In a time of widespread unemployment and economic uncertainty, it makes sense that an increasing number of adults are turning to candy to boost their spirits.

According to ShoppingBlog.com: “Cadbury (CBY) reported a 30% rise in profits for 2008 while Nestle's profits grew by 10.9%, according to public filings. Hershey (HSY), which struggled for much of 2008, saw profits jump by 8.5% in the fourth quarter.”

Jamie Hallman, owner of the Sweetdish candy store in San Francisco's Marina district of San Francisco, summed it up: "All is well in Candy Land."

With barbiturates and amphetamines sadly beyond the means of most -- particularly those who've lost their health coverage -- sugar is a cheap alternative, relatively speaking. (I’m on Weight Watchers (WTW) myself, trying to shed about 30 pounds.) The beauty of Weight Watchers is that they don’t care what you eat, though they do prescribe a balanced diet. Fortunately, my nutritional research on food indicates many candies have no fat.

As I track my Weight Watchers “points” each day, I eat no-fat candy instead of real food and pretend I’m getting away with something. Like barbiturates and amphetamines, high levels of sugar in my system make the parade of CEOs from GM (GM), Bank of America (BAC), JPMorgan (JPM), Merrill Lynch, AIG (AIG) and others less irritating.

With a mouth full of Super Bubble, even the 2 $59.5 million-dollar corporate jets that bailout recipient JPMorgan has on order didn’t faze me.

Bubble gum was my drug of choice - the one that drove me to rehab. Like other adults chasing the sugar high, I've returned to a sentimental childhood favorite. It only makes sense if you're trying to comfort yourself.

My first and only shoplifting bust -- the one where my Dad made me go back and confess to the store manager, throw myself on his mercy, pay for the gum, and promise to never do it again -- was over bubble gum. It was right in the checkout aisle, strategically placed at hand- and pocket-level for 5-year-old addicts like me.

As any 12-step veteran will tell you, once an addict, always an addict. Last week I had to do to a meeting and confess that I was dirty again. “My name is John, and I’m a bubble-gum addict.”