Most of my knowledge on dependencies and addictions comes from a brief study I did on neurotransmitter’s roles in alcohol dependence/abuse while in school, for an EPQ, so I’m really not sure how much of this applies- also, a lot of my study was finding that my assumptions were in the wrong direction(I didn’t know about endorphins)- but I think a lot of the stuff on neurotransmitters and receptors holds across different areas- take it with some salt though.
Quitting cold turkey rarely ever works for addictions/dependencies. The vast majority of time the person has a big resurgence in the addiction. The balance of dopamine/sensitivity of the dopamine receptors often takes time to shift back. Tapering, I think for this reason, has been one of the most reliable ways of recovering from an addiction/dependence. I believe it’s been shown to have a 70% success rate. Interestingly, the first study I found on tapering, which is testing tapering strips in assistance of discontinuing antidepressant use, also says 70% https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20451253211039327 Ever site I read on reducing alcohol dependency with tapering said something similar, back in the day.
Most of my knowledge on dependencies and addictions comes from a brief study I did on neurotransmitter’s roles in alcohol dependence/abuse while in school, for an EPQ, so I’m really not sure how much of this applies- also, a lot of my study was finding that my assumptions were in the wrong direction(I didn’t know about endorphins)- but I think a lot of the stuff on neurotransmitters and receptors holds across different areas- take it with some salt though.
Quitting cold turkey rarely ever works for addictions/dependencies. The vast majority of time the person has a big resurgence in the addiction.
The balance of dopamine/sensitivity of the dopamine receptors often takes time to shift back.
Tapering, I think for this reason, has been one of the most reliable ways of recovering from an addiction/dependence. I believe it’s been shown to have a 70% success rate.
Interestingly, the first study I found on tapering, which is testing tapering strips in assistance of discontinuing antidepressant use, also says 70% https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20451253211039327
Ever site I read on reducing alcohol dependency with tapering said something similar, back in the day.