HighwayTruckI made one more trip, this was my last one, I promise. As I was talking to my boss, we were discussing what I was going to do after trucking and he mentions when am I going to give up the heroin? This is my last time, really, I swear I won’t do this any more. I can quit any time I want to!

Anyone that knows anything about addictions knows the love – hate relationship involved in any addiction. The definition of addiction is that it’s progressive, meaning it gets worse and worse. If it’s interfering with your life and you’re entire life’s goal is centered on getting another fix of a drug, cookie or a NASCAR race, it could be an addiction.

Trucking definitely qualifies. It’s progressive, takes over your life, the people stuck in this addiction realize it’s killing them and they need to do something else, but they can’t. Your entire life is centered around the truck, every dime you make goes back into the truck one way or another. You might think you’re making a good living at first, but all of a sudden, you’re 67 years old, you’re still driving and broke, especially now. There are more than a few examples of drivers that have to drive because they have no other way to make money and they didn’t save money for their future, it all went into the truck, because the truck makes the money and it has to be kept running no matter what.

I’m not saying every driver is like that. There are drivers that have been successful, have saved money and may be driving because they enjoy it. There are people that can take a few drinks without bingeing and passing out too. Those with the curse, know they have it and can’t do much about it and may not want to do anything about it.

I’m not quitting cold turkey, I’ve already made arrangements to go into the office and play Safety Manager once a week (it’s a small company), if things pick up and it actually becomes busy, we’ll renegotiate. But for now, it’s some pocket change so I can keep my Big Mac addiction alive and well.

The boss was saying that I’m going to miss the truck. He still has his truck but misses driving it. I’ll miss my truck like a ex-junkie misses his kit, but it’s something I need to do, so I can go on with the rest of my life. We’ll get an RV if I really have to out on the road someday.

Many drivers leave their wives at home and those women that put up with the addiction  lifestyle are truly strong and dedicated (there’s help for families called Al-anon). It’s not the best way to have a real relationship, let alone a marriage. Trying to have a life outside of your addiction is near impossible because the addiction takes over and wants every second of your time. You can’t schedule an appointment and do the things you need to take care of your life, because you never know when you’re going to be out getting high and will have to cancel or reschedule the appointment (again).

Even when you’re taking a break and are around others who aren’t as obsessed about your addiction as your are, you’re always thinking of the next fix. The next time you go out you finally feel relaxed, back on the road, yeah baby! This is where it’s at. Just like smoker’s hanging out in the doorways, truckers hang out at truckstops where we can be with others that share the pains of our addiction.

Ask a smoker or if you are a smoker, think about the way you feel when it’s been awhile since your last fix. When it finally happens, it’s a big aaaahhhh moment, the anticipation was killing you, but now you’re finally relaxed even though nicotine causes your heart to race and your blood pressure to rise. You’re brain is happy and the rest of your body follows orders and cooperates. After the initial “rush” starts to wear off, you’re kicking yourself. Why did you do this again? You hate it so much and it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to keep doing this over and over and yet you do it again and again. You hate it, but there are still some good times inbetween the bad times where you can just relax and enjoy it.

Quitting any addiction takes a lot of work and support from family members. Some drivers may need an intervention because they don’t know when to quit, but their family members don’t know how to go about getting their loved ones back into their lives.

Great idea for a new reality show. It’s a cross between Dog the Bounty Hunter and Trick My Truck. When a driver pulls into a truck stop, Dog and his crew grab him, cuff him and drag him to the intervention center that looks like a Chrome Shop. Or not.

I could be full of hot air, but tell me you don’t see some of the addiction signs in the trucking lifestyle! Addictions don’t have to be bad, but they can turn bad if not treated. They didn’t call it White Line Fever for nothing.

I like this definition from medterms.com

Definition of Addiction
Addiction: A chronic relapsing condition characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and abuse and by long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. Addiction is the same irrespective of whether the drug is alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or nicotine. Every addictive substance induces pleasant states or relieves distress. Continued use of the addictive substance induces adaptive changes in the brain that lead to tolerance, physical dependence, uncontrollable craving and, all too often, relapse. Dependence is at such a point that stopping is very difficult and causes severe physical and mental reactions from withdrawal. The risk of addiction is in part inherited. Genetic factors, for example, account for about 40% of the risk of alcoholism. The genetic factors predisposing to addiction are not yet fully understood.

I forgot about genetics. How many truck drivers do you know, who’s fathers were truck drivers? This one is pretty good too. It’s too long, click on the link.

The Medical Definition of Addiction

It’s funny and yet it’s not. I know too many drivers that are too old to be out on the road and would rather be fishing, but they can’t. I’m just trying not to become one of them. More about my withdrawals later.