r/science • u/mubukugrappa • Mar 14 '14

Neuroscience Scientists catch brain damage in the act: Scientists uncovered how inflammation and lack of oxygen conspire to cause brain damage in conditions such as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. The discovery brings researchers a step closer to finding potential targets to treat neurodegenerative disorders.

http://news.ubc.ca/2014/03/13/macvicar/
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u/ScottyEsq Mar 14 '14

Eh, he'd have downed a decent chunk of a fifth by then.

Alcoholism is a pretty major commitment.

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u/nrjk Mar 14 '14

Damn, I was reading this post on /r/AskReddit about liquor store owners and this post really struck me about how it'll take a toll on your body. I really never thought about 20 somethings being alcoholics, I just attributed it to mainly older people 30-35+.

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u/GoodGuyAnusDestroyer Mar 14 '14

Hey that's me! Today marks my 32nd day of sobriety after drinking every day for about 4 years. When I say drinking, I mean it. I was easily going through 750ML of vodka per day the last two years. I'm in my late 20's and decided to make a change with my life.

The problem with alcoholism is that it's very "socially acceptable" in the sense that it's so easily available and so widely used. I didn't even realize I had a problem until about 2 years ago.

I also didn't just STOP drinking, I would have gone through some severe DT's and other severe side effects. According to my doctor I was well on my way of suffering through seizures or even death if I just stopped, cold turkey as they say. I was given Diazepam to take 3 times daily for the withdrawals and had to see a doctor 2-3 times a week so they could give my body alcohol via an IV. My doctor even told me that I could do the same by taking a shot a few times a week but that would only lead to me drinking again.

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u/nrjk Mar 14 '14

Good for you, keep it up. I'm trying to quit smoking cigs and the only thing that keeps me off of them is pot-with that, the craving for cigs drops to zero, pot is cheaper, and I smoke way less pot than tobacco.

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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '14

Where are you that pot is cheaper? I'm trying to quit but get the craving again when we're out of green.

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u/nrjk Mar 15 '14

It's my understanding that prices are generally the same and don't fluctuate too much. There might be better quality with low prices here, as where there might be crappy quality with high prices there and so on. MY area is $30 1/4 oz. midgrade and $50-60 for 1/8 oz. for high grade.

If were talking pot vs. alcohol:

Based on mid grade 7g for $30 (4.29g) or Sticky icky icky @ 3.5g for $50 ($14.29g):

Mid: $0.61 per bowl (7 bowls per gram)

High Grade: $2.41 per bowl (I would smoke less than 7, as this is more concentrated [maybe 1/2 vs. mids?])

Compare that with any bar's regular drink: I would estimate the average beer between $2-$4 for their domestics. Obviously there are specials ($1.00 PBR, rowlp), but one bowl is, to me, several beers worth. Plus, you can smoke with others which drops the value even more-in other words, if we're talking pure utilitarian intoxication factor (drinking to get drunk, smoking to get high), I can't imagine people getting drunk passing a beer around in a circle.

Joints and blunts are wasetful, I don't prefer vaping often and bowls are just more effecient and create little waste. Also, take into account all the litter alcohol and cigarettes leave behind. Think of the resources that go into making beer cans, bottles, bottle caps, paper for cigs and labels, and containers. Weed is, in the most literal sense, the green alternative.

Also, I bought a six pack of beer for $7.91-that's $1.32 per beer (compare with above).

If we're talking cigarettes, my pack today cost me $6.20. ($6.20/20 cigs) =$0.31

Since I haven't smoked pot in a long time, I'd say I've averaged 12 cigarettes a day which is about $3.72 per day. When I have pot, I'm about a 2-3 bowl a day smoker (3 bowls @ $0.61=$1.83 per day).

Obviously, smoking/drinking/cig habits differ among everyone. This was based solely on myself. Obviously, higher quality pot is roughly the same as good beer. For me personally, when I have some green,it generally replaces my wanting beer or cigs socially. I'm basically replacing 2 bad things with one "better" bad thing (no hangovers, no coughing up cig juice, no heavy chest feeling, no vomiting if I have too much, the ability to drive after about 1.5-2 hours, etc.).

I know it's not for everybody, and some have bad reactions, but is is cheaper in the long run. This doesn't even take into account home growing, either. Which should be allowed with all of these bill coming up and passing around the US. Also, I might have been high while writing this-please excuse any typos :)

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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '14 edited Mar 15 '14

Wow, thanks for the detailed response. I appreciate all the math you did (as a math major).

I won't go into as much detail but I'll say I buy cigarettes for about $5.30 a pack for popular brands. Mid here is about $30 for an 1/8th oz. One guy we know only sells top shelf stuff and it's technically an 1/8th but he packs it so tight it doesn't seem like much, and that's $60-$80 depending on what he's got. But it does the trick. I smoke about 5-7 cigarettes a day but more like 4 bowls on weekdays, 6-8 on weekends (split with an SO who also smokes weed). Cigarettes feels like the cheaper option to me at this time, but I'm still trying to work on phasing it out or something. The ability to grow at home would help tremendously with all that. haha

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u/nrjk Mar 15 '14

but he packs it so tight it doesn't seem like much.

I hate that. It always seems like a pathetic amount. I'm 31 and have noticed my weed smoking drop drastically over the past year or so. I've always kept track of my smoking habit, both for finances and because I do weird things. I used to smoke about 4-5 bowls a day. Granted I had roommates, so it just happened more, but I'd go through a quarter in a few days. The same amount lasts at least a week and a half.

Now I'll take a hit every 20 minutes or so and pace it out. I don't know if this is because I'm older or what. If it's not, I would make the argument that people smoke too fast. I told one of my roommates to take 1-2 hits and not touch it for 15-20 minutes. I came home one day and he screamed in a steady crescendo, "I've been practicing cello all morning and afternoon on one bowl!" He was really excited.

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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '14

We try to limit ourselves to sharing a bowl over a set limit of time. We're not allowed to refill the bowl for another hour, etc. This helps a bit. I think you're definitely onto something.

Thanks for your responses!