Yeah, I understand that people can harm themselves by abusing opioids, and I also understand that innocent people can be harmed by those who abuse opioids. That doesn’t justify this insane push to make society opioid-free. Nothing can.
Tag: addiction
Addiction, or Fascination? (11m) – Editor’s Break 124
Editor’s Break 124 has Skyler giving his commentary on the following topics: an article he wrote in October 2018 looking at behaviors mislabeled as addiction, but are really just fascinations.
Simplify Technology with Limits
The problem comes when we try to figure out how to get a grip on it all, to tame technology to do what we need and then let it go so we can be more present, go outside more, move more, be connected to each other in real life more. Wrangling the chaos into something that we use consciously isn’t always easy.
Scott Gottlieb’s Nicotine Nazism Will Kill Kids, Not Save Them
On November 15, US Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced new measures regulating the sale of products that seem to reduce the negative health impacts of nicotine addiction — in the name of protecting children from those health impacts. Oddly, Gottlieb also announced a plan to dramatically increase the availability and variety of flavored cigarettes — in the name of banning them.
Addiction vs. Fascination
The word “addiction” is sorely overused in our society. Any time someone spends in an inordinate amount of time on something, those who are annoyed by it will call it an “addiction” and proceed to, in one way or another, shame the person. This seems foolish.
The Problem Definition Fallacy
Any problem solution algorithm must go through a problem definition stage, but all problem definitions do not lead to an appropriate solution. You cannot solve, but by random luck, a problem that you do not understand. And that blind-hog solution will probably not survive downstream consequences for long.
Cybernauts Bite the Dust
In the past week, we have had two gamers commit suicide, but taking others with them. In San Diego, CA, Trevor Heitmann left the mortal coil by driving the wrong way, at excessive speed, on an expressway, but he took with him a mother and daughter in another vehicle. In Jacksonville, FL, at a game competition, David Katz shot many other gamers, killing two, then he shot himself.
JUUL Heist: Addicts Sue Company for Providing Their Fix
Nitasha Tiku of Wired reports on three lawsuits against JUUL Labs, makers of the JUUL e-cigarette device. The unifying complaint, in brief, is that nicotine is addictive, that the users are addicted, and that their addictions are the company’s fault. There are quite a few problems with these lawsuits.
Elections: More than Half of Americans Believe Fairy Tales are Real
According to a new poll conducted by Ipsos in partnership with the University of Virginia Center for Politics, 51% of respondents agree (15% “strongly” and 36% “somewhat”) with the statement “American elections are fair and open.”
Drug Prohibition Won’t End Abuse
Abusing drugs is a dumb vice, but drug prohibition is far worse — it is wrong. Laws and punishment will never end drug abuse. The desire for the feeling drugs create is too much a part of being human. If it’s not one drug, it will be another.