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Sugar As A Gateway Drug

Sugar As A Gateway Drug

Author: Tomas Yoko
Date: 2015-07-24
Here is a moment where the opportunity to be straight and honest presents itself. As new research uncovers a whole new way of thinking about addiction and addictive behavior, the chemical mix and proliferation of recreational drugs seems to be skyrocketing our communities into self destruction.

Drinking around the pool of a middle class hotel, some friends of mine and I swilled back some sugar laden energy drink mixed some sugar laden alcoholic drink and our senses were suddenly bombarded by the glass shattering shrieks of a band of single digit aged peers as they shrieked their way into the water.

They were definitely rushing. When they had arrived they were demure, almost shy even. But once they had a few spoons of sugar in them, they were rushing around shrieking.

Move the energy drinking group to a local bar and the same scene plays itself out, only this time the peer group is no longer single digit aged, mostly teens, and the pattern repeats itself, only the sugar is quite different. Disco biscuits are the rage where Charlie and Acid mingle with Mushies and Browns.

As much as the eyebrows of the alcohol swilling older group were raised, the pitfalls of recreational drugs seemed to be being ignored. Was this a learned behaviour? I swilled my drink and judged the kids.

Johann Hari recently gave an inspirational talk, read it here,

http://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong

No addict wants to admit he or she is an addict and sometimes the behavior goes way out of the bounds of normality and it is time to do something. But what? Often they refuse the help everybody needs.

There are people who can help, Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous are two very good places to start. The NA helpline is 083 900 69 62 and you will find support for yourself, your children and your loved ones. The AA national helpline number is 0861 435 722. They can help with interventions and realizations. If you think you should call them, then do, these organisations do a lot of very good work.