Why Americans are always addicted to something ?

[Thick_Unit Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Thick_Unit]

Nothing wrong with that. Smoking once in a while for a headache is not addiction. I am referring to people who use weed for the solely purpose to "relax" and go to "sleep" every day of their lives.

Ive seen first hand people who get home late from work, they sit in the front porch to smoke or to drink alcohol. Pretty much to start the slow down process of this whole machine. I understand the reality, I can see the necessity, but in my opinion instead of using these patches to fix the symptoms, it would be more adequate to address the root of the problem causing that imbalance.

normally get them from smells etc.. sometimes you can't avoid them.. i.e cigarette smoke, perfume etc..

[FalconFire Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close FalconFire]

I'm clearly in the minority if "all" American's have addiction issues. None of my vast array of friends are addicted to anything. They may choose to have a drink when out at a social engagement, may choose to have a cup of coffee on some mornings when visiting with family. It's all choice, but none of them "require" anything. Of course, most of my friends are doctors, lawyers, firemen, or professionals of some kind. Of course, I guess you could say we are addicted to the outdoors. Quite a lot of us spend vast amounts of time hiking, biking, at hot springs, snowboarding... so maybe that's the addiction.

[Jackxxx Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Jackxxx]

I'm clearly in the minority if "all" American's have addiction issues. None of my vast array of friends are addicted to anything. They may choose to have a drink when out at a social engagement, may choose to have a cup of coffee on some mornings when visiting with family. It's all choice, but none of them "require" anything. Of course, most of my friends are doctors, lawyers, firemen, or professionals of some kind. Of course, I guess you could say we are addicted to the outdoors. Quite a lot of us spend vast amounts of time hiking, biking, at hot springs, snowboarding... so maybe that's the addiction.

That is wonderful, and VERY interesting. Where do you live? I have the impression that this problem is way stronger in big developed overpopulated cities. It clearly has to do with the fast pace of modern life. If you have access to outdoors like you have, that clearly would save tons of people from falling into this automated addict machine mode.

Congrats!!! stay like that, nothing better than a happy healthy lifestyle. Being completely healthy is the best drug in the world. I guess we could call being healthy an "addiction" lol Although that would be the natural addictive instinct of any species in order to survive, reproduce and pass strong genes into the pool.

[FalconFire Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close FalconFire]

That is wonderful, and VERY interesting. Where do you live? I have the impression that this problem is way stronger in big developed overpopulated cities. It clearly has to do with the fast pace of modern life. If you have access to outdoors like you have, that clearly would save tons of people from falling into this automated addict machine mode.

Congrats!!! stay like that, nothing better than a happy healthy lifestyle. Being completely healthy is the best drug in the world. I guess we could call being healthy an "addiction" lol Although that would be the natural addictive instinct of any species in order to survive, reproduce and pass strong genes into the pool.

I'm fortunate in that I live in a relatively unspoiled and rural area...Idaho. The outdoors and nature are a huge thing here, from white water to snowboarding and hot springs.

[KMWylie Senior MemberPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close KMWylie]

I think I'm going to disagree with your assumption, Jackxx.

First, when it comes to illicit drugs, there are countries with a far greater prevalence to addiction. Here are some stats:
- Iran - 14.32% of the country is addicted to Heroin, compared to approx. 1/2% of Americans who use opiates in general

- UK - 13.65% of the country has an addiction to alcohol, compared to 8.3% in the States

- France - 13.2% of the population is addicted to prescription medication, compared to approximately 6% in the US.

I could go on.

Now, when you talk about coffee, the US ranks #25 when talking about per capita. Here are the top 5.
1. Finland - 12.0 kg annually, per capita
2. Norway - 9.9 kg
3. Iceland - 9.0 kg
4. Denmark - 8.7 kg
5. Netherlands - 8.4 kg

The US? Only 4.2 kg per capita annually

So, I think there seems to be some misconceptions going on here.

[CUSP82 Administrator Admin of the Month Dec 2014PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close CUSP82]

Did I hear coffee? Who's making it? Is it French Roast?

[Jackxxx Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Jackxxx]

I think I'm going to disagree with your assumption, Jackxx.

First, when it comes to illicit drugs, there are countries with a far greater prevalence to addiction. Here are some stats:
- Iran - 14.32% of the country is addicted to Heroin, compared to approx. 1/2% of Americans who use opiates in general

- UK - 13.65% of the country has an addiction to alcohol, compared to 8.3% in the States

- France - 13.2% of the population is addicted to prescription medication, compared to approximately 6% in the US.

I could go on.

Now, when you talk about coffee, the US ranks #25 when talking about per capita. Here are the top 5.
1. Finland - 12.0 kg annually, per capita
2. Norway - 9.9 kg
3. Iceland - 9.0 kg
4. Denmark - 8.7 kg
5. Netherlands - 8.4 kg

The US? Only 4.2 kg per capita annually

So, I think there seems to be some misconceptions going on here.

Well, I think you missed my point. I certainly don't doubt about the statistics you post, however, I am talking about my known reality, the United States. And even if I incorporated statistics from other countries, is not something that I see every day in my own social life. I worry about what I see here on a daily basis.

About coffee consumption, again I am sure those statistics are correct. However, what worries me is not the coffee consumption per se, but why and how the coffee is being consumed. In countries like Cuba or Puerto Rico or Colombia, coffee consumption is through the roof. However, the drink a coffee while talking with friends. Then after lunch. Then during s break. It is more of a social thing, to enjoy the taste and the smell. Just like eating an ice-cream with your friends. But here, we use coffee for the solely purpose of "waking up" or to be able to "function" I literally hear several people every morning in multiple types of work saying "I need a coffee I can't function without coffee" That is my point. I am not sure if the same reality applies to those high coffee consumption you mention though.

[CUSP82 Administrator Admin of the Month Dec 2014PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close CUSP82]

I have never used coffee to wake up; it just smells so good and it taste great. Life itself has a habit of waking me up.

[bxrbrfs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bxrbrfs]

I don't really have addictions. Well, I'm addicted to air I guess.

I drink coffee - I absolutely love coffee - but I'm not addicted to it; like, if I don't have any for a few days I don't get withdrawal or have negative side effects other than it takes my brain a few extra minutes to wake up in the morning.

I've never done drugs and have no interest whatsoever in trying them. Never smoked, same there. I'm allergic to beer, can't drink much wine... I do have a drink once in a while but it's not at an 'addict' level.

[KMWylie Senior MemberPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close KMWylie]

Well, I think it definitely depends on your circle of friends on what your personal experiences are, which is why providing real statistics gives a more accurate picture of any country. If everyone I know has a white dog, it's unfair of me to assume that a large portion of the US own white dogs. :-)

So, what I'm saying is even if from what you've seen is X... since you've only seen a very, very small fraction of the US population, it's not right to make huge generalizations about Americans, in general.

BTW - I don't drink coffee. I have never smoked. I drink on a rare social occasion, despite the fact that "Mr. Kimberly" homebrews and so I always have at my disposal at least three, pretty tasty craft beers. I've gone weeks without Internet, while I was in China last spring, without a problem. My cell phone is often left in another room with the ringer off (to the chagrin of family and friends). I would say there's really nothing I'm addicted to. Nothing I couldn't easily stay away from, if I needed to.

And, yup, I'm American. :-)

[CUSP82 Administrator Admin of the Month Dec 2014PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close CUSP82]

BTW - I don't drink coffee. I have never smoked. I drink on a rare social occasion

Well you can tell we never dated! lmao!!!

[Jackxxx Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Jackxxx]

Well, I think it definitely depends on your circle of friends on what your personal experiences are, which is why providing real statistics gives a more accurate picture of any country. If everyone I know has a white dog, it's unfair of me to assume that a large portion of the US own white dogs. :-)

So, what I'm saying is even if from what you've seen is X... since you've only seen a very, very small fraction of the US population, it's not right to make huge generalizations about Americans, in general.

BTW - I don't drink coffee. I have never smoked. I drink on a rare social occasion, despite the fact that "Mr. Kimberly" homebrews and so I always have at my disposal at least three, pretty tasty craft beers. I've gone weeks without Internet, while I was in China last spring, without a problem. My cell phone is often left in another room with the ringer off (to the chagrin of family and friends). I would say there's really nothing I'm addicted to. Nothing I couldn't easily stay away from, if I needed to.

And, yup, I'm American. :-)

Me too, no addictions here. Same as you, I leave my cellphone at the computer desk in silence. And I wish we still didn't have them, nor computers, nor internet.

You are right about the reality we see depending on the circle of friends. But I would go beyond that. As I mentioned before, more than circle of friends, its a matter of big crowded busy cities. It seems like people who have access to nature, outdoors, small towns, tend to suffer less of these addictive tendencies. Although marihuana consumption seems to be equal everywhere no matter if its a farmer out in the country or an average joe in a condo in Miami. But the more stress you put a person under, the higher are the chances it will look for an escape route either to perform better or to distract his/her mind or to calm down. And that stress unfortunately is dictated by life in big cities.

[GoingForGold Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GoingForGold]

It is the culture. People have enough money to spend on "extra" things, like drugs. Also, people want to take that money by being drug dealers. From the coffee peddlers to the pharmaceutical companies to the crack dealer on the corner. They all just want to take as much money as they can. The more addicts, the better for them.

There is also more of an emphasis put on material value and "feeling good" than in most cultures. Most often, feeling good is done by spending money. It is warped and sad, but it is the reality of culture.

Good point about the disconnect from nature. The more disconnected from our natural patterns we become, the more artificial influences we need.

[KMWylie Senior MemberPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close KMWylie]

btw - i don't drink coffee. I have never smoked. I drink on a rare social occasion

well you can tell we never dated! Lmao!!!

lol!

[dukenukem8 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dukenukem8]

There might be a slight trend. Although, I assure you, people of other nationalities have plenty of problems that we don't understand. This is of course generally speaking. Not every American or person from somewhere else