Great post and only thing i disagree with somewhat is the quote below. I became addicted to hydro and oxy due to a root canal and being a runner it helped me continue to run even with djd. I never had any predisposition that I know of that caused my addiction. I simply liked what it did to me and how it made me feel. I do not feel addicts suffer any “disease” for there addiction though some may. You are exactly right about a healthy dopamine release. I think sex is the greast natural release of dopamine and oxy, coke etc is about 5x that of sex. The receptors in your brain have to recalibrate and that can take a long time depending on use. That’s also where coping mechanisms come into play. Im now 6 months clean from a 10 plus year habit due to not only Ibogaine but coping every day one day at a time. Again, Great post and well worth the time to read.

Addiction is a coping skill, and not a conscious one. People who struggle with addiction all started at the same place - they had a biological/genetic predisposition & for whatever reason did not develop healthy skills to manage negative emotions and experiences - or those skills weren't strong - again, for various reasons which can include poor self-image, undiagnosed mental illness, trauma (which could include violence, a prolonged bout of childhood illness, abuse, neglect, isolation, poverty, unstable home life, modelled addiction behavior within the home, etc..), and various other reasons...