Spice addiction

[Emperor Harkonnen]

What happens when a spice addict doesn't get melange for a long period of time?

Is this mentioned in any of the books?

[Andrew]

I'm pretty sure it is mentioned in the books. I forget exactly. Depends if you are talking about bene gesserit or normal people. They definitely go through withdrawal just like a drug. In God Emperor of Dune I think people went through withdrawals because the emperor was hoarding all the spice. It also provided good health and long life. Same for Heretics of Dune. Tleilaxu controlled spice production (they could create it without worms) and would not share it much with bene gesserit or others. I'm sure spice embargoes on planets would be very effective.

[Emperor Harkonnen]

ok, but speaking of the drug giving long life. How long would a person normally live without melange? For example Miles Teg it is mentioned being about 300 years old, and he was not addicted to spice.(or was he?)

[Dante]

It would be possible to gain benefits from the spice (longer lifespan for example) without being addicted to it, as I recall. Actual addicts would go through severe withdrawal symptoms if their supply was withdrawn, and I believe in serious cases (the Bene Gesserit?) would die. Teg was not, I think, an addict.

[MrFlibble]

Concerning Teg, I'm not sure but somehow I believe it is stated in Heretics that he lived to up to 300 years without consuming any melange at all. If I'm correct (which I doubt), this means that human lifespan had increased significantly ??? Those who used melange lived even longer - again I'm not sure, this might be an utter mistake :) I'll check the book as soon as I get the mood to do it.

The feelings of a Spice addict are depicted through Odrade's eyes in a chapter in Chapterhouse. Something about the "first cup of melange coffee in the morning". Again, my memory may be playing tricks on me here :)

[Emperor Harkonnen]

Is it mentioned how long a person can live if he consumes melange through his whole life? Like 500 years?

And I think Teg had tried it, but I am sure he didn't consume it regularly.

[MrFlibble]

I surely need to re-read the last two books of the hexalogy, but I don't have the time yet.

[Emperor Harkonnen]

I am currently reading heretics, I have about a fourth of the book left, but haven't found anything about how long one can live with spice.

I am going to read the last book afterwards, perhaps something is there.

[Emperor Harkonnen]

I found it in Chapterhouse on page 195, in the UK edition I think.

Odrade speaks to Streggi about melange withdrawal.

quote from Chapterhouse:

"Withdrawal removes an essential of your life and, if it occurs in late middle age, can kill you"

[MrFlibble]

Well, it is said in connection with Schwangyu's age in Heretics, if I'm not mistaken, that 100 years wasn't "too old" or something like that. I'll give an exact quote when I have time.

[Emperor Harkonnen]

of course 100 wasn't too old when Teg was 300 without it. I assume a Reverend Mother would live to become about 500 years, does that sound reasonable? Sounds a bit too much, but I would estimate that from how old Teg was...