DOES INFLATION AFFECT ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS?
This is an important conversation to me, because I really want to know if they is anyone out there who quit or should I say temporarily quit their addiction when they could no longer afford it. Either because the price went up or they started earning less or wherever economic factor was at play. I know people who are addicted to maybe drugs or whatever, always find a way to get it when their body demands it. Savings have been emptied and debts for ages incurred to achieve a high but, what if you just can longer afford it; you just stop, right?
A struggle yes, but if your pocket no longer agrees to funding this lifestyle, and you are someone who cares about their life and finances enough to not go borrowing for it, then what do you tell yourself?
“Oh well, I guess we have to deal”?
I know real life is not like the movies where you can rob a drug dealer or something.
Initially, they would go a far length to get the money they need, including lying, extortion and borrowing. I have had a close experience and it was sad watching this person lie to everyone around them, conjuring up stories on how they are in a threatening life or death situation(kinda was) just to obtain funds from their friends and loved ones. I don’t know how their story ended but I knew his means were not sustainable.
Eventually, everyone will start calling bullshit on their stories and the money will stop coming. I know addiction is a powerful illness, which is why I’m threading lightly with this conversation because I don’t quite understand and my empathy always takes the lead.
I remember watching this video one time of this guy on Twitter, he was an engineer. I don’t remember all the details but, he was being interviewed about his coke addiction, and he opened up about he much he spends on it; it was crazy. He worked jobs that paid him some decent money and he spent his salaries on drugs. I had hoped the interviewer would ask him if he had no other responsibilities and commitments but they didn’t get there; because this guys spends a lot - I’m talking heavy numbers, on his addiction.
It made me think to myself: people are only addicted to things they can afford regularly. If you no longer have access to whatever these things are, then you’ll have to deal, I guess. Or work harder to be able to afford them. For example, I know some few things that I could say I’m addicted to, but I have also noticed that my need for them is usually at a high when I’m high on spending money, but when I’m not, I suck it up. The cravings are there but, we all just do our best to respect each other and wait till we can afford to indulge again.
So, is it possible for someone who is addicted, and stops indulging when they can no longer afford it, to actually adopt the new habit, stopping the addiction to the point that they longer care too much even when they bounce back. I don’t know, it’s all just a bunch of speculations.
Because of the inflation, and the fact that I haven’t heard back on any of the job applications I sent out, I had to limit my expenses to a tight budget to avoid becoming too broke, hoping I land a job before my reserve runs out. One of the things I had to curtail was my smoking habit because I was spending too much money on that green stuff. It wasn’t easy but I had to.
I don’t consider myself an addict(which is what every stoner says) but I used to indulge almost every day. Upon losing my source of income, I would be crying to my friend about not having money but I still had my plug on speed dial. I also used to drink lots of wine and I had to curtail that too.
My people would say: ’use your tongue to count your teeth’ and that’s what I did.
So I’m wondering, are people out there who can say: I quit doing A and B because I could no longer afford it and now I’m over it(partially).
If you stumble on this post, please let me know your thoughts. I would appreciate them.
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Part of the definition of addiction is continuing to do something even though there are negative effects. Drugs addicts start stealing when they run out of money because not having the money is not enough to stop them.
Back when I worked at a liquor store even the roughest people found enough money to buy a 375mL bottle of their favorite booze every day.
Not having the money will reduce use among the people who aren't addicted though.
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Everyday! Damn, that’s crazy.
You’re right, It’ll only affect users who aren’t addicted.
Addiction is so scary, I find it difficult to even have conversations about it because it feels like a dead end. Yes, it requires a rigorous approach to salvage, but there is no permanent solution as we’ve witnessed people go clean for years then relapse for one day and spiral from there. Truly, not having having money doesn’t even come close.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thought on it.
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Addiction is bad enough if an addict just doesn't have money; there are "ways" to obtain the money to feed the addiction. Not even inflation at today's levels can stop the determined addict.
What we don't know id what happens to an addict when the supply is gone:
Addiction also takes place with things such as gambling and even eating (especially processed sweets). Like substance addiction, these can go too far as well.
For hard-core addicts, it seems that the only sure way to end addiction is with death. That's a dramatic statement, but for some people it is true.
For addicts not at the hard-core stage, addiction will end when the reasons for giving it up outweigh the reasons to continue. Even in this area of life, addicts understand cost-benefit analysis. Whether it's done through drug rehab or a strategy or even cold turkey, the addiction can be overcome with replacing one set of incentives with another. That's done with reprogramming our minds.
We're all addicted to something, even if it isn't drugs. That's why we need to be understanding even as we administer tough love to an addict. Today it's our neighbor, tomorrow it's us.
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Wow! How did I miss this great reply you left me.
I have to agree with everything you’ve said. Supply is an important fact to take into consideration.
The last paragraph really got me. As someone who has had a romantic relationship with an addict, I must say it was one of the most challenging few months of my life. The helplessness that came with not being able to help my person was crippling; I had to leave because I started to lose myself in the process.
They need all the love and understanding, but you must agree that it becomes a little difficult to continue to have faith when someone lets you down over and over. It is not their fault but we’re all human and there’s only so much one can take.
This will always be a sensitive topic for me.
I really appreciate you reading and engaging me. It means a lot. Have a wonderful week friend.
May you have a wonderful and splendid week as well. As for our troubled friends, may they find their way through to the other side to begin enjoying life without those troubles.
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