play the cards we are dealt. I do think it helps to have a network of friends who care. I think the phrase "Misery loves company" doesn't mean that those who are in pain wants others to go through it as well. I think it means they just want others to be there for them. I can only hope our presence here helps a little when you are in pain.

 

[smiley]

we've been on drugs since Eve gave Adam the apple heh?

 

[bobcat]

we've been on drugs since Eve gave Adam the apple heh?

Well, Eve claims she saw a talking serpent, so I'm thinkin' there was more growin' in that garden than vegetables.

 

[Paco Dennis]

I think you're right. We have just evolved to move away from pain, and move toward things that make us feel better. Eventually though, our bodies begin to betray us, and some level of pain can become a constant. We end up like Mick Jagger (I Can't Get No Satisfaction).

Every religious tradition has their own brand of answer, but none of those answers seem very right on to me. Buddhists think it's because of desire, and if you get rid of the desire, you get rid of pain. Maybe I don't get it, but that seems to say that if you get rid of your desire to be pain free, then you will feel better. Really?

IDK, I think pain is just part of the Yin and Yang of life. Nothing lasts forever, and we just have to play the cards we are dealt. I do think it helps to have a network of friends who care. I think the phrase "Misery loves company" doesn't mean that those who are in pain wants others to go through it as well. I think it means they just want others to be there for them. I can only hope our presence here helps a little when you are in pain.

The mystery of suffering and the myriads of ways we deal with it will continue on as long as biological life continues. I was thinking this morning about how important it is for people to make connections with other people. After researching and contemplating the subject I ran into an important hormone that is released in our brain when we connect with others in a bonding way. It is called "oxytocin".

This is what is released when MDMA is taken. It feels like you are back in your mama's arms again. Drugs have helped us feel better or different for awhile. I am skeptical of any street drugs. Really, u don't know what your taking. So that leaves OTC, RX, or botanicals.

 

[HermitHogan]

The mystery of suffering and the myriads of ways we deal with it will continue on as long as biological life continues. I was thinking this morning about how important it is for people to make connections with other people. After researching and contemplating the subject I ran into an important hormone that is released in our brain when we connect with others in a bonding way. It is called "oxytocin".

This is what is released when MDMA is taken. It feels like you are back in your mama's arms again. Drugs have helped us feel better or different for awhile. I am skeptical of any street drugs. Really, u don't know what your taking. So that leaves OTC, RX, or botanicals.

Hmmm... I'm going to have to try some of that.

I think our brains produce oxytocin when we bond with our animals, too, which is why it hurts so much when we lose them. I doubt we get that when we interact with A.I. or robots.