Monkey on my back


By the way, this is not me. And I did not mean the monkey.
See also: http://www.answers.com/topic/monkey-on-one-s-back
1. Drug addiction, as in He'd had a monkey on his back for at least two years. [Slang; first half of 1900s]
2. A vexing problem or burden, as in This project has proved to be a monkey on my back--there seems to be no end to it. Both usages allude to being unable to shake off the animal from one's back.

Dictionary of American Slang, 1960:
"monkey on [one's[ back" Drug addiction, considered as a financial, physical, mental, and moral responsibility; the drug habit; lit., a strong addiction that one spends most of one's energy to support. --Common addict use, now universally known. When without drugs an addict feels weighted down and depressed, when buying drugs an addict is supporting pushers and his drug habit, thus, fig., the addict carries an extra burden; it may be a large or small monkey--some have a $100-a-day monkey. Perhaps based on the obs. "have a turkey on one's back."


Atlas carried a lot more load on his shoulder!