Diabetes is a fact few argue the existence of. Some people are born with unstable blood sugar regulation. Some have low blood sugar and require daily injections of insulin to stabilise themselves. Depression is proving complicated. There are, however, a category of clinical depressions which show a neural correlate of low serotonin. These depressions can be stabilised with selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors. It is now recognised that alcoholics, or those prone to alcoholism, have low levels of specific blood sugars. Most people appear to be able to drink alcohol socially without risking dependence. Others, those unfortunate to be born with this instability in body chemistry, fall so easily in to alcoholism as a degree of correction is taking place. Their enjoyment of drinking is far greater than an individual with regular blood sugar levels. This temporary resolution to their condition can have disastrous consequences. Alcohol is highly poisonous and can destroy the liver. More frustrating still is the variability between different peoples metabolisms. Some can drink fairly heavily yet incur little damage, the same volume can kill another. Anyone can become physiologically dependent to opiates. There is a spectrum of endorphin levels throughout people. Some are born, much like diabetics, in the unfortunate position of having low levels of the natural pleasure giving and pain relieving neurotransmitters that dictate who we are. People vary biologically from happy, out going life lovers right through to those who find life anything from a daily struggle to a few who live through torture and terror. We are not born equal. Some will never achieve much in life, just surviving takes every bit of strength they possess. This is purely fortune of birth. For some, a taste of opiates reveals what life is like for everyone else. These few invariably become addicted if they come across opiates. From a hundred wounded soldiers, treated with morphine, 95 will recover from their injuries and the gradual reduction in pain killers returning to normal. 5 however, will find themselves normalised by the opiate pain relief. These, unless disciplined to endure their lower endorphin existence, pursue opiates. Some will become addicted to medication provided by doctors or chemists, others become heroin addicts. So, predisposition on a biological level is the predominant factor in who becomes a heroin addict.
Alongside physiological dependence runs addiction. Addiction is a psychological condition. We hear the term 'addictive personality' bandied about and there are some who can become addicted to anything from washing their hands, chocolate, masturbating to drugs. This minority must constantly monitor their behaviour as virtually anything can take a hold. Some addictions such as exersize, running, cycling can be harmless, even beneficial. Much like obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction can lead to success in any walk of life from business to sport to art. Other people can not compete with such commitment. Many addicts find it possible to switch addictions. The negative habit of taking drugs can be replaced by habitual study, habitual exersize indeed any activity that is positive for the individual and others. We are all addicts to one behaviour or another. Clearly some positive natural survival trait is the seed from which negative habitual behaviour grows. The ability to repeat an activity without thought is necessary to lead a normal life. Brushing ones teeth, getting up for work despite the weather, exersize got beyond pleasure and into pain, the point where muscle starts to build all become tiresome without the mindless auto pilot that is addiction.
Thirdly, and perhaps most problematic is that some people enjoy different sensations and head states. Where as most enjoy the security of a stable mind, a predictable nature, others are born unpredictable and enjoy the unpredictability. Just like enjoying a wide variety of food or weather, from blazing hot sunshine to violent storms, some enjoy the variety of possibilities drugs can deliver. Opiates mimic the pleasure one might feel from a long hike or work out. The sensation is not an alien one .
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