In a SHTF scenario what addiction are you going to be dealing with?

I'm not really addicted to any substances. I never smoke. Had a drink, didn't get he hype. Caffeine makes me feel like I'm a druggie, and the withdrawal is not worth the high. I'm allergic to milk, so all types of chocolate is out of the picture (doesn't matter anyway, I've had every type of chocolate candy in my earlier years so I'm not missing anything there).

I'd probably be more focused on finding food and supplies for my family. To pass the time, all I would need is a basketball and a garbage can cut in half. We can tie each part on a pole, and run a full court game.

I have a few vices...and because of them I have done a lot of looking into plants and their properties. I have plans on being a sort of medicine woman in a SHTF scenario. For those who take things like psych meds...there are ethnogens that may help you. Things like Kava Kava have been shown to be effective against anxiety and depression. There are plants that can be used to make pain tinctures....plants that can be used to make withdrawal from pharmaceuticals easier. Nutmeg can help you come off a few hard substances. And for those who like the ciggys....maybe think about growing some of your own tobacco. I wont go into too many details as certain plants get you in trouble on here but will say...do your research friends. erowid and other sites are your friends....... nature has your back.

Quercetin is a plant derived compound that can help with allergies so you might wanna stock up on suppliments as well as increase things like Citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine, which are all naturally high in said compound. Stinging Nettle is also a natural antihistamine. You can make a tincture or tea with it....just wear gloves when handling. Also...get a Netti pot to keep your head irrigated.

Learn to make wine or bathtub hooch. Even if you dont imbibe yourself....it can make for a good trade down the line.

I would miss the net as it is my window to the world but I will somehow manage if I lose it. There will be plenty to keep me busy. I would probably go back to painting and writing more.....and I have a massive personal library so there is always reading.


Also...to all the sugar junkies....get a stevia plant. Its much sweeter than sugar and chewing a leaf can help kill a sugar jones. PLus you can use the powdered leaf as sugar will become scarce quickly if the SHTF. Carob can be a good chocolate substitute. You can make a solar oven out of a pizza box....if you have the ingredients on hand you could make brownies or cookies in it as they get past 300 degrees if you do it right.

Originally posted by haven123

What he said

reply to post by lonewolf19792000
Great point about the children. I hadn't even thought about that. Most younger people are additicted to iphones, internet, games, and getting what they want when they want.

I would miss the internet and ATS. ATS is my place to go for original and different views on the crap that's going on in the world. Oops, did I mention nicotine addiction. . .Cigarettes are one of my weaknesses. But, I have quit before and know what to expect, my addiction is more psychological than physical. I also take anti depressants for anxiety attacks. I take meds for type 2 diabetes, but that might cure itself if refined carbs are not available. I think that is it. My significant other, that's a whole other ball game. . .beer, beer and more beer, cigarettes, the other type of cigarettes, diabetes meds, and sports, lots and lots of sports.

OP, thanks for the post, very interesting reading the responses.

Originally posted by hypervigilant
I just counted up my addictions and it scares me.. They are coffee, chocolate, hard candy, tobacco, cyclobenzaprine, lorazepam, tramadol and morphine... Tobacco and chocolate withdrawals are the worst.

You think chocolate and Tobacco are worse then morphine......



I have some pretty painful news for ya either you have never stopped trying to take a opiate or you are not a addict. If it is the first one you are in for a big and I mean a BIG surprise.




Coming off of a opiate of any kind is hell on earth and I would not wish it on anyone. It is the worst withdrawal of any drug times 10.




It is really bad for the first 5 days and then slowly gets better and the better is still really bad.

Red Wine and lotion. I have really dry, itchy skin, and like the relaxation that a glass of wine produces.

Maybe my pillow too, there will be no room to take my giant pillow, and I tend to take that everywhere I travel.

Ditto on the allergy meds and miosturizer. I'd also like to throw sunscreen into the ring... I am very fair skinned, and if sunscreen is not available I will be in big trouble. Luckily, I do know how to cover up with long sleeves and hats if it comes to that, but I live in Arizona and in 115 degrees, that is very tedious. No matter, though, I would head North.

On a more mundane level, dark chocolate, and I would seriously miss a good micro-brew.

Tell you what I would NOT miss....

Clocks! Schedules, deadlines, on-call duty, shift rotations, etc...

When we go camping, we naturally get tired when the sun goes down and wake up when it rises. At home, I stay up later and want to sleep in later (although my dogs rarely allow it). I think the former is more natural and healthy, but my work schedule forces me into the latter. I just can't bring myself to go to sleep as soon as I arrive home.

So, there is an addiction I would be more than happy to give up - the addiction to keeping track of time.

Cheese - yes, CHEESE

I am totally NOT joking

And meat - I need protein in general

I tried putting cheese in a can in my preps, but it gave me bad sinus problems - that stuff is whack

Originally posted by irsuccubus
I have a few vices...and because of them I have done a lot of looking into plants and their properties. I have plans on being a sort of medicine woman in a SHTF scenario. For those who take things like psych meds...there are ethnogens that may help you. Things like Kava Kava have been shown to be effective against anxiety and depression. There are plants that can be used to make pain tinctures....plants that can be used to make withdrawal from pharmaceuticals easier. Nutmeg can help you come off a few hard substances. And for those who like the ciggys....maybe think about growing some of your own tobacco. I wont go into too many details as certain plants get you in trouble on here but will say...do your research friends. erowid and other sites are your friends....... nature has your back.

Quercetin is a plant derived compound that can help with allergies so you might wanna stock up on suppliments as well as increase things like Citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine, which are all naturally high in said compound. Stinging Nettle is also a natural antihistamine. You can make a tincture or tea with it....just wear gloves when handling. Also...get a Netti pot to keep your head irrigated.

Learn to make wine or bathtub hooch. Even if you dont imbibe yourself....it can make for a good trade down the line.

I would miss the net as it is my window to the world but I will somehow manage if I lose it. There will be plenty to keep me busy. I would probably go back to painting and writing more.....and I have a massive personal library so there is always reading.

Also...to all the sugar junkies....get a stevia plant. Its much sweeter than sugar and chewing a leaf can help kill a sugar jones. PLus you can use the powdered leaf as sugar will become scarce quickly if the SHTF. Carob can be a good chocolate substitute. You can make a solar oven out of a pizza box....if you have the ingredients on hand you could make brownies or cookies in it as they get past 300 degrees if you do it right.

I would respectfully add that diligent caution should always be exercised when using a Netti pot. Netti pot deaths have happened recently with people using what they considered to be 'clean' tap water. As explained on this site:

Use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution.

If there were to ever be a shtf situation, I would certainly wonder just how clean a water supply would be.

For me, it's just asthma. Pretty sure I can survive without booze and fags. Yet you can bet my backside I'll be on the hunt for some ventolin, and may be forced to kill for it Not being able to breathe is far more important to me than getting high. Although, in a non SHTF situation (ie, current day) it's definitely the other way round

Soda, I have tried kicking that habit but it horrid getting off it. Other things that would be against TOS, I don't have any problems if I couldn't get any.

though people with asthma, I believe there are natural remedies, should look them up.

Where to begin......

mostly I'll miss the internet. I think I, we'll, find a substitute for most drugs. I'll miss the internet. I'll miss this.

Maybe this will make some of you stop and look for alternatives to what you'll be missing out on. Herbal medicines may not be the cure for much needed medications but there are some that could ease the ailments. You don't know unless you look. One person mentioned they would miss their fan. Me too but maybe a solar fan with battery could be charged up during the day and used at night.
There are solutions. Maybe not for an opiate addiction but Valerian root or something similar could help calm the effects of coming off of smoking and help you sleep those otherwise restless nights.
Someone mentioned cheese. Well learn how to make it with evaporated milk.

I like how people say things like, "Geez, coming off soda would be really hard. But for you asthma sufferers, I think there is some natural remedy!"

Maybe the soda folks should try a natural remedy.

Maybe natural remedies are not available far and wide.

Maybe they are, but neither asthmatics nor soda drinkers know how to prepare or use them. Yeah?

reply to post by TheLieWeLive


I have read that if you eat honey that is local to your area and not pasteurized that it will build up your resistance because of the pollen in it . Another good thing is honey never spoils so its great to stockpile it !

reply to post by GrannyJones


You what women used to do before sanitary napkins right?

Really don"t want to explain here but you can google it.

Uhm you wont be watching the news when the shtf. But chocolate and. Coca cola here

reply to post by SeesFar


Keep a good supply of bleach on hand...just a drop can do wonders to a gallon of water.

Milk, Ice cold milk. Cigarettes adventually when I run out. But milk is gonna be a hard one to deal with. I can vent my own, distill my own, and grow my own. But milk, red cap bad for ya milk. I'll miss it.