physical addiction vs others

[Rachel710]

the other day at work one of my co-workers tried to tell me you cannot develop a physical addiction to drugs like cocaine and heroin only alcohol. Here was his example....

He said if you strap a cocaine addict to a chair and take away all their drugs they will not die from withdrawal but if you strap an alcoholic to a chair and take away all their alcohol they will die from withdrawal.

I tried to explain to him that you can develop chemical, psychological, and physical addictions to anything but refused to believe me. I was just wondering if I was really correct or not and if any body could help me figure it all out.

[newmanagment]

In detox with H addicts, and alcoholics, they monitor your vitals every 2 hours. even wake ya up all nite to do it.
It is true you will not have any physicall withdraws from cocaine or weed, trust me I know.
however , some people have died detoxing from H. It has happened here at the center in peoria. It is very uncommon but it does happen occasionally. You CAN die from alcohol withdraw, called DTs. thas why the wake ya up all nite to check your vitals, and thas why i checked out the next morning. couldnt see tyin up a bed in detox when it could mean someone getting turned away and dyin in the street.

[wannabefree330]

Also, not all alcoholics who quit CT die.  They have a higher risk of life threatening physical changes by doing so, but it is not always the case.

[wannabefree330]

You can die from withdrawl from benzos.  You can have seizures just like alcohol.  What opiates do is kill your soul.  Your body may still continue to live, but your soul, the part that makes you who YOU are does die.  Luckily, it is also resurrected...if you stay away from the pills.

I'd like to see this co-worker of yours take pain meds for 9 months then quit ct and say you can't get addicted to them.

[worried878]

You can get physically addicted to opiates and benzos for sure..it is said that cocaine and amphetamines are a mental addiction only but people who had a problem with them have told me otherwise so i dont know...it is true that a heavy drinker can die during wds...that is true..i watched my x-father in law do it...now were taking about heavy, heavy drinkers....he drank 2 bottles of scotch at least each day for years...DTs can kill a person...not every alcjoholic has DTs when they quit drinking..it depends on how much they drak and how long..many can put it down and never pick it up for a few weeks and feel fine physically...till stress or a trigger comes along and they pick it up again...so no...many drugs have physical wds and alcohol does as well...but alchol can be deadly if u r in deep without a detox center or a hospial

i have seen an alcoholic come in for surgery on many occasions...they dont say anything about the problem...then 2 days later they lose it on they and end up in ICU in restraint...not a pretty site

[Bob641]

Sorry to say this but you coworker is an idiot.