Although Meth Is Irresistible, The New York Times Says, Addicts Often Prefer Small Cash Rewards

In a recent New York Times story, health reporter Jan Hoffman describes methamphetamine as irresistible, suggesting it is so pharmacologically compelling that using it inexorably leads to an addiction that is nearly impossible to escape. She also notes that people addicted to meth often will stop using it in exchange for small financial rewards ranging from $10 to $65.

The contradiction at the heart of Hoffman’s story illustrates the folly of viewing drug addiction as a straightforward chemical reaction that can be reliably produced by combining a brain with a psychoactive agent. That take unsurprisingly appeals to hard-line drug warriors. But it is also embraced by many people who advocate a kinder, gentler “public health” approach to substance abuse.

Both versions are biologically reductive, gliding over the personal, social, and economic factors that explain why some people use a given drug occasionally while others become so absorbed with it that it dominates their lives. A drug-focused understanding of addiction is fundamentally dehumanizing because it treats people as passive victims rather than autonomous agents who respond to circumstances and incentives.

Hoffman says methamphetamine is “a highly addictive stimulant” that “has been spreading aggressively across the country.” In her telling, meth has a mind of its own, but people who use it have no such agency.

You might be skeptical of Hoffman’s take, especially since this is the same reporter who previously embraced the dubious notion that P2P-derived methamphetamine (“super meth”) is inherently more powerful and addictive than pseudoephedrine-derived methamphetamine. But while Hoffman cited no scientific basis for that claim, she does offer a theory that she thinks explains why some people develop life-disrupting meth habits.

“Meth causes the brain to release exorbitant amounts of dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter,” Hoffman writes, paraphrasi

Read More

Article from Reason.com

Reason Magazine

The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.