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Comment by 015a | Hacker News Reader

If you don't like Oxycontin, just don't use Oxycontin, Dilaudid, or Fentanyl. Don't know why so many people here think adults are not capable of regulating themselves.

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And yet, regulating off-label usage of opioids doesn't seem to be very effective at reducing addiction either. So perhaps this analogy doesn't work, and we should acknowledge that using social media and becoming addicted to opioids are substantively different?

The addiction process has a mental component that in some people is stronger than the physical addiction. This seems more a thread on addiction and bad habits vs aligning the technical specs of each issue.

There are many countries around the world that don't seem to have the same issues with opioids so something must be different. What is it apart from regulation?

I have actually done this, and it works great! Would recommend.

Chemical dependency is a real thing with serious medical effects. Severe cases of withdrawal can actually be fatal.

Social media dependency is a real thing, with serious medical side effects, which can include Depression, which in severe cases can actually be fatal.

But, you know, prescription medicine dependence, its different, right? Right. Its gotta be different. And the reason its different is because... fewer people use social media? No. Fewer people suffer from mental health issues? Definitely not. Fewer people have overtly negative outcomes, including death, from mental health issues? Nope.

So, actually, the only reason its different is: We've fully studied and have a mature grasp of the personal and social impact of some chemical dependencies. The same can not be said of mental health, and all the evidence you need for this immaturity can be found in comments like some in this thread, or those from Zuckerberg.

The cigarette companies are commissioning studies saying smoking is healthy, and people still downplay the victims. If you've ever wondered how anyone can think smoking is healthy; in 10 years, some may look back to the '10s and wonder the same thing about social media. How could anyone have worked for Facebook, defended them, saying they've done more good than bad?

> Social media dependency is a real thing, with serious medical side effects

citation? or source? i'm asking since it's the first time i'm seeing this idea.

You realize ending the drug war is largely favorable to most people on here right?

I haven't polled HN, but I get the sense it's more about regulating formerly black market drugs, rather than deregulating pharmaceuticals.

Anyone on the 2nd side should do a deep dive on buying "clean" delta 8 THC.

>I haven't polled HN, but I get the sense it's more about regulating formerly black market drugs, rather than deregulating pharmaceuticals.

That's called cognitive dissonance. Pharmaceuticals already have the shit regulated out of them and it obviously doesn't work.

Chemical Addiction != scrolling facebook

Maybe gambling is a better analog. Last time I checked gambling was pretty tightly regulated.

Excellent analogy.

Not a better analog at all.

The reward system is quite similar, in my opinion.

Facebook's researchers found the opposite...

Of that, we are in agreement; one is popping a pill which releases chemicals in your brain which over time correlate with a measurable reduction in quality of life; the other is interacting with an app which releases chemicals in your brain which over time correlate with a measurable reduction in quality of life.

Definitely on the same page; not a strict mathematical equivalence.

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