NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/sci/med/24343

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-23 | 1.6 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!paladin.american.edu!gatech!pitt!ky3b!ky3b.pgh.pa.us!km
From: [e-mail] (Ken Mitchum)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: What's Lorazepam
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 23 Jan 93 16:35:37 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <szikopou.727038286@cunews>
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: KY3B - Vax Pittsburgh, PA
Lines: 28

In article <szikopou.727038286@cunews>, [e-mail] (Steven Zikopoulos) writes:
|> One problem I have with your comments is using tolerance as a mark of
|> addiction.  It may be necessary, but not sufficent.

Development of tolerance plus the occurrence of an abstinence syndrome
including withdrawal symptoms is considered addiction. Seizures are a
pretty good withdrawal symptom.

|> With respect to BZs I agree that they can be addictive (or if
|> you prefer...habit forming).  What I disagree with I guess is that
|> you're using physiological markers as evidence for addiction and
|> ignoring psychological systems involved.  This is especailly important
|> when discussing anxiolytic meds.

With addiction, psychological activities may facilitate obtaining more
of the drug. No one is denying that. But I think there is a definite
difference between addiction and habituation. You may think you are
addicted to chewing gum, but you probably chew the same amount you did
ten years ago, and if you stopped tomorrow you would have no ill effects.

|>
|> We're doing the mind-brain dance again, and some choose to see things
|> sharply divided...I see shades of grey.

There is no mind-brain dance here. Gordon sought to clarify the issue, not
obscure it.

-km