The True Cost of Addiction

Before we met, I could honestly say that I had never been addicted to anything. I never drank much, wasn't a smoker, and couldn't be bothered altering my brain chemistry with anything recreational. I did have a fondness for those blue whale jujubes and would fill my scrub pockets with them to see me through a night-shift in the ER. But no permanent damage came of it.

Then I met my lovely Brit. We travelled quite a lot in our early days together and I was introduced to new temptations in Paris, Belgium, Amsterdam, Jamaica. He convinced me that herbal tea was not the answer and soon I was hooked.

Like most addicts, it started out as a social thing but I knew I could quit any time. But as time passed, I was only interested in the quality stuff. I needed a little jolt to get me up in the morning, and gradually needed a few more to get me through the day.

Our needs have escalated from instant to ground, to beans, to dark roast beans, to double strength dark roast. So for Christmas this year, I broke down and bought Tony as expresso maker....with all the bells and whistles. Now we can make ourselves a triple expresso or a latte(to prevent bone loss)with the touch of a button in the privacy of our own home. Our girls love the smell of coffee and I've promised Grace that if she gets to 3 feet tall, I'll let her take a sip. I don't want to stunt her growth.

I've never had a problem sleeping despite my coffee addiction, but lately, I find that a triple expresso before bed keeps me awake...and then I lay in bed thinking of ways to renovate my house...and then we require more coffee to cope with the aftermath.

Yes, addiction can be very costly.