Interesting point BM,
I think the most difficult thing for anyone is to be able to manage whatever addiction
they might have. Meaning, treading the perilously narrow path between use and abuse. Like you I would have to say that I am addicted to Nicotine, it's not something I'm proud of but that's the way it is.
Sometimes I really feel like I ought to quit but life seems to have this horrible habit of making me reach for my tobacco whenever anything even vaguely stressful happens. I'm well aware that this is just a result of this foul habit and if I had enough presence of mind at times like this I should have a glass of water instead.
It's not those times that are the problem though, the simple fact is you and I and millions of other idiots do this out of habit and if we are really honest with ourselves
most of the time it's not even pleasurable.
Just say for instance you were the survivor of a shipwreck and you managed to make it to some desert island. Do you think you would feel such a need for stimulants in that scaenario? I tend to think not, survival would be your number one priority.
Sure you might have to put up with the craving for a while but you would I'm sure
quickly adapt and soon get over it. Trouble is this crap is always so readily available
guys like us dont give it a second thought so we just keep feeding the habit and continue to make excuses about why we have to have it, in short it fits our complacent life styles which is the REAL problem.
Strangely enough Ben you and I work every day with a guy who survived Heroin addiction. He told me that with the support of his then girlfriend he made it through the Hell of Cold Turkey. Sadly after all of that his girl left him which you would think could easily have sent him back to his old habit, fortunately though he discovered Transendental Meditation around that time and never looked back. So in answer to your question about where and how to seek that feeling of true peace/pleasure and contentment just ask a Yogi.
btw if you ever want help in finding a constructive replacement for the fags (That's cigarettes to our US friends) bring that Bass guitar I know you have stashed away to work someday and let good old dusty show you a better way to use your fingers.
Cough, splutter
Mark