--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Smoking dope and smoking coke, you are…" description: "\"Smoking dope and smoking coke, you are rendered defenseless. The only way out of that hopeless state is intervention.\" — Robert Downey, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/robert-downey-jr-3620_addiction_smoking-dope-and-smoking-coke-you-are-re_2021459.png" --- # Smoking dope and smoking coke, you are rendered… ![“Smoking dope and smoking coke, you are rendered defenseless. The only way out of that hopeless state is intervention.” quote by Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/robert-downey-jr-3620_addiction_smoking-dope-and-smoking-coke-you-are-re_2021459.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/robert-downey-jr-3620_addiction_smoking-dope-and-smoking-coke-you-are-re_2021459.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/robert-downey-jr-3620_addiction_smoking-dope-and-smoking-coke-you-are-re_2021459.png) > “Smoking dope and smoking coke, you are rendered defenseless. The only way out of that hopeless state is intervention.” [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes drug use as disabling, urging intervention to escape hopelessness **In simple terms:** Addiction leaves you powerless; seek help to recover Key Takeaway Intervention is essential for recovery Themes addiction vulnerability hope Mood empathetic hopeful Type health inspirational When to use this quote - rehabilitation programs - support groups - policy advocacy Key Concepts psychology public health Questions to Reflect On - What supports make intervention effective? - How can society reduce stigma around addiction? A Different Perspective Recovery may be hindered by stigma ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coke/) [Defenseless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenseless/) [Defenseless Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenseless-way-3663763/) [Dope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dope/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drug addict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug-addict/) [Drug addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug-addiction/) [Hopeless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopeless/) [Hopeless State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopeless-state-824432/) [Intervention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intervention/) [Rendered Defenseless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rendered-defenseless-3663762/) [Smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking/) [Smoking dope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking-dope/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [I don't have any politics. I feel that as soon as politics arises, things are already in a hopeless state of deterioration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/i-don-t-have-any-politics-i-feel-that-as-soon-as-politics-arises/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [Smoking dope and hanging up Che's picture is no more a commitment than drinking milk and collecting postage stamps. A revolution in consciousness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbie-hoffman/smoking-dope-and-hanging-up-che-s-picture-is-no-more-a-commitment-3/) [Abbie Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbie-hoffman/) > [I went on a diet, stopped smoking dope, cut out the drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I lost two weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humaira/i-went-on-a-diet-stopped-smoking-dope-cut-out-the-drinking-and-heavy/) [Humaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humaira/) > [I discovered rock'n'roll. You could go round Europe in a van with your best mates, drinking beer, smoking dope and screwing chicks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-discovered-rock-n-roll-you-could-go-round-europe-in-a-van-with-your/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [When I left Nashville I went to Texas because that's where I came from, and because I was playing in Texas a lot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/when-i-left-nashville-i-went-to-texas-because-that-s-where-i-came/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [Smoking dope and hanging up Che's picture is no more a commitment than drinking milk and collecting postage stamps. A revolution in consciousness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/smoking-dope-and-hanging-up-che-s-picture-is-no-more-a-commitment-2/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [“I was not rebelling by smoking dope or drinking, I was testing ideas. I was experimenting with voice, what I could say and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-was-not-rebelling-by-smoking-dope-or-drinking-i-was-testing-ideas-i/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [In my day, the principal concerns of university students were sex, smoking dope, rioting and learning. Learning was something you did only when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/in-my-day-the-principal-concerns-of-university-students-were-sex/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [“Sitting on the train I watch the scenery speeding by, notice a cobweb in the top corner of the window, undulating with a gentle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lewry/sitting-on-the-train-i-watch-the-scenery-speeding-by-notice-a-cobweb/) [Christine Lewry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lewry/) > [Smoking dope and hanging up Che's picture is no more a commitment than drinking milk and collecting postage stamps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbie-hoffman/smoking-dope-and-hanging-up-che-s-picture-is-no-more-a-commitment/) [Abbie Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbie-hoffman/) > [“defenseless. You come to the aid of the righteous. Am I right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcfarlane/defenseless-you-come-to-the-aid-of-the-righteous-am-i-right/) [Jamie McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcfarlane/) > [“A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-fike/a-person-without-self-control-is-as-defenseless-as-a-city-with-broken/) [Al Fike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-fike/) > [“There's no room for selfishness when you have a defenseless human being depending on you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-asher/there-s-no-room-for-selfishness-when-you-have-a-defenseless-human/) [Mia Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-asher/) > [The tango is the man and woman in search of each other. It is the search for an embrace, a way to be together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-carlos-copes/the-tango-is-the-man-and-woman-in-search-of-each-other-it-is-the/) [Juan Carlos Copes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-carlos-copes/) > [What I have against religion is that they start you when you are so defenseless. I mean, I was three when they started pumping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/what-i-have-against-religion-is-that-they-start-you-when-you-are-so/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by Robert Downey, Jr > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Discipline for me is about respect. It's not even about self-respect; it's about respect for life and all it offers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/discipline-for-me-is-about-respect-it-s-not-even-about-self-respect/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Give me a scotch, I'm starving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/give-me-a-scotch-i-m-starving/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [People never change because they are under threat or under duress. Never. They change because they see something that makes their life seem valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/people-never-change-because-they-are-under-threat-or-under-duress/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Remember that just because you hit bottom doesn't mean you have to stay there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/remember-that-just-because-you-hit-bottom-doesn-t-mean-you-have-to/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I don't like words coming out of a character's mouth that I adore because not only is he a little bit duplicitous but he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-don-t-like-words-coming-out-of-a-character-s-mouth-that-i-adore/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I don't want to be so confident in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-don-t-want-to-be-so-confident-in-myself/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Pick a dysfunction and it's a family problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/pick-a-dysfunction-and-it-s-a-family-problem/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [My old man had a philosophy: peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/my-old-man-had-a-philosophy-peace-means-having-a-bigger-stick-than/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Nobody learns a German aria overnight, except Jared Harris.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/nobody-learns-a-german-aria-overnight-except-jared-harris/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [You can't go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary, and really understand it, and come out a liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/you-can-t-go-from-a-2-000-a-night-suite-at-la-mirage-to-a/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I'm an actor, a husband, a father of two, and a full-time Avenger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-m-an-actor-a-husband-a-father-of-two-and-a-full-time-avenger/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I take some pride in... representing myself exactly how I would like to have my son remember me to his kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-take-some-pride-in-representing-myself-exactly-how-i-would-like-to/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/peace-means-having-a-bigger-stick-than-the-other-guy/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I've always just shown up and tried to figure out what's for lunch and am I going to get to play some racquetball that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-ve-always-just-shown-up-and-tried-to-figure-out-what-s-for-lunch/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) [Explore all 126 Robert Downey, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) ## More Addiction quotes > [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/) [Robbin Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbin-crosby/) > [“The idea that creative endeavor and mind-altering substances are entwined is one of the great pop-intellectual myths of our time... Creative people probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-idea-that-creative-endeavor-and-mind-altering-substances-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I really think the disease aspect gets lost when you're talking about alcoholism and addiction; it's not like you're battling leukemia or a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-irsay/i-really-think-the-disease-aspect-gets-lost-when-you-re-talking-about/) [Jim Irsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-irsay/) > [I had an addiction to artificial points of success. Like being able to run for this or run for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/i-had-an-addiction-to-artificial-points-of-success-like-being-able-to/) [Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/) > [“Addictions are just symptoms of underlying issues, and in my view Nikki self-medicated the emotional pain of his childhood, and being away from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/addictions-are-just-symptoms-of-underlying-issues-and-in-my-view/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [“Oil. The great addiction of the civilized world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-warren/oil-the-great-addiction-of-the-civilized-world/) [Andrew Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-warren/) > [“They say when you fall in love in love with someone that person becomes like a drug,an addiction you don't want to live without.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-when-you-fall-in-love-in-love-with-someone-that-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Addictions - Run to Jesus instead of running to your addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/addictions-run-to-jesus-instead-of-running-to-your-addiction/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Music is my personal addiction. So much of everything I've done has only been to open more doors for the music itself. It all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/music-is-my-personal-addiction-so-much-of-everything-i-ve-done-has/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [“I am made of a thousand ghosts. Only you can shoot me down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-james/i-am-made-of-a-thousand-ghosts-only-you-can-shoot-me-down/) [Bella James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-james/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [Cold sweats, hallucinations I wanna speed to stop. The hell I'm going through The addiction's taking you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bullet-for-my-valentine/cold-sweats-hallucinations-i-wanna-speed-to-stop-the-hell-i-m-going/) [Bullet For My Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bullet-for-my-valentine/) > [As addictions go, reading is among the cleanest, easiest to feed, happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/as-addictions-go-reading-is-among-the-cleanest-easiest-to-feed/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/) [David Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-norman/) > [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) [Browse all 2,134 Addiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Smoking dope and smoking coke, you are rendered defenseless. 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