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Do you believe addiction is a disease? Why or why not?


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I do believe addiction is a disease.

I mean, it starts off with a weakness. generally strong minded people don't give in to addictions though they might consume per example alcohol or drugs or coffee, wtv, punctually. as for people with softer personalities, it doesn't work that way, they more easily give in to peer pressure and other factors thus getting addicted way more easily.

so in the end, even though you choose to consume these substances it has a lot to do with your personality as well as external factors. besides, it's curable too so.. this is my opinion.

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I do believe addiction is a disease.

I mean, it starts off with a weakness. generally strong minded people don't give in to addictions though they might consume per example alcohol or drugs or coffee, wtv, punctually. as for people with softer personalities, it doesn't work that way, they more easily give in to peer pressure and other factors thus getting addicted way more easily.

so in the end, even though you choose to consume these substances it has a lot to do with your personality as well as external factors. besides, it's curable too so.. this is my opinion.

 

I don't agree to all of that, yes it's a disease but it's not about being weak minded, developing an addiction usually stems from underlying issues such as mental health issues. As someone with mental health issues who actually became severely addicted to my medication, I would classify it as a disease. But I was already predisposed in my mind because mental health issues and drug abuse often go hand in hand, and I believe my doctor was wrong in prescribing my an addictive drug in order to help make things better, in the long term it made things hell of a lot worse.

 

Of course being an addict (former - I've been clean 2 years) I met a lot of other addicts while I was in treatment, most of which took drugs to cope with their hardships and battles against their own mind, rather than for fun. 

Using drugs for fun can lead to addiction, but is much less likely to than someone using it to escape or medicate their problems.

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Hmm. Interesting question

 

I think it's more of a symptom than a disease. Addictions themselves aren't dangerous, it's the substance that creates the level of danger. Addiction occurs because of use or misuse of certain substances, you can't really spontaneously develop or contract an addiction like say a cold or cancer which most if not all would consider diseases. Applies to drugs, alcohol or meds, these things can drastically alter you thinking and body.

 

There was an episode of south park where there was I think a statue of Mary that spewed blood which was thought to cure diseases. Stans dad had alcoholism and kept acting like his disease was the worst out there lol (he was wheelchair bound, needed care etc).

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Yes and no.

 

Addiction or dependency begins with reinforcing behavior. So a person must first engage in a particular behavior that propels them towards addiction and behavior becomes more frequent if it is followed by regular appetitive stimulus or stimulus that satisfies a bodily need.

 

Of course, addiction has reinforcing effects; more specifically, the effects of the addictive substance activate a reinforcement mechanism in the brain. The activation (taking a drug) strengthens the response (the high) and it becomes a cycle. Substances such as drugs involve the same mechanisms as natural reinforcements (the release of dopamine to a specific area of the brain). In this, drugs hijack the brain mechanisms that allow individuals to adapt to their environment, producing long-term changes in various brain regions that receive input. Similar to how infections hijack one's immune system and if untreated, produce long-term changes.

 

Most people don’t even become addicted when initially exposed to addictive drugs and the probability of addiction depends on other extenuating factors, such as, age, environment, and genetics. In fact, some studies are providing more evidence about the importance that genetics play in the possibility of an individual becoming dependent on a drug. Variability in genes may increase susceptibility to drug intake, as well as, brain physiology.

 

In books like the Physiology of Behavior (11th Edition) by Neil Carlson (2013) and Abnormal Psychology (16th Edition) by Butcher, J. N., Hooley, J. M., & Mineka, S. (2014). they talk more about drugs and heredity and the brain.

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Yes, addiction is a disease.

 

It’s genetic and can run in the family. It’s not as simple as, “hey, I’m gonna take this drug. Hope I don’t get addicted!†There’s a lot more to it than that. People who don’t see addiction as a disease are just making things worse. Instead of looking down on drug addicts, alcoholics, etc., we need to join together to help them beat their addiction and put it behind them, not lock them up in prison or scold them for being a “lowlife†or a “piece of shitâ€.

 

I personally believe all drugs should be decriminalized. Not saying that you should go be able to buy Heroin at a store, I just believe that if it is in your possession, you shouldn’t face charges (as long as you aren’t selling it). So much money is wasted on locking people up who have a real disease. We don’t help a lot of them or even try, we just lock them up and say fuck you. That’s bullshit.

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Yes, addiction is a disease.

It’s genetic and can run in the family. It’s not as simple as, “hey, I’m gonna take this drug. Hope I don’t get addicted!†There’s a lot more to it than that. People who don’t see addiction as a disease are just making things worse. Instead of looking down on drug addicts, alcoholics, etc., we need to join together to help them beat their addiction and put it behind them, not lock them up in prison or scold them for being a “lowlife†or a “piece of shitâ€.

I personally believe all drugs should be decriminalized. Not saying that you should go be able to buy Heroin at a store, I just believe that if it is in your possession, you shouldn’t face charges (as long as you aren’t selling it). So much money is wasted on locking people up who have a real disease. We don’t help a lot of them or even try, we just lock them up and say fuck you. That’s bullshit.

Well said. It sucks how little compassion people can have, we don't treat people with diabetes etc like that

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I don't agree to all of that, yes it's a disease but it's not about being weak minded, developing an addiction usually stems from underlying issues such as mental health issues. As someone with mental health issues who actually became severely addicted to my medication, I would classify it as a disease. But I was already predisposed in my mind because mental health issues and drug abuse often go hand in hand, and I believe my doctor was wrong in prescribing my an addictive drug in order to help make things better, in the long term it made things hell of a lot worse.

 

Of course being an addict (former - I've been clean 2 years) I met a lot of other addicts while I was in treatment, most of which took drugs to cope with their hardships and battles against their own mind, rather than for fun. 

Using drugs for fun can lead to addiction, but is much less likely to than someone using it to escape or medicate their problems.

I'm really sorry you had to go through that, I hope you're in a better place now that you're clean. my uncle used to have a serious addiction to his medication, it completely ruined his mental and physical health so I'm aware how destructive it can be. I should've also considered that... thank you for reminding me.

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I think it’s a genetic and environmental thing, so yes.

 

I mean if you see addicts, most of them inherited it or learned it from a family member or got into it from someone growing up.

 

Addicts shouldn’t be jailed they should be rehabilitated, but I don’t think addiction has a cure atm. There’s always a chance of relapsing if the circumstances are a perfect storm of bullshit. That being said I also don’t think certain forms of cancer, for example even have a real cure if there’s always a half and half chance of it coming back.

 

I think it’s difficult to convince ppl addiction is a disease bc those affected by the actions of an addict quite reasonably take it badly when someone tells them it’s not their abuser’s fault and to seperate the person from the addiction.

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I'm really sorry you had to go through that, I hope you're in a better place now that you're clean. my uncle used to have a serious addiction to his medication, it completely ruined his mental and physical health so I'm aware how destructive it can be. I should've also considered that... thank you for reminding me.

 

Thank you! I'm in such a better place now, my life is in order and I am (kinda) happy. laugh.png

It's easy to forget, when you yourself have not been in that position. Before my addiction, I felt similarly. I'm glad you have been reminded of your Uncle's struggle. 

 

EDIT: I just want to remind some of the people here that addiction doesn't just apply to drugs.

Shopping, porn, food, self-harm, and loads more, those are just a few examples of other addictions. 

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