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DUEL with the DEVIL

Viewing comments for Chapter 13 "DUEL with the DEVIL - Chapter 13"
The problem of creating a non-addictive painkiller

19 total reviews 
Comment from Pearl Edwards
Excellent
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For me this chapter, Julia's .information was a bit too long, in particular the physical and psychological aspect of the addiction. I realise it helped to set up the fact that addiction has nosocial barriers, it can happren to anyone.
cheers
valda

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 15-Jul-2024
    This was one of the longer chapters so far, but I wanted to introduce the idea of psychological addiction because it figures so heavily in the novel later on. I also wanted to show some of the different reasons for getting hooked on drugs--not just pain management--and also some of the problems that arise when drugs are mixed with alcohol or other drugs.
Comment from T B Botts
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Hello Jim,
this was a good chapter, very informative, however, it was a little bit long. I can understand why it might have to be in order to set the stage, but I was starting to get a bit overwhelmed by it all. I liked the way you incorporated the jerks in the class, but I kind of wished that the director had smacked them upside the head with a board or something. I guess you can't do that though- too bad.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom

 Comment Written 12-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 12-Jul-2024
    Hey, Tom. Yeah, this one was a little longer than usual, but she is so adorable, I didn't think anyone would mind :)

    Gotta have a few wiseguys in the crowd for comic relief in a harrowing tale.
Comment from lancellot
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It's a nice, clean chapter. I have to say, it reads like an after school special for young people. That is not a bad thing, just a very PG Hallmark thing. I think that coupled with the solid writing and editing will go over well with the FanStory readers. Good work.

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 11-Jul-2024
    Thanks, Lance. If I were ever to attempt to publish it, I would probably classify it as YA or NA. It will soon get sexually graphic, which may move it out of being YA, though.
reply by lancellot on 11-Jul-2024
    I would avoid going R-rated. It would be out of sync with rest of the book.
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2024
    It will be a natural evolution and the way it happens in reality. That may turn it from a YA to an NA book, though, but I've read that sex scenes are a part of some YA books too.
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
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This is an interesting discussion about how to become mentally addicted to drugs even more than the original reason for taking them. The younger addicts in the group spend a lot of time making fun of someone when they have problems also.

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 11-Jul-2024
    That's exactly why they are so dangerous. It's the fact that pleasure-causing is an aspect of the thing which is used for pain relief. If only the two could be separated.

    Always a few cutups.
Comment from LJbutterfly
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This chapter is packed with a lot of information about the effects of drugs that many people are not aware of. It was clever to have Brian and Julia addicted to two different types of drugs for different reasons. Julia initially wanted to reduce stress, and Brian wanted to reduce pain. I look forward to what you have in store for us next.

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 11-Jul-2024
    We need single-function drugs that divorce pleasure from the true purpose of the drug. Only the weakest painkillers do that now. So glad you're enjoying it, Lorraine.
Comment from lyenochka
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It's a good idea to discuss "psychological addiction". This group is already helping Brian since he can understand more about how he got addicted, first to avoid the pain but later to the high of the drugs.
The annoying boys in the group add some humor and levity and the reminder of how young the kids are.

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 10-Jul-2024
    Yeah, sometimes a little comic relief is necessary when discussing serious topics.

    I think its easier to get off physical addiction than psychological addiction. With physical addiction, you can taper off until your body slowly gets used to not having it. Your mind is a different thing, though.
reply by lyenochka on 10-Jul-2024
    Made me wonder if we can have psychological addiction to OTC drugs...
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2024
    I don't think that's very common or they wouldn't be OTC. I know you can get physically addicted to some if you use them too much, though, like Afrin, the nasal decongestion spray.
Comment from royowen
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I seem to be someone who can become addicted to one thing to cure another propensity, so I became addicted to God, and then discovered I could write, and the rest, as they say, is history, God may not cure us of the personality, but He can channel it, some things are meant to be, blessings Roy
Typo : How (did) she become..

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 10-Jul-2024
    You've got it, Roy. There are definitely healthy addictions that can take the place of harmful ones.

    Concerning the "typo", although, I didn't mention it, those boys are black kids from the inner city, and that's frequently the way they talk. They call it "black English."
Comment from Ulla
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Well I would say that Brian can learn a lot from this, Jim.
You are doing a great job of describing what substance abuse is like and how it started in Julia's case. All best, Ulla;)))

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 10-Jul-2024
    Thank you, Ulla. There are many different ways it can begin, but they all seem to have pleasure-seeking in common.
Comment from jmdg1954
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Jim,
This is a fantastic chapter for do many reasons. Kids put enough pressure on themselves, especially girls as far in school stuff. Our daughter received one B grade in her life up through High School. It was like her world collapsed around her, while our boys were ecstatic receiving B's.

I could go on and on, but it's about your post and it was phenomenal. You nailed it.

Keep the flow going...
John

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 10-Jul-2024
    Thanks so much, John, and for the 6 too.

    My daughter was the same way you describe. We would never have said anything negative about that one B, but she developed her own drive for perfection. I'm sure it was the same way with your family.
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I learned about addiction on a University course I did online and addiction could affect anyone. It sounds like this therapy group is going to help Brian as it is good to identify without someone else going through the same experiences. This is a decent girl who had a fantastic career ahead of her and her nerves got the better of her one day and this started her addiction. A realistic chapter Jim, much enjoyed, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 10-Jul-2024


reply by the author on 10-Jul-2024
    Thanks so much, Dolly, and for those 6 stars too. I'm very appreciative. These groups can be great for kids to let them know they aren't alone in their problems, and they learn alternatives too. There will be some more of this in the next couple of chapters.
reply by Dolly'sPoems on 11-Jul-2024
    You are most welcome Jim, well deserved x