# Addiction without knowing source--possible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2009, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789 "2009-01-11T10:24:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/21 "2009-01-11T19:49:36Z")
Of course you can. If you do not know if or what your addicted to you will just probably think you have some sort of anxiety and probably go see a doctor to ask why. ---
**Author:** ![daksya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dc4da7/32.png) [@daksya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daksya)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/22 "2009-01-11T19:52:11Z")
In the sense the OP means it, I would say it’s not possible to become addicted. Developing a habit that may eventually lead to addiction requires instrumental learning for stimulus-response pairing. So, a person has to first associate a pill (or whichever delivery modality or paradigm) with the acute effect. Then, subsequently think of repeating the dose when the drug comedown leads to the “crash” or other aversive experience, or just plain ol’ sake of positive reinforcement. This latter step depends on the initial operant conditioning. If a person is unaware of the stimulus behind an event, or indeed that there was any stimulus, then the ‘response’ simply happened out of the blue and may react accordingly\*. So, after the drug wore off, they wouldn’t know how to return to normal, since they are unaware of the drug. Hence no habit. I’m excluding cases where the person has a history with that drug or enough awareness of its effects to realize what happened. Many posters above seem to think the question is about knowingly using a drug but without appreciating its addictive potential. That’s not how I read it. \*as in the panic reactions I remember reading of among unsuspecting members of the public who were surreptitiously dosed with LSD in CIA-conducted experiments (MK-ULTRA) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/23 "2009-01-11T20:41:26Z")
My bad. Challenged assertion withdrawn. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/24 "2009-01-11T21:49:17Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > I suggest a lot of people are addicted to coffee without knowing it … even though they may joke about it. > > I’ve come across more than one who didn’t realize the blistering headache they had that hadn’t been touched by aspirin or other common pain relievers could be stopped in minutes by a cup of coffee. I’ll agree with this and add Coca-Cola, at least in my case. Many a bad headache has disappeared with a cold coke----I’m not talking about migraines, just your run of the mill headache. ---
**Author:** ![jakesteele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/25 "2009-01-11T22:22:55Z")
There are definitely reasons that one gets physically addicted. It’s all about brain chemistry and dopamine receptors and other chemicals the brain produces. Basically, you have x amount of receptors occurring naturally to handle the body’s natural pain killer, dopamine which is released when injured. When you take dope the brain will produce more receptors to handle the overload. When you quit the extra receptors need more drugs to survive and will create some other kind of chemical trying to trigger the release of more dopamine which in turn some how creates a craving. you can look up the exact science behind this on wiki or google. The best example I can give you is a recent ad for, I believe, Chantix (sp) which is a new “quit smoking” drug that is all the rage. It has a cartoon representing with little critters representing the extra recptors and the nicotine. It actually explains it very well. If Jesus, his funky-bad self, were to take enough herion he would become physically and psychologically dependent. Of course, he would also have the spiritually to get off and stay off. ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/26 "2009-01-11T22:28:25Z")
I think this is sort of an extension of the OP, so I am not trying to hijack. What if someone was slipping morphine into my broccoli casserole at dinner. Assuming I became addicted to morphine without even knowing it, would my mind THINK it was addicted to broccoli casserole? If I ate broccoli casserole without the morphine, would my brain think it had satisfied the craving? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/27 "2009-01-11T23:04:20Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > The reason OTC pain relievers increase caffeine is because it constricts blood vessels and can potentiate other painkillers. No doubt Excedrin is ideally suited for a caffeine-withdrawal headache, but the caffeine helps relieve headache pain even for people who aren’t experiencing caffeine withdrawals. It’s probably a lot more effective for people who don’t already habitually consume caffeine. I’ve always found it to be very good for headaches. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/28 "2009-01-12T03:47:57Z")
It depends on how you define addictive. I have borderline high blood pressure so I asked my doctor to give me some high blood pressure pills. He gave me Ziac (2.5mg) which is a beta blocker and diuertic combo. I remember when I stopped taking it my heart would just race and race. OK I was addicted to it, because I had been taking it daily for years before I stopped. I had no clue I was going to be this dependent on such a low dose of beta blocker, but it happens. ---
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/29 "2009-01-12T03:56:10Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I remember when I stopped taking it my heart would just race and race. OK I was addicted to it, because I had been taking it daily for years before I stopped. I had no clue I was going to be this dependent on such a low dose of beta blocker, but it happens. Okay, but this was my point: going through withdrawal symptoms, having a reaction from discontinuing a medication in this case is not likely to earn you the label “drug addict.” Neither is the OPs query. Getting off meds that you did not INTEND to take in order to “get high” isn’t defined socially as an addiction. Hmmm…maybe the difference is fun. If you ever took whatever it is you’re withdrawing from for entertainment purposes, people call you an addict. If you took it for medical purposes or without knowing you were taking it, there’s less chance of the label. ---
**Author:** ![Deereman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Deereman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deereman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/30 "2009-01-12T04:01:54Z")
Just jumping in to say thanks all. There are many aspects to this that I didn’t consider! ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/31 "2009-01-12T07:12:26Z")
> [@Qwisp](#): > > I’ve been seeing a pain/addiction doctor recently. From what he told me, there is a difference between addiction and dependency. I have been taking my Ultram for so many years that I am dependent on it to the point where I need it to avoid withdrawal symptoms, but I am not addicted to it. I guess the difference is that I have never abused or gone over the recommended dosage. According to him an addict will abuse the medications often taking amounts way beyond the prescribed dosage. Where I may take 150mg a day some addicts take 1000-2000mgs a day. > > I don’t like being dependent on any drug, yet I still have pain. We have worked out a plan that will hopefully eventually get me off the Ultram completely, while maintaining my pain relief with other drugs. That makes sense. It sounds more accurate to my ear to say that I am chemically dependent rather than addicted (since, as many people have noted, the word ‘addicted’ has a number of connotations absent from phrases like ‘chemically dependent’). It also seems to make a difference that what I’m dependent on isn’t something like a narcotic that can get you high, but is merely an asthma drug, which makes it utterly pointless to abuse. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/32 "2009-01-12T07:18:03Z")
> [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](#): > > I think this is sort of an extension of the OP, so I am not trying to hijack. > > What if someone was slipping morphine into my broccoli casserole at dinner. Assuming I became addicted to morphine without even knowing it, would my mind THINK it was addicted to broccoli casserole? If I ate broccoli casserole without the morphine, would my brain think it had satisfied the craving? Ooh! I like this question! Does anyone know the answer? ---
**Author:** ![Deereman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Deereman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deereman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/33 "2009-01-12T07:37:09Z")
> [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](#): > > I think this is sort of an extension of the OP, so I am not trying to hijack. > > What if someone was slipping morphine into my broccoli casserole at dinner. Assuming I became addicted to morphine without even knowing it, would my mind THINK it was addicted to broccoli casserole? If I ate broccoli casserole without the morphine, would my brain think it had satisfied the craving? This is not really a hijack at all…it’s similar to a situation I was running in my head when I posed the original question. I like it! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/34 "2009-01-12T07:46:57Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Ooh! I like this question! Does anyone know the answer? Also wanted to chime in to say that I’m curious, too, and have always sort of wondered about that. That is, if you had no concept of a substance being addictive but ended up taking it, etc. I’d be curious to see what the answer is, too! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/35 "2009-01-12T09:57:37Z")
It happened to my mother (the doctor knew those substances could be addictive, she didn’t) and to some people I knew in college who took amphetamines as study aids without knowing they were amphetamines. If you needed to know that something is addictive in order to develop an addiction, nobody would have developed the first addiction, after all. ---
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789/36 "2009-01-12T12:06:34Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Ooh! I like this question! Does anyone know the answer? I have a partial answer, but no time to look up the cite. On my way to work early this morning. The partial answer is, yes. Heroin addicts who are jonesing get some relief from being injected with saline solution. That is, just the act of a) anticipating relief, and b) going through the motions that would normally bring relief, actually DOES bring at least SOME relief. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addiction-without-knowing-source-possible/480789.md?page=1)