Re:FDA Agrees to New Trials for MDMA as Relief for PTSD Pati...
by peteretep on Wednesday November 30, 2016 @04:17PM
(#13074765)
It's dramatically dramatically less addictive than opiates.
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Re:FDA Agrees to New Trials for MDMA as Relief for PTSD Pati...
by TTPrograms on Wednesday November 30, 2016 @04:38PM
(#13074935)
The literature generally supports that alcohol is moderately less addictive than opioids (see the previously mentioned chart: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse). In addition, methamphetamine, hallucinogens and many other illegal drugs are significantly less addictive than opioids. It's difficult to identify what measurements are due to the intrinsic qualities of a drug vs the environment and methods associated with consumption.
I think part of the bias is that when one thinks of alcohol one thinks of having a beer after work - opiates conjure up images of shooting up heroin. But a massive fraction of people take opioid pain killers on a temporary basis and suffer no ill effects - I'm sure many of them would admit that being under their influence is at least somewhat pleasant. Likewise, media seems slow to cover cases of horrific alcoholism with massive systemic organ failure. In Russia, for example, the life expectancy of men is 64 years old, largely due to a culture encouraging copious alcohol consumption.
Re:FDA Agrees to New Trials for MDMA as Relief for PTSD Pati...
by Analog24 on Thursday December 01, 2016 @08:37AM
(#13079228)
This is flat out false. in addition, the physical withdrawal from alcohol addiction is significantly worse than the symptoms from opioid withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal can actually kill you. My father was a severe alcoholic (i.e. physically dependent) and would have to get hospitalized on a semi regular basis to help him get through withdrawal safely. Opioid withdrawal is terrible but iirc it is not directly life threatening.