Amanda,

I grew up with a lot of alcoholism in my family, I pretty much preached it as a power of the mind thing. I too like your friend even went cold trukey from heroin. Never took a needle again. I agree with all you said in fact even mroe adamantly than you said it. I pissed on my moms grave declaring my hatred for her weakness. I would scientifically dissect my sisters alcoholism. In fact I even gave my sister the kind offer of ending her life because of her weakness. I was very clear in my final message to her she is still afraid to accept my calls even now that I am sober. Anywya the point is I learned a lot about addiction since then because I became an addict. It isn't physical addiction, cigarettes are more addictive than alcohol or heroin and I walked away from them on will power alone it is the mental addiction. It is a mental disease same as other mental diseases. I also suffer from suicidal thoughts. It just happens, the point being is that as Diane said unless you are an addict it is impossible to understand what the disease is. It isn't the physical addiction it is the warping of the mind that occurs. Layne Staley said it well (he also proved the point)

You Can't Understand A User's Mind
But Try, With Your Books And Degrees
If You Let Yourself Go And Open Your Mind
I'll Bet You'd Be Doing Like Me


True Layne. I keep this picture around to remind me it is Layne Staley and Shanoon Hoon one dead in a room one dead on a bus from heroin.

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And even if Jehovah witness, bet he'll never testify, D'Evils...
- Jay-Z