/sci/ - Science & Math

so what's really going on with addiction?
i take amphetamine every day, and have done for years, as prescribed. i don't really feel much in the way of compulsion to do it. if i miss a day or two, i don't feel an urge to take some, i just feel more sleepy and i remember "ah yeah i didn't take any speed today".

but, at the start of covid, i started vaping. i dunno why, i have never smoked a cigarette before. but, there is a different "compulsion" feeling with nicotine. almost like i am "encouraged" to do it by something in my brain. like i understand how addiction works and all, but i also don't notice any subjective effects from the nicotine.

when i take amphetamine, within an hour or so i definitely notice the change in consciousness. i feel more motivated, there's a clear "okay i've taken something" feeling. like what happens when you notice that you're drunk. same sort of thing.
but with nicotine, i don't notice anything at all. hitting a vape doesn't result in any tangible change in my experience, yet, it makes the "hey you should go vape" encouragement-feeling go away for a bit.
akin to scratching an itch. i want to learn more about this but i don't really know what i'm trying to describe.