Cigarettes.

 

Unbelievable how my mood has changed since I kicked tobacco.

Which brings up a good question. How is it that some can use (and sometimes even frequently) without it ever being a problem, while others are riddled with addiction issues?

 

I think a lot of it has to do with will power. If a person wants to quit, they can.

 

I would also add that while you and I disagree on about everything I do think you add a lot of insight to whatever topic you chime in on and I have caught myself second guessing myself on a few things we discussed.

 

But I do think a few drugs are more addictive than others and I have caught myself a few times liking a few more than I should.

 

Again you do a great job on the responses and maybe one day we can meet and talk about a few things.

I haven't struggled with drugs or alcohol but I have struggled with tobacco (smokeless - dip). I've tried to quit on a few occasions but I always find myself going back to it. When I've tried to quit I've tried to supplement with gum, mints or things like that in hopes I wouldn't need a dip. Those attempts have been unsuccessful though. Still struggle with it to this day. Need to quit but can't figure out a good way. Cold turkey hasn't work and neither has trying to slowly cut back.

I have an addictive personality and a lot to contribute to this thread. I'll have to post later when I have a few minutes to sit at the keyboard, though.

 

What I've learned (or forced myself) to do at this point in my life is channel my addictive behavior to things that are good...swimming, working out, doing things with my kids, working hard, etc.

Hardest drug I ever tried was weed. Was too scared to try anything harder. If weed was legal I'd probably do it today, at least some.

 

Use to smoke cigarettes, stopped that over 12 years ago, haven't touched one since. I use to dip every now and then, especially during hunting season. Last year a guy I know that was a few years younger died from cancer. Started out as esophageal cancer and spread from there. He was a huge dipper. I haven't dipped since (never was a huge dipper anyway). I do smoke cigars from time to time.

 

I love beer and bourbon. Also like vodka. However I take it all in moderation.

Yeah I've got a problem with alcohol, it cost too much. Lol.

I drank beer and sometimes bourbon since my first days of college but decided to completely give it up almost 7 years ago. After I retired I started drinking more than usual, and my family on my mother's side has a history of alcoholism, so I felt it was best for me to just quit while I was ahead. Haven't touched a drop since May 9, 2009. I wrote on a paper that on that date I had quit drinking. Now, I serve it at our clubhouse bar on our golf course, but after I quit it has never bothered me in the least to be around others drinking.

As for cigarettes, I smoked during high school but decided to quit the summer of my freshman year of college. I came in one day from one of from a health class where the discussion was about health problems caused by cigarettes, and in my dorm room I wrote on a piece of paper, "Today, July 11, 1972, I (my name) quit smoking." I did chew tobacco for a short while when I was around 30 but that lasted a very short time and was never a habit.

 

As far as drugs are concerned, that's one thing I never did. It just seemed too risky to me. I'm talking about pills and powder drugs. I have tried pot a couple of times when I was young but didn't like it. It gave me panic attacks, felt like I couldn't breathe.

 

If I do have one bad habit it is I drink to much diet pop. I like Diet Coke too much. Used to be Diet Pepsi (for 25 years) until they changed the taste of it. I do need to cut back on the pop for the sake of my kidneys. So I might have to get out another sheet of paper and sign a contract with myself, "Today, (date) I have commit to drink only 12 oz of pop per day." It's worked for me in the past, lol.