DUEL with the DEVIL
Viewing comments for Chapter 13 "DUEL with the DEVIL - Chapter 13"The problem of creating a non-addictive painkiller
20 total reviews
Comment from Neonewman
This is an excellent chapter, Jim. The description of addiction is detailed and necessary. It felt longer than previous chapters, but I don't mind as I believe it was necessary for the description.
God bless,
Steve
reply by the author on 28-Sep-2024
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This is an excellent chapter, Jim. The description of addiction is detailed and necessary. It felt longer than previous chapters, but I don't mind as I believe it was necessary for the description.
God bless,
Steve
Comment Written 27-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 28-Sep-2024
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Thanks, Steve. Yes, this was one of the longer chapters, but gave us some good insight into Julia's situation. Raffi brings to light an important part of drug addiction--that it is much more than just a physical addiction.
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Absolutely, I feel it necessary to be informative about things most folks don't understand. It builds character and understanding as well as empathy.
God bless,
Steve
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I'm hoping to be able to catch up on some reading today. I'm not sure I'll be able to get much done. Never enough time in the day. At 3:02 p.m. my mother has something planned, like every year on this day. I'll have to be present, lol.
God bless,
Steve
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At precisely 3:02, huh? That's interesting. There must be a story behind that.
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Yup! That's what time I was born.
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Got it.
Comment from Pearl Edwards
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
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2024
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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
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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
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
reply by the author on 12-Jul-2024
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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
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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
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.
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2024
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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
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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.
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I would avoid going R-rated. It would be out of sync with rest of the book.
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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
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.
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2024
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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
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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
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.
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2024
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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
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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
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.
reply by the author on 10-Jul-2024
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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
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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.
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Made me wonder if we can have psychological addiction to OTC drugs...
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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
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..
reply by the author on 10-Jul-2024
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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
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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
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;)))
reply by the author on 10-Jul-2024
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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
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Thank you, Ulla. There are many different ways it can begin, but they all seem to have pleasure-seeking in common.
Comment from jmdg1954
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
reply by the author on 10-Jul-2024
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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
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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.