• SreudianFlip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 days ago

    I guess you have never watched a family member descend into meth abuse then.

    Permanent personality changes such that trust is pointless, redemption is merely a faint hope, all motivations are underlaid with a new narcissistic set of delusions and denials.

    Since I have watched this happen to three family members of distinct lineage and personality types, all of whom were pleasant and acceptably kind beforehand, my small sample size is nevertheless very convincing.

    • YarHarSuperstar@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      4 days ago

      I am a recovering addict, genius. I have plenty of experience, speaking of myself as well as those around me, with meth and many other substances. Not every addict is like that.

      • SreudianFlip
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        4 days ago

        Yeah, should have clarified, meth can cause narcissistic behaviour, not hate. Other substances, no. All the alcoholics and heroin etc. addicts that I know or am related to or have worked with, were not fundamentally changed in character or even personality by the addiction. But chronic meth use, yeah. Big difference.

        • Random_Character_A@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          3 days ago

          Heavy use of alcohol does cause gradual brain damage in the areas it affects. Frontal lobe, memory and motor centers taking the biggest hit. Actions become more selfish and impulsive, but not always violent or hateful. That really depends on the character beneath, but not always.

          I know three lifelong alcoholics personally. All of them have the same delusion that they could have been something great, but there was a conspiracy to ruin them, by “the man” and they had no choice but to take the path they took. They feel very bitter and sometimes get in to crimes and violence just to rebel and give some payback to totally random recipient. It can be muggings, petty theft or repeated DUIs, because “fuck the man”.

          Then again I’ve met the sweetest childlike characters near the local drunk shelter that have slurred speech and walk funny with very small steps even when they are sober.

          … so you never know.