--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tried to give up drugs by drinking." description: "\"I tried to give up drugs by drinking.\" — Lou Reed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/lou-reed-1654_drinking_i-tried-to-give-up-drugs-by-drinking-112_1124478.png" --- # I tried to give up drugs by drinking. ![“I tried to give up drugs by drinking.” quote by Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/lou-reed-1654_drinking_i-tried-to-give-up-drugs-by-drinking-112_1124478.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/lou-reed-1654_drinking_i-tried-to-give-up-drugs-by-drinking-112_1124478.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/lou-reed-1654_drinking_i-tried-to-give-up-drugs-by-drinking-112_1124478.png) > “I tried to give up drugs by drinking.” [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He attempts to replace drug use with alcohol, highlighting a substitution coping strategy. **In simple terms:** Swapping one addiction for another. Key Takeaway Seek healthier coping mechanisms. Themes addiction substitution self‑destruction Mood despair introspective Type song lyric personal confession When to use this quote - rehabilitation - personal struggle - self‑help Key Concepts coping strategies substance abuse Questions to Reflect On - What healthier habit could replace harmful ones? - How can you break the cycle? A Different Perspective Substitution may not address underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs/) [Drugs Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-drinking-2958964/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober/) [Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried/) [Tried Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-drugs-691313/) ## Related quotes > [I've got this weird body chemistry that I don't like to get high. I'm not going to say I never tried drugs. I tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-ve-got-this-weird-body-chemistry-that-i-don-t-like-to-get-high-i-m/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [“My drug of choice is love. 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I rather look into the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-think-life-is-far-too-short-to-concentrate-on-your-past-i-rather/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The only thing constantly changing is change, and change is always changing for the worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-only-thing-constantly-changing-is-change-and-change-is-always/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The first generation of CDs sounded terrible. 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I live out in the wilds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/sometimes-you-ve-got-to-be-in-a-place-you-re-just-another-guy-you-can/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [How could you even dream or think something of someone who is as uncommercial as I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/how-could-you-even-dream-or-think-something-of-someone-who-is-as/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [All the people have gone to war leaving no interrogator to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/all-the-people-have-gone-to-war-leaving-no-interrogator-to-mind/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I always thought martial arts was the most modern choreography we could have right now, and I always wanted to put it to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-always-thought-martial-arts-was-the-most-modern-choreography-we/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) [Explore all 219 Lou Reed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## More Drinking quotes > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [You owe me a drink, you're so ugly I dropped mine when I saw you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-owe-me-a-drink-you-re-so-ugly-i-dropped-mine-when-i-saw-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We were still twirling around the tiny parking lot when the neighbors screamed 'Happy New Year'. 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