This is a story of addiction. The drug of choice is caffeine and one persons struggle to decide whether or not to quit.
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I’ve been thinking lately about my drug of choice, caffeine. I call it a drug because I know first-hand how addictive caffeine is. My current dose is at least one 2 liter bottle of blue Mt. Dew. I never drink two 2 liters, but I might drink a can if I finish my bottle in a day. Yes, I keep cans and 2 liter bottles in the house, just in case. I think they call the blue Mt. Dew “Voltage”. Blue works best for me because it is sold in 2 liters and it has the most caffeine in that size bottle. PepsiCo makes some white Mt. Dew but it is a joke to a real caffeine addict like me.
For years I have justified my habit, saying that at least I’m not smoking crack, or something else witty. The truth is, though, I may as well be smoking crack or shooting heroin. I need it to wake up in the morning. I can’t get through my day without it and I can drink it before bed with no effect on my sleep. At least I don’t notice any effect on my sleep. One of my obstacles to quitting is that I can’t find anyone who recognizes caffeine addiction as a problem. Other caffeine drinkers use the drug in moderation and don’t understand how it could be a problem for me. People who use other drugs think I am downplaying their addiction when I relate mine to theirs.
Twelve step programs say that the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. I haven’t looked into the second step yet because I don’t know if I really want to quit. I am sure it is affecting my health, but I feel fine. And if I quit drinking Mt. Dew, what would I drink? I don’t like water, even the flavored kind. Non-caffeinated sodas can’t be any better for you than Mt. Dew, so it doesn’t make sense to switch from one to another. I know enough about addiction to know that in order to break a habit, you have to replace it with something else. However, I haven’t found something to replace caffeine with. Yet.
On this topic
My New Addiction
Treatment Options for Pain Pill Dependence
Pain Pills Don't Work!
The Pregnant Pain Pill Addict - Is it Safe to Take Suboxone?
Some People Get More of a Kick From Pain Pills Than Others
I’ve been thinking lately about my drug of choice, caffeine. I call it a drug because I know first-hand how addictive caffeine is. My current dose is at least one 2 liter bottle of blue Mt. Dew. I never drink two 2 liters, but I might drink a can if I finish my bottle in a day. Yes, I keep cans and 2 liter bottles in the house, just in case. I think they call the blue Mt. Dew “Voltage”. Blue works best for me because it is sold in 2 liters and it has the most caffeine in that size bottle. PepsiCo makes some white Mt. Dew but it is a joke to a real caffeine addict like me.
For years I have justified my habit, saying that at least I’m not smoking crack, or something else witty. The truth is, though, I may as well be smoking crack or shooting heroin. I need it to wake up in the morning. I can’t get through my day without it and I can drink it before bed with no effect on my sleep. At least I don’t notice any effect on my sleep. One of my obstacles to quitting is that I can’t find anyone who recognizes caffeine addiction as a problem. Other caffeine drinkers use the drug in moderation and don’t understand how it could be a problem for me. People who use other drugs think I am downplaying their addiction when I relate mine to theirs.
Twelve step programs say that the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. I haven’t looked into the second step yet because I don’t know if I really want to quit. I am sure it is affecting my health, but I feel fine. And if I quit drinking Mt. Dew, what would I drink? I don’t like water, even the flavored kind. Non-caffeinated sodas can’t be any better for you than Mt. Dew, so it doesn’t make sense to switch from one to another. I know enough about addiction to know that in order to break a habit, you have to replace it with something else. However, I haven’t found something to replace caffeine with. Yet.
