Comment Addiction is a disease (Score 1) 511
I read through a handful of comments and for the first time, felt compelled to post a comment. I don't blame you for your negativity so I hope you will read what I have to say with an open mind.
First, as Dr. Volkow, Director of NIDA explains, “People say if you consider drug addiction a disease, you are taking the responsibility away from the drug addict. But that's wrong. If we say a person has heart disease, are we eliminating their responsibility? No. We're having them exercise. We want them to eat less, stop smoking. The fact that we have a disease recognizes that there are changes, in this case, in the brain” (Duenwald, 2003).
Secondly, people have a genetic predisposition for addiction. For instance, one person can eat a slice of cake and enjoy it until that slice is gone and be fine. Someone else however, eats a slice of cake and when it's gone, can't stop thinking about another slice until he/she gives in. I'm sure that those of you that have never experienced addiction will tell me that those people need to learn self-control, however, it does not work that way. I will repeat, they have a genetic predisposition for addiction that has been scientifically proven for a very long time.
Third, no one chooses to be an addict/alcoholic. When I was little, I wanted to be a dentist, not a pill popper. However, my family is littered with alcoholic/addicts. It was the norm in my family when you're prescribed 1 a day, it really means you need 2 a day because the doctors are being "too cautious". Growing up, and only seeing this behavior, how was I to know any different?
And lastly, it's those of you putting down addicts/alcoholics that make them feel too ashamed to get help. Because once they admit it to themselves, they know everyone will look at them like weak individuals that are screw ups. These people need help, as one would cancer would need. Not a 5 day stint in rehab and then thrown to the curb. They need more programs, they need therapy (drugs rewire your brain and it needs to be fixed), they need compassion and most of all, they need your support and acceptance because without it, they will continue to fell inadequate, become depressed and relapse.
First, as Dr. Volkow, Director of NIDA explains, “People say if you consider drug addiction a disease, you are taking the responsibility away from the drug addict. But that's wrong. If we say a person has heart disease, are we eliminating their responsibility? No. We're having them exercise. We want them to eat less, stop smoking. The fact that we have a disease recognizes that there are changes, in this case, in the brain” (Duenwald, 2003).
Secondly, people have a genetic predisposition for addiction. For instance, one person can eat a slice of cake and enjoy it until that slice is gone and be fine. Someone else however, eats a slice of cake and when it's gone, can't stop thinking about another slice until he/she gives in. I'm sure that those of you that have never experienced addiction will tell me that those people need to learn self-control, however, it does not work that way. I will repeat, they have a genetic predisposition for addiction that has been scientifically proven for a very long time.
Third, no one chooses to be an addict/alcoholic. When I was little, I wanted to be a dentist, not a pill popper. However, my family is littered with alcoholic/addicts. It was the norm in my family when you're prescribed 1 a day, it really means you need 2 a day because the doctors are being "too cautious". Growing up, and only seeing this behavior, how was I to know any different?
And lastly, it's those of you putting down addicts/alcoholics that make them feel too ashamed to get help. Because once they admit it to themselves, they know everyone will look at them like weak individuals that are screw ups. These people need help, as one would cancer would need. Not a 5 day stint in rehab and then thrown to the curb. They need more programs, they need therapy (drugs rewire your brain and it needs to be fixed), they need compassion and most of all, they need your support and acceptance because without it, they will continue to fell inadequate, become depressed and relapse.
