Habit forming and physical addiction

[Filipe]

Could someone define clearly what is habit forming (psychologic dependency) and what's the diference between it and physical dependency.
Skip the obvious like psychologic is in the mind and physical is in the body...

Also, I don't have this "habit forming" that marijuana supponsedly gives you. I just smoke when I feel like it (and have it).

[DataMatrix]

I think psychological dependancy is where you have no cravings but you think you want some, just to get the high.

As for physical dependancy, I think it is where you crave it alot, you NEED it to function, as in, it's your first priority to get some.

[bonitagreen]

Habit forming comes from something being done habitually. Like, smoking ganj habitually. Once in a while, but at some point with certain people, it becomes psychologcally addictive, not physically. There are no withdrawal sysmptons with mj. When something is physically dependent it means that the body has become so adjusted to the drugs put into it, and you think you constantly need it, and when you dont have it, you have withdrawal symptons, not fun!
So, all in all.... smoking pot is no biggie..keep tokin' :)

[biboybaka]

yeah its quite habit forming. once you realize everything is better when stoned(movies,games,work,play,school,etc...), youre gonna crave for it when its gone. but thats nothing like "junk sickness" or withdrawal from opiates wherein its effect are really physical such as cold weat, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, insomnia. the only thing ive experienced fro the stoppage of smoking weed is restlessness, more energy, insomnia,

[Great Spirit]

Weed is no more a habit than chewing gum or picking your nose. You're just so used to it...and yes some things are better when you're high especially video games and music!! Who wouldnt want that?! Its when you get to the physical addictions with coke, heroin, etc thats where the trouble starts. Thats just plain garbage. Coke and heroin are manufactured drugs...weed is a natural plant that activates our cannabanoid receptors so in a way we are made to reciee weed. The coca and opium plant should just be used for medicines and cannabis for recreation and medicine too.

I can stop smoking cigarettes easily now because I have trained myself to, but weed is something I CHOOSE NOT to give up because its a part of me, like a new pair of underwear! I could easily quit though as it is not physically addictive.

[Tmar.aLL.DaYmar]

physical addiction is coffee. you need it to get up in the morning.

habit forming is watching tv. you just like to do it.

[DataMatrix]

Yeah, thats what I said :thumbsup:.

[Jimmicrackedcorn]

Psychological dependency is based on psychological distress caused by the drug when you're not intoxicated, physical dependency is when you crave the drug because your brain has receptors that have a chemical composition that reacts with the drug ure taking, because it mimics the existing chemicals in the brain, and after a certain time period, ure brain starts to produce less and less of the endogenous neurotransmitters, as the stimulation of the area of the brain caused by the reaction of the regular neurotransmitter with the bind site, is already being stimulated so the negative feedback (like supply and demand) is relaying back that less of this chemical needs to be produced, because this area of the brain is getting stimulation from another source, when you cut off the source (stop taking), then there are less neurotransmitters, less reactions and decreased activity in the brain, this can cause the user to feel drained, depressed and all those other psychological components, or if the area of the brain which is now suffering decreased activity, controls actual physical functions, such as vomiting, shitting then you will endure this, so from the brains perspective there's not much of a difference between habit forming (all experience(s) is governed by chemicals and there reaction with bindsites, and the conversion of chemical energy into electrostatic, or an action potential) and physical dependency, but physical dependency will usually cause the user to constantly use, because he will constantly feel ill, and anybody will tell you that drugs feel fantastic, so it will always come back to the psychological, cause the mind will take a fucking hell of a battering because not only do you not feel happy, but you don't feel physically capable of doing anything, so to answer your question, there really is no strict definition, the causes of both are very closely intertwined.

[realgood]

Excellent post Jimmi. That is one of the best answers pertaining to psychological vs physical I have come across. Are you studying nero psych ?

[Jimmicrackedcorn]

Nope, I have too short an attention span for any kind of long term education :D

[Filipe]

Yes nice explanation, really appreciated. Good to know people seek more indepth knowledge on these subjects. :thumbsup:

[BestTonicIsChronic]

ya opiates are 4sure one of the most habit forming just behind H and meth cuz with opiates you can stop thinkin about it for a few days after you do em but that all goes away. they can also be very physicaly addicting because there a depressant.

Man I love me tho

[trishia06]

I have a question on that though. I've always heard that marijuana is a gateway drug, but I always thought that was bullsh*t. I mean, I don't feel the need to go drop acid or shoot up heroin, but a nice j sounds good. It's just something my dad always said, I guess I should grow up a little now that I'm in my late twenties.:) Just always wondered though.

[beachguy in thongs]

Physical addiction to drugs start with the spine. Prescription drugs and hard drugs always have reactions in the Central Nervous System, whereas, the only thing pot reacts with are the cannabinoid receptors.

Psychological addiction comes with instincts. The proof is in the rats and mice. You know, they are crackheads, but THC is one thing they won't self-medicate, meaning that admitting that you're addicted to pot is saying that you have less intelligence than a mouse or rat. And that's not true.