Study: Sugar may be as addictive as cocaine

[cosmictraveler]

By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter


WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Science is verifying what many overeaters have suspected for a long time: sugar can be addictive.

In fact, the sweetener seems to prompt the same chemical changes in the brain seen in people who abuse drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

The findings were to be presented Wednesday at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology's annual meeting, in Nashville.

"Our evidence from an animal model suggests that bingeing on sugar can act in the brain in ways very similar to drugs of abuse," lead researcher Bart Hoebel, a professor of psychology at Princeton University, said during a Dec. 4 teleconference.

"Drinking large amounts of sugar water when hungry can cause behavioral changes and even neurochemical changes in the brain which resemble changes that are produced when animals or people take substances of abuse. These animals show signs of withdrawal and even long-lasting effects that might resemble craving," he said.

Dr. Louis Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, added: "The big question has been whether it's just a behavioral thing or is it a metabolic chemical thing, and evidence like this supports the idea that something chemical is going on."

A "sugar addiction" may even act as a "gateway" to later abuse of drugs such as alcohol, Hoebel said.

The stages of addiction, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association, include bingeing, withdrawal and craving.

For the new research, rats were denied food for 12 hours a day, then were given access to food and sugar (25 percent glucose and 10 percent sucrose, similar to a soft drink) for 12 hours a day, for three to four weeks.

The bingeing released a surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine each time in the part of the brain involved in reward, the nucleus accumbens. "It's been known that drugs of abuse release or increase the levels of dopamine in that part of the brain," Hoebel said.



http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100228625&gt1=31036

[visceral_instinct]

Gateway my ass. I love sugar, but I will never touch cocaine.

That article has a point to some extent. But likening it to a dangerous drug such as cocaine is ridiculous.

This sounds distinctly unsound

For the new research, rats were denied food for 12 hours a day, then were given access to food and sugar (25 percent glucose and 10 percent sucrose, similar to a soft drink) for 12 hours a day, for three to four weeks.

The bingeing released a surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine each time in the part of the brain involved in reward, the nucleus accumbens. "It's been known that drugs of abuse release or increase the levels of dopamine in that part of the brain.....But it wasn't only the sugar that caused this effect, Hoebel explained -- it was the sugar combined with the alternating schedule of deprivation and largesse. After three weeks, the rats showed signs of withdrawal similar to those seen when people stop smoking or drinking alcohol or using morphine.

" Hoebel said.


Of course they had a surge in the reward centre and then withdrawal, so would anyone if they were forbidden to eat for 12 hours then suddenly allowed to eat. I think that would happen no matter what the food was.

[S.A.M.]

Sugar is nothing, try giving up fat.

[Captain Kremmen]

No way is Cocaine as nice as sugar.
You may need cocaine or one of it's replacements if you eat too much sugar.
At the dentist.

[RubiksMaster]

I don't think that study is anything new or profound. Of course people get "addicted" to sugar. Humans need sugar to live. Craving sugar when you don't have it is the body's way of looking out for it's own welfare. Just because some people binge on it means they have poor impulse control. I don't think it's valid to liken it to cocaine.

[mikenostic]

Sugar is nothing, try giving up fat.
When you have a ridiculously fast metabolism like I do, you don't have to give up either one!

[Captain Kremmen]

Sugar is nothing, try giving up fat.


Diet Advice.
(Please note that Captain Kremmen is not a Doctor and may be totally incorrect)

Never give up fat.
Your body need good fats
Good fats are grilled fatty fish, olive oil, rice oil.

Either exercise more or be fat and healthy.

As for sugar, it's for the bees.
Leave it alone.

[phlogistician]

Until recently, alcoholics were anecdotally told to have a sugary sweet to stave off the urge for alcohol, but now it's understood that part of the urge to drink can be caused by low blood sugar. (http://www.brighteyecounselling.co.uk/alcohol-drugs/low-blood-sugar-levels-cause-alcohol-cravings/)

So that said, it's hardly surprising there can be a real urge for sugar either, it's quick easy carbs, with a nice reward.

Also, I think drug addictions such as cocaine and heroin are overstated. Addicts are weak people stuck on substances, not regular people stuck on strong substances.

[cosmictraveler]

Addicts are weak people stuck on substances, not regular people stuck on strong substances.


Phlogistician that's not a true statement at all. Saying that only shows your ignorance toward hard drugs. Many "regular" people become addicts just as easy as weak ones. Unless you can back up your statement I really don't think you understand just how strong hard drugs are to stop taking once you are using them constantly.

[mikenostic]

Diet Advice.
As for sugar, it's for the bees.
Leave it alone.
You do realize that much like the fats you mentioned, our bodies need sugar as well, don't you? Sugar is used by the body to create insulin.
http://www.wopaa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51:Does%20your%20Body%20Need%20Sugar?&catid=45:Your%20health

And yes, it does say too much sugar is bad for you, which seems to be the point you are getting at, but guess what? Too much water can be bad for you as well.
So at best, your 'diet advice' should have been a bit more specific.

[S.A.M.]

Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas in response to increase in glucose levels in the blood. Sugar is not used to create insulin, its used for energy and for conversion to glycogen in liver and muscle, with excess being stored as fat.

[cosmictraveler]

I try to use honey and brown sugar whenever I can. It seems they digest better in my system or is that just a lie?:shrug:

[mikenostic]

Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas in response to increase in glucose levels in the blood. Sugar is not used to create insulin, its used for energy and for conversion to glycogen in liver and muscle, with excess being stored as fat.
You're right. My type 2 diabetic coworker just corrected me as well.

[Captain Kremmen]

I agree.
But there's sugar and there's sugar.
There is refined white sugar, which was never part of our natural diet, rots your teeth and takes a mallet to your system.
That's the nice addictive stuff, which children never refuse.

Then there are complex sugars which are contained in fruits, vegetables , and starchy foods.
The second type is good for you.

You do realize that much like the fats you mentioned, our bodies need sugar as well, don't you? Sugar is used by the body to create insulin.
http://www.wopaa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51:Does%20your%20Body%20Need%20Sugar?&catid=45:Your%20health

And yes, it does say too much sugar is bad for you, which seems to be the point you are getting at, but guess what? Too much water can be bad for you as well.
So at best, your 'diet advice' should have been a bit more specific.

[John99]

it's natural\normal to crave sugar and it is natural to crave salt. it is not normal to crave illegal substances.

[mikenostic]

I agree.
But there's sugar and there's sugar.
There is refined white sugar, which was never part of our natural diet, rots your teeth and takes a mallet to your system.
That's the nice addictive stuff, which children never refuse.

Then there are complex sugars which are contained in fruits, vegetables , and starchy foods.
The second type is good for you.
Yeah, what you stated is pretty much what the article stated.
White sugar is considered a simple carb, which is generally burned up very quickly. Whereas starches and such that you find in potatoes are complex carbs, which burn very slowly. That's why when you eat a potato, your body will feed off those carbs more or less across the whole day, whereas sugars from a soda for example, can be burned up in an hour or two tops.
Simple carbs aren't that bad for people with fast metabolisms, as they get burned up rather quickly. It's bad for ones with slow metabolisms because any simple carb that does not get burned up right away, gets stored as fat.

[Xelios]

it's natural\normal to crave sugar and it is natural to crave salt. it is not normal to crave illegal substances.
It's not natural for substances to be illegal.

[John99]

It's not natural for substances to be illegal.

i think that everything is natural, it is just when they are combined with other things.:D

it's funny becasue when i worked for the company we would work underground, just myself and another guy. we would stay deep underground and were not allowed to leave the facility. so we knew that in a 24hr period we would crave both sugar and salt at varying intervals.

[leopold99]

I try to use honey and brown sugar whenever I can. It seems they digest better in my system or is that just a lie?:shrug:
not a lie.
honey has been predigested by bees.

try honey on toast instead of jelly.

[Asguard]

the most adictive substance of all is oxygen:p

Seriously though of course sugar is adictive, as is salt. They are important things to the body so its no wonder it craves them any more than it craves oxygen. We are built for stavation and the 100's of years of plenty havent changed that.

The one substance which is adictive i find REALLY odd is chilli. Aparently its highly adictive but i cant really see any reason for it. As far as i can work out it doesnt even get digested properly by the body (hence the "burning ring of fire":p)

[phlogistician]

Phlogistician that's not a true statement at all. Saying that only shows your ignorance toward hard drugs. Many "regular" people become addicts just as easy as weak ones. Unless you can back up your statement I really don't think you understand just how strong hard drugs are to stop taking once you are using them constantly.

How many 'regular' people know heroin dealers? Sorry, but your argument is flawed from the start.

Heroin however is considered a 'hard drug', but withdrawal is similar to flu. IE, unpleasant, but easily dealt with.

Nicotine is not considered a hard drug, but is one of the most addictive substances there is. While smokers get support, there's no where near the mollycoddling heroin users get when they try and stop. Most of the problem with heroin users is psychological, not physical, it's getting them to break the mindset that made them try the drug, ie, the loser mentality. This is why it is simply a matter of willpower, in the end.

Caffeine is pretty addictive. I had headaches for three days when I gave up, but I did give up.

Cocaine is not physically addictive at all. Crack cocaine is, but then the IQ of people who try it is nothing special to start with, so it's hardly surprising they can't summon the willpower to give up.

[phlogistician]

The one substance which is adictive i find REALLY odd is chilli. Aparently its highly adictive but i cant really see any reason for it. As far as i can work out it doesnt even get digested properly by the body (hence the "burning ring of fire":p)

Endorphin release isn't it? Same mechanism that gets people addicted to running etc. I love chili, and I also run, go figure!

I can't go a week without spicy food. It is my weakness. I've given up alcohol and caffeine before, they are easy, but chili? I've never tried, but that's largely due to not knowing of a health benefit of giving up too.

Eating chilis can become a lifestyle though. I've grown my own before, as have my friends, I buy different varieties to try them out, and always have several types in store. Currently I have some fresh bird's eye, some dried halapenos, and some chipotles. I also have some 'Tropical Island' scotch bonnet based sauce, some 'Blairs MegaDeath Sauce', and of course, the old stalwart, Tabasco.

On digestion, I rarely get the 'ring of fire' experience (I had a 'Chicken Chili Chili on Wednesday, ZERO effect in the nethers.), but if I eat curry, I do notice I sweat out the spices over the following days. I guess different people react differently to capsaicin too, therefore.

[visceral_instinct]

Why is salt addictive, I've always wanted to know that.

[Asguard]

because sodium is hard to get in a natural diet and the body needs it to do alot of things including making your heart beat. There for as the body thinks it needs to store it and get it while it can it will crave it

[visceral_instinct]

Ah, that's why I can never resist eating salty food in industrial quantities...

[laladopi]

Not a big sugar fan, did cocaine twice 2.5years ago never gonna do it again.
Have I ever told anyone that am awesome? hm probably didn't even need to tell you, it was just that easy to notice.

[lixluke]

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Science is verifying what many overeaters have suspected for a long time: sugar can be addictive.
WTF? You act like this is something new. Doctors have been telling people to avoid sugar for decades.


because sodium is hard to get in a natural diet and the body needs it to do alot of things including making your heart beat. There for as the body thinks it needs to store it and get it while it can it will crave it
Sodium is not hard to get in a natural diet. Americans consume lightyears more table salt than they will ever need. If you can avoid table salt, refined sugar, and flour, you will be doing your body a huge favor. These things have no nutritional value. All they do is cause physical and mental damage.

[phlogistician]

Sodium is not hard to get in a natural diet.

Idiot. Sodium is hard to get, learn some facts.


Americans consume lightyears more table salt than they will ever need.

Table salt, refined from a salt mine. Or sea salt, prodcued industrially. neither are 'natural' sources from foods, are they?

[lixluke]

Idiot. Sodium is hard to get, learn some facts.




Table salt, refined from a salt mine. Or sea salt, prodcued industrially. neither are 'natural' sources from foods, are they?
Wrong.
FACT: Sodium is not hard to get in a natural diet. Americans consume lightyears more table salt than they will ever need.

[Asguard]

Lixluke, i wont do as phlogistician did and call you an idiot but i will suggest you go back and see how far back in time sodium salt (rather than potassium salt which is in higher concentrations in meat and veg) has been in the diet of our ancestors.

Your looking at a MODEN diet and saying "its here now, so it must have always been here" which is WRONG. The human body didnt develop to deal with a moden diet, it is still designed to handle a cave mans diet and trying to handle a moden diet.

In a moden diet POTASSIUM is in low levels and Sodium is in high levels yet the body has little ability to retain potassium or to get rid of sodium. In fact it does the exact oposite, it preserves calicium and sodium salts and activly eliminates potassium salts because this is what it expects to need to do.

your right that sodium in a MODEN diet is WAY above what we need, in fact its so far above it that it causes problems like hypertention and can even cause cardiac arythmia in some people. This doesnt invalidate the fact that the body still hasnt learnt that we can now mine sodium

[phlogistician]

Wrong.
FACT: Sodium is not hard to get in a natural diet. Americans consume lightyears more table salt than they will ever need.

LEARN TO READ.

You said 'natural diet' and the referred to table salt, which is produced industrially. IE, salt is ADDED to food, because the food does not include it NATURALLY.

Clearly, you have never seen documentaries about the lengths people go to, to mine salt. Crossing deserts, digging in extreme heat, and loading up camels with salt cakes and transporting them hundreds of kilometres, and it's all worth it, because salt is precious, and essential.

Oh, and you're an idiot for not knowing about this, and making such claims as you have.

[lixluke]

You said 'natural diet' and the referred to table salt, which is produced industrially. IE, salt is ADDED to food, because the food does not include it NATURALLY.

Clearly, you have never seen documentaries about the lengths people go to, to mine salt. Crossing deserts, digging in extreme heat, and loading up camels with salt cakes and transporting them hundreds of kilometres, and it's all worth it, because salt is precious, and essential.
Who cares? This doesn't change any of the claims I made or facts presented. What is your point? That you cannot get enough sodium on a natural diet? Bullcrap. That typical American garbage diet does not way OD on sodium? More bullcrap.


your right that sodium in a MODEN diet is WAY above what we need, in fact its so far above it that it causes problems like hypertention and can even cause cardiac arythmia in some people. This doesnt invalidate the fact that the body still hasnt learnt that we can now mine sodium
I really don't see what you are talking about. Isn't this what I just finished saying? I don't know what you mean by modern diet. I am talking about the typical American diet in terms of tons of junk food, fast food, processed food, and other products. All overflowing with salt. As I stated, Americans consume light years more salt per year than they need. We OD on salt. What is my point? That woring about not getting enough sodium is absurd.

[superstring01]

Study: Sugar may be as addictive as cocaine

Allah knows I'm totally a carb addict. I crave the really bad ones, day and night. I'm only just barely in control of my cravings. Coke, I can resist... sugar, I have to give in at least once a week or the beast rears its ugly head.

~String

[phlogistician]

Who cares? This doesn't change any of the claims I made or facts presented. What is your point? That you cannot get enough sodium on a natural diet?

A natural diet is low in salt (sodium). Only 10% of the Sodium intake in a regular diet is from from fresh produce, meaning people are at a borderline level of sodium intake, at about 500mg a day, if they eat no pre-prepared food, nor add any additional salt.

As table salt is not found in food 'naturally' your claim was invalid.

Bullcrap. That typical American garbage diet does not way OD on sodium? More bullcrap.

You used the word 'natural', which fails to apply when people eat so much pre-prepared food. Burgers do not grow on trees!

[lucifers angel]

Diet Advice.
(Please note that Captain Kremmen is not a Doctor and may be totally incorrect)

Never give up fat.
Your body need good fats
Good fats are grilled fatty fish, olive oil, rice oil.

Either exercise more or be fat and healthy.

As for sugar, it's for the bees.
Leave it alone.

your body needs sugar, kids especially need sugars in they're diet (not to much though)

they ahve natural sugar from fruit and many other sources

[cosmictraveler]

How many 'regular' people know heroin dealers? Sorry, but your argument is flawed from the start.

You really do lead a sheltered life don't you. I see dealers inside of high class restaurants , bars and nightclubs as well as everywhere else people go and work. If you are that naive then how does one be able to afford a gram of powderer coke that costs over 100.00 US if they aren't at least somewhat wealthy ?


Cocaine is not physically addictive at all

If by physically addictive, you mean 'ceasing intake causes physiological effects', then yes, it is. lots of pubmed links

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Search&db=pubmed&term=cocaine+withdrawal&tool=fuzzy&ot=cocaine+withdrawl

[phlogistician]

You really do lead a sheltered life don't you. I see dealers inside of high class restaurants , bars and nightclubs as well as everywhere else people go and work.

Wow, you should work for the DEA with your drug dealer spotting ability. You'd have them all rounded up in no time.

Personally, I'm not aware that I have ever met a heroin dealer, and nor would I be able to spot one.


If by physically addictive, you mean 'ceasing intake causes physiological effects', then yes, it is. lots of pubmed links


I think you'll find nicotine is far more addictive. That's the plain truth. Cocaine withdrawal is one rung above Caffeine withdrawal (both affect dopamine receptors after all), and two below heroin. Kicking heroin is likened to having the flu. I've had the flu, haven't you? Unpleasant, but you knew it was going to end, and you;'d be fine, so easily tolerable.

[visceral_instinct]

Who cares? This doesn't change any of the claims I made or facts presented. What is your point? That you cannot get enough sodium on a natural diet? Bullcrap. That typical American garbage diet does not way OD on sodium? More bullcrap.



I really don't see what you are talking about. Isn't this what I just finished saying? I don't know what you mean by modern diet. I am talking about the typical American diet in terms of tons of junk food, fast food, processed food, and other products. All overflowing with salt. As I stated, Americans consume light years more salt per year than they need. We OD on salt. What is my point? That woring about not getting enough sodium is absurd.Learn the difference between NATURAL and TYPICAL AMERICAN you stupid retard.

[cosmictraveler]

Wow, you should work for the DEA with your drug dealer spotting ability. You'd have them all rounded up in no time.

I wouldn't work for the DEA if they paid me a million dollars to do so. That being said I use to frequent many social gathering spots in my younger years and saw the dealers selling everything in the drug world. I guess I wasn't "minding my own business" when I noticed the selling of bags of heroin, crack and weed in the bathrooms I was in. Then in the parking lots as well the dealers make their sales which can be viewed if you just open your eyes but I guess you don't ever want to see the truth.



I think you'll find nicotine is far more addictive. That's the plain truth. Cocaine withdrawal is one rung above.

With all of the links I provided you with I guess you never bothered to read any of them. They all point out that coke is very addictive moreso than caffine, if you read the links. If you don't like the scientists viewpoints then I guess you will just be stuck justifying your views with your own opinions and statements .:shrug:

[phlogistician]

With all of the links I provided you with I guess you never bothered to read any of them. They all point out that coke is very addictive moreso than caffine, if you read the links. If you don't like the scientists viewpoints then I guess you will just be stuck justifying your views with your own opinions and statements .:shrug:

Coke, in it's native form, is not that physically addictive. Crack cocaine, or 'freebase' is a different matter, however. Which are you talking about, or are you lumping the two together? 'Cos if you do that I'll lump in coca leaves, which are harmlessly used by indigenous populations, and dissolve your convolution.

BTW, your list was lazy. Just the results of a search. If you'd linked to a couple of articles, and quoted the salient parts, because you had actually read them, that might have proved your point.

Nicotine is more addictive than cocaine. Do you want to argue that?

[Asguard]

nicotine is one of the most physically adictive substances we know, morphine derivitives (like heroin) would possably come next

so the list would go:
O2
sodium and sugar
nicotine
morphine
...

[lixluke]

A natural diet is low in salt (sodium). Only 10% of the Sodium intake in a regular diet is from from fresh produce, meaning people are at a borderline level of sodium intake, at about 500mg a day, if they eat no pre-prepared food, nor add any additional salt.

As table salt is not found in food 'naturally' your claim was invalid.
Wrong it is completely valid.
People getting insufficient sodium on a natrual diet is a load of total bullcrap.

[Asguard]

lixluke
what do you concider to be a natural diet?

[phlogistician]

Wrong it is completely valid.
People getting insufficient sodium on a natrual diet is a load of total bullcrap.

Show me you numbers, I gave you mine. 500mg is the bottom end for sodium intake, and like I said, only 10% of our salt comes from fresh produce, so a 'natural' diet that solely consisted of these would put people right at the limit of the required sodium intake.

Stop embarrassing yourself by continually demonstrating your ignorance and detachment from the real world please.

[John99]

nicotine is one of the most physically adictive substances we know,
...

I would really like to know how these stories start. An addiction is an addiction the damage varies and i think that is how people make these claims of one substance being more addictive than another.

I really think any slight variances of what is more addictive is kind of insignificant in the larger picture. Also you have to remember that nicotine is accepted and available all over so that has a psychological impact on that person addicted.

[CatherineW]

It's not natural for substances to be illegal.

Ooh well said!

[lixluke]

lixluke
what do you concider to be a natural diet?
Raw natural foods fruit/veg/herbs etc. no chemicals and no processing. Natural foods have sufficient sodium for the human body.

[phlogistician]

Ooh well said!

It's a stupid thing to say, actually. 'Natural' means mothers and babies dying during childbirth, because we use 'unnatural' birthing methods now. 'Natural' means people dying of disease, because we treat them with man made pharmaceuticals, and I could go on.

'natural' does not equate to 'better', 'correct' or 'good'.

I'll give you the benefit of doubt since you're new here, but please consider what you agree with, before agreeing, as you might make a bad first impression.

[John99]

To be clear, everything is natural. A vitamin is processed into a small pill yet it is natural. Harmful substances such as strychnine http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Strychnine2.svg/200px-Strychnine2.svg.pngare natural so perhaps we should coin a new word and revist this terminology to reflect what we now know.

[phlogistician]

To be clear, everything is natural. .

As 'everything' includes items that fall into the category 'unnatural' ie things that do not occur in nature, that is a really stupid thing to say, John.

Saccharine is not natural. Isometric fats are not natural, ... need I elucidate further?

[John99]

oh? is a vitamin natural?

[phlogistician]

oh? is a vitamin natural?

Natural ones are, synthetic ones, are, synthetic. What's your point?

[Rick]

Sugars addictive for some people. Degree of addictiveness may vary between sugar and cocaine, but addictiveness is definitely there, so I agree.

One of the posters said, addiction to cocaine is overstated and that regular people don't get addicted that easily. I think nothing can be more wrong than this statement;

Rick

[phlogistician]

One of the posters said, addiction to cocaine is overstated and that regular people don't get addicted that easily. I think nothing can be more wrong than this statement;

Rick

Depends on the type of cocaine. Regular cocaine is not that addictive. Freebase, or 'crack' cocaine is very addictive, so it must be qualified.

Generally, we do not mean 'crack' when we say 'cocaine', we differentiate.

[Rick]

I am not very informed about drugs, because i have never used them; Even during those crazy college days where I was drinking heavily (by heavy, I mean REALLY heavy) i never did any drugs, so I'll have to take your word for it.

I have heard about crack-cocaine, but i dont know about whats the difference personally. The only drug i heard frequently and was tempted to try (But never did, fortunately or unfortunately ... however you put it :)) was Ecstasy. Never even did marijuana. I did smoke hookah once with a friend ... it was nice thing to try, but since after college I lost track of friends and you get busy with "life"(mint flavor).

Rick

[Rick]

sorry for detouring, but care to explain the difference?

Rick

[phlogistician]

sorry for detouring, but care to explain the difference?

Rick

Regular cocaine is 'Cocaine Hydrochoride' but when mixed and cooked up with baking soda, it becomes 'crack cocaine' (methylbenzoylecgonine), ie, it is altered, and so are it's effects, and therefore it's addictiveness.

Crack cocaine is highly addictive, people can get addicted on the first hit, whereas regular cocaine is seen as a recreational drug, so it's used when people go partying, not first thing in the morning, every morning.

I've never tried either myself, my fave drugs are alcohol and caffeine, and I have cut both down recently.

[visceral_instinct]

I refuse to ingest anything harder than caffeine or sugar.

[phlogistician]

I refuse to ingest anything harder than caffeine or sugar.

Well, I was addicted to caffeine, it seems. It's sneaky, because it doesn't impair your thought processes, and is socially acceptable, it's easy to over do.

But I gave up for a while earlier this year, and went through withdrawal. After several days of dull headaches, I was through it. Now I only allow myself two cups of caffeinated beverages a day, only in the mornings.

Booze is far easier to stop. You just don't drink, but caffeine, nice percolated caffeine, gnaws at the back of your mind, .... well, mine anyway.

[John99]

I drink coffee every day but if i miss a day or two due to circumstances where i cant have coffee then i hardly think about it.

What phlog is describing may be psychological due to the fact that he is accepting this as permanent.

[John99]

As far as the OP, it is kind of a moot point. sugar is essential and cocaine is not. a few grams of sugar will not kill a person but very likely that a few grams of cocaine will. and it is a rough death because the process takes more than a few minute.

[phlogistician]

I drink coffee every day but if i miss a day or two due to circumstances where i cant have coffee then i hardly think about it.

What phlog is describing may be psychological due to the fact that he is accepting this as permanent.

How much coffee do you drink each day? I was drinking about eight cups.

Caffeine addiction is physical, not psychological;

"What Is Caffeine?
Caffeine is a highly addictive substance found naturally in many products, or added by manufacturers to many household consumables. It is found naturally in the coffee bean, leaves of the coffee plant, certain leaves and berries and in tea" (http://www.beatingaddictions.co.uk/BeatinganAddictiontoCaffeine.html)