Question

Appendix 24.1 Addiction Simulation Exercise: Ice Cube Addiction (Handout) RATIONALE This exercise will allow you to experience, firsthand (though nowhere near to the same extent as an actual addic- tion), some of the physical (thirst being analogous to the cravings for drugs), social, cognitive, and emotional expe riences of a person who is actually addicted to a drug. Participation in this exereise is voluntary. You may choose to end your participation at any time during the exercise, though you will achieve the full benefit of the exercise if you choose to follow through to the end PROTOCOL You are to engage in this exercise for 48 consecutive hours sometime between now and the next class. The more strictly you adhere to the guidelines, the more effective the exercise will be for you 1.Drug. Your drug of choice is ice cubes. You used to be able to "get off" simply on water, but your addiction has progressed way beyond this. You now need specially processed water-ice cubes. This is analogous to pro- gressing from powder cocaine to crack cocaine 2. Craving. Thirst is your craving for the drug ice cubes. Every time you take a drink of any liquid, you must have an ice cube in the liquid. Yes, this will be difficult and will require much planning. Anticipate! This applies to all drinking situations including coffee, water from drinking fountains, cans or bottles of bever ages, and even late-night drinks of water after you have awakened from a deep sleep. (Make sure your ice trays are full before going to bed.) 3. Legality. Ice cubes are socially unacceptable and illegal. Do not let "regular people" see you or catch you using ice cubes. This applies to friends and family. The only people with whom it is acceptable to be open about your use of ice cubes are other "addicts" who are participating in this exercise. This will take some creative think- ing at home, in restaurants, and other public places 4. Obsession. To simulate the obsession aspect of drug addiction, you are to keep an hourly log (waking hours only). Please obtain a notebook in which you can answer the following questions hourly: 1. Are you thirsty now! 2. Where is your next ice cube coming from? 3. What is your plan to satisfy your cravings? Think ahead. 5. Tracks. You will be given a hospital patient identification bracelet to wear. Wear the bracelet at all times dur- ing the exercise. This bracelet is analogous to an addict's needle tracks, so it is socially unacceptable to wear the bracelet. Try your best to keep "regular people" from seeing the bracelet, because they might ask what it is about and this would put you in a difficult situation trying to explain it. Remember, you are trying to hide your addiction from "regular people." The bracelet will also serve as a reminder that you are participating in the exercise. It will be easy to forget for a few hours, so you will have to be diligent in your participation. Remember, addicts cannot turn off their cravings at will. 6. Write-up. At the end of the 48-hour period, please write one to two pages describing your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the exercise. This paper is free form, so write in any manner that you feel is appropriate. Please bring your paper and log to the next class 7.Discussion. This exercise will be discussed in the next class. We will use a simulation of a self-help recov ery group to discuss your experiences.

Answer 1

My 48 hour ice cube addiction simulation turned out to be very different than what i had expected. I don’t put an ice cubes in my water cup at all. So my ice maker in the freezer is always empty. So I have to keep the ice maker full of ice cubes to use it in my addiction simulation. My first hour in the 48 hours simulation I was trying to fill my water bottle with ice cubes. I spilled some of ice cubes on the floor. My dad got suspicious when I filled a water bottle full of ice cubes, because I’m not used to put an ice cubes in my water bottle.

My dad yelled at me and asked me why I needed that much ice anyways. I said that I needed to keep my water cold. He said we have a cold bottles in the refrigerator. I said it’s better to drink water with ice cubes, he looked at me and said you weren’t do that before. I said yeah, but i just want to try it. He didn’t believe what i said. So it was so hard to keep my ice cubes addiction from my dad, and my friends also. My friend Johne when he saw my water bottle full of ice cubes, he kept asking me about, and made it very difficult for me to try to come up with a descent lie.

It’s easy to see how all the lies of an addiction can destroy a relationship and cause multiple problems. I noticed that the next morning while I was sitting in my room I was very thirsty even though I never am. I need a cup of water full with ice cubes, but my dad is sitting in the living room, and he can watch what i’m doing in the kitchen. I planned to get ice cubes in a smart way. I said dad I’ll prepare the breakfast.

I went to the kitchen and I started to prepare the breakfast, when my dad was watching the TV I turned on the microwave and I opened the freezer softly, and I kept looking to my dad if he realized what I’m doing. I filled my cup with ice cubes and water and I put it in a bag and I hid it under the couch. I must have gotten a little caught up in the whole ice addiction and started to want to drink the ice water. 2 days were easy to hide my addiction but after a while my dad would have probably caught on and i would have had to confess. This was a very eye opening and interesting experiment.