Ask the Addict - May 21, 2009

Im not trying to be rude here. I just stumbled across your website and Im curious. Let’s say that lip balm is addictive. Where’s the harm? It’s cheap and it’s harmless. Cigarettes, alcohol, drugs are all potentially harmful substances so stopping addictions to them is serious business. When I think about an addiction to lip balm (I never even thought about it before today) I kinda think ’so what?’.
Caroline Lucas

Well, Caroline, should we make a list of the most harmful substances and only work on those? Meth: bad. Heroin: bad. ChapStick: not as bad. Trouble is, I’ve never used meth or heroin. We focus on what we know. And that’s lip balm.

For years I noticed people who used lip balms used it chronically.  I began to keep track of the useage and noticed that some sort of addiction seemed to be there.  I use it only when I ski.  This is when I noticed that many people used it year round whether they were indoors, outdoors or just watching TV at home.  I am really excited to see a website such as yours to raise awareness.  I haven’t read your website yet.  But, I hope that there is scientific evidence to find the source of the addiction.  
Dennis B.

There’s plenty of scientific evidence… in the vaults of the major balm companies. 

Can you recommend a good lip balm, because all the ones I use tend to become gloopy and coagulate on my lips about 20 mins after application?
Nadia

 Uh, I think you’ve missed the point of this website…

Hi Kevin,if you can spend all this time since 1995 on this site, the least we can do is spend 45 seconds as a reminder, that in truth, the world needs more people like you…not less. Continue to enjoy life. 
Warm regards,
Ric

Well, thanks for the kind words. It humbles us when we hear from people who have been touched by our efforts.