Comments on: Study: Cocaine Scrambles Genes’ Behavior in the Brain’s Pleasure Center

By: Angie

Angie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:09:40 +0000

What really fascinates me is, that less protein seems to lead to better connections between your nerve cells. Or have I gotten something wrong?

As for taking drugs… I used to smoke (but not dope, just Malboro lights)… I got hooked at 18 and stopped at 21. Doesn´t that prove you US citizens are right about considering people younger than 21 a bunch of brats? I was kid at the age for sure (not only because of the smoking…)!

By: JD

JD — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:35:43 +0000

Sounds like Stevie and geeta have everything all figured out for the rest of the world.

They did their thing and they recovered. Unfortunately, the rest of the world doesn’t run on sheer will power alone. Addiction is very real, and so are genetic differences between people which is why two people can process the same thing differently whether its interpreting art, our taste in food, or how we handle chemical dependency, and withdrawl afterwards.

Great on Stevie and geeta for kicking their habits, but as science is starting to confirm, chemical addiction is real.

Now, since apparently all of life’s problems can be resolved by just believing hard enough, I’m going to go see if I can just believe money will show up in my wallet and see what happens.

By: Jeff S

Jeff S — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:07:17 +0000

#6 – you are pretty much dead-on. #3, #4 – you sound like your assuming that all of us have the same genes and environment – definitely not the case. Another way of looking at this: I can run all day every day for years (almost did – got up to 16 miles at my peak) and I could never even make a collge long-distance team. Not even second team. Not becuase I’m lazy – I was one hell of a D1 wrestler in my days. I’m built differently. I feel differently (I don’t really like running, though I tried to escape when doing it, oh well). Get me the best coach int he world, best diet, etc, and I’m still nowhere near any of those runners. We are all different and addiction is very real – more for some than others for sure.

By: ron hansing

ron hansing — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:58:26 +0000

Hummmm. We should study #3 and #4.

I smoked for ten years, thank you frank gifford, but you got a 16 year old hooked.

After ten years, I decided to have just one cigarette. I thought I was over it. Not so, it was very difficult not to take that second fag.

The reason some have addictive problems is due to biological variability. We are all different.

It is disingenuous for #3 and #4 to be so critical of those who do have problems with addiction. Some compassion should be offered to those with “bad” genes… Regardless, it is not valid to offer justification for addiction. We are responsible for our own health.

Albeit, count yourself lucky, that you do not have this problem… But perhaps, it is not all good, in that, you may not feel the emotional highs of drugs, also, you may not feel a similar euphoria, let’s say, to falling in love…. or holding, the birth of your newborn baby. So be careful to what you wish for.

It’s easy to be judgmental…. but compassion and understanding makes you a better person. Again, could it mean you do not feel compassion to the degree of the addictors? And is that a plus or a minus? I don’t know the answer.

Ron Hansing MD 1.10.10

By: Cory

Cory — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:56:48 +0000

Lawl, they addicted the mice to cocaine, people, it’s not like the mice had willpower issues. It’s a deeply physiological phenomenon. Doing coke and drinking hard occasionally will not get you addicted — going on weeklong coke benders or getting drunk most nights will.

By: geeta

geeta — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:14:08 +0000

I like the comment #3 – I find it rediculous when people blame their bad habits on parts of their body and feel clean themselves. Even deadly criminals are bailed out of punishment with such excuses as bad genes/hormones, bad mental condition, and even bad childhood! There is something called learning/training oneself, getting over things and taking control of oneself and responsibility for one’s own actions.
I do not use stuff that are known to me to be bad for me, nor do I buy when people say they do stuff because circumstances are such and/or they cannot stop. I neither meditate nor do yoga on a regular basis, but I think rationally :)

By: Stevie

Stevie — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:40:23 +0000

I’ve often wondered about addiction . I’ve more than ” dabbled in coke, in my youth , but i never became addicted , nor even craved it . The same with Booze…. There were many , many ” lost Week-ends , and weekdays , but, I never HAD to have it . I quit drinking completely 13 years ago , and never even think of it, other than maybe an Ice Cold beer on a hot summer day , but, Diet Coke worls just as well, lol..
Smoking , well I smoked on and off for years, by choice . I Liked to smoke , so I choose to ; Vacations, weekends, I never smoked , and never wanted to I liked a smoke with a coffee in the morning , at lunch , the usual … Last January , I decided to quit , so I did . I smoked the last pack that I had, and that was it , I ;ve not even thought about it since . I smoked , on and off , for 35 years . I quit three major times, Once for 18 months , another for 2 years , another for about four months.
In all cases, I did what I did , because I CHOOSE to , not because of any addiction . Pot , coke, Whatever , Nothing was , or is , addicting to me . Coffee , tea , Diet coke , what ever , any caffiene , no addiction there either . Don’t get me wtong , I LIKED all my vices, but they did not , by any means , own me …. Am I strange ? perhaps .. I just always thought that ” addictions ” were just an excuse to be lazy , and not keeping yourself in control of your body as well as your mind .
Food too.. I like to eat .. I gain 10 – 15 lbs, my pants get tight , I simply cut back , till I dump the weight , usually within two weeks .
It’s simply a matter of setting your mind to control your mind, and body . I do Meditate a lot, and do a little yoga ,
I don’t know , I guess i’m just lucky …

By: badnicolez

badnicolez — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:44:51 +0000

Does anyone know if any studies have been done regarding cocaine addiction and obesity? I have a friend who is obese and I’m wondering if her prior cocaine use might have something to do with her current weight issues.

By: ricochet rabbit

ricochet rabbit — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:40:21 +0000

I am not a coke head, but I know what it smells like. This study seems to shed light on why users associate with each other, bonding in a way that shuts non users out. Pot heads don’t withdraw socially as coke heads do, despite the fact that smokers need their fix too.