John's Addiction

Yesterday I had an interesting discussion with a friend of mine on the topic of addiction. He's been struggling to quit smoking for quite sometime now and made the claim that nicotine is the most addictive substance he's ever encountered. I would never presume to understand his struggle having never been addicted to smoking, but I have a theory that there's much more to the addictive nature of cigarettes than simply "chemical dependence."

I am reminded of something my grandmother said, which is often met with rolled eyes and laughter by those listening. You have to understand that my grandmother has what many might consider a "radically conservative" stance on chemical alteration. She's bold enough to call alcohol a drug. Is alcohol a drug? Of course it is. If you don't believe that, you are either delusional or in denial.

Getting back to cigarettes, I think there is more to the addictive nature of those tiny little fire sticks than people realize. You've just finished an awesome dinner. You feel wonderful. Suddenly you reach into your pocket "Ooo! A cigarette!." Now you can keep the good vibe going... You get home from work and sit down in front of the TV. Your favorite senator is about to make his debut on "Dancing with the Stars." What's this? AND you have a ciggarette? Double Bonus!

Are you starting to see what I'm getting at? Humans, especially modern ones, are consumers. We feel the need to tantalize our senses as often as possible. That's why we watch so much TV, chat on the net, eat non-food empty bullshit like potato chips, write blogs... The cigarette is the ultimate consumer's dream. You just pull it out, light it up, and enjoy a relaxing sensation. It doesn't take time to prepare, it doesn't fill up your stomach - it's just pure sensory entertainment. The psychological impact of the consumer mindset on a smoker is what makes it so potent. When you know that at any moment you can satisfy your consumer need just by sucking on a four-inch long roll of paper with tobacco inside, it can make it so much easier to get through the day. And if you forget that fact, when you inevitably hit your next "now what to do" moment of the day, you suddenly remember "Oooh, I could have a cigg!"

Some of you are reading this post and cheering me on for speaking out against the dangers of drugs and cigarettes. But you might be disappointed to know that I actually believe drugs aren't as dangerous as our society makes them out to be. They are damn dangerous, but illegal drugs are used by the media, the government, and other agencies to blow a cloud of smoke over bigger problems. For one thing, legal drugs are just as much if not an even bigger threat to the health of the average consumer as legal ones. Stop taking aspirin every time you get a headache - it's poison. Instead, try asking yourself what it is about your lifestyle and eating habits that are causing you to get the headache in the first place.

Food addiction is the biggest under-appreciated artist in the glamorous world of addictions. Bad nutrition in my mind is a bigger killer than drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, stress or any other bad guy. This is mostly due to the fact that unlike cigarettes which are clearly labelled "THIS WILL KILL YOU," the public is generally ignorant as to what constitutes a good diet and how important it is to have one. While smokers are pushed out of bars and restaurants, patrons who devour 12 pound steaks get their names and photos on restaurant walls of fame. As peaceful potheads get raped by serial killers in jail, airlines are providing more wheelchairs and two seats for the price of one to accommodate the obese. Is this not the biggest hypocrisy in our policy toward public health? Why is this question being ignored in the health care debate?

So what's the best way to live? Mostly vegan (often raw food) diet with occasional meat consumption, rare alcohol or drug use, plenty of exercise, good amount of sleep seems to work for me. In reality, though, the best thing is a change of attitude. Stop lying to yourself about what it is you are putting into your body. If you drink a beer, you are using a drug. I like beer... I drink it sometimes and nothing bad happens to me: it's still a drug. If you eat a piece of chocolate cake, you are shooting a tiny dose of heroine into your body. If you get an overwhelmingly euphoric sensation from such an activity, you are an addict.

Anything in this world can be addictive. Don't believe me? I've suffered an addiction since I was ten years old. I've tried all kinds of different ways to stop, but I can't. Whenever the opportunity to engage in this addiction presents itself, I can't focus on anything else until I do it. I've quit and relapsed hundreds of times. What is this unstoppable addiction of mine? Biting my fingernails...

What I've Been Getting Into Lately

I don't have time to write a full review for this section, but I think all my readers need to get on youtube or itunes and find Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring." This piece has been the soundtrack of my life these days