Drug/Alcohol Addiction a Disease or a Choice?

shel90

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Drug and Alcohol Addiction...

People in the medical field say that addiction is a disease. If so, why don't I feel empathy for them like I do with people who have other diseases like cancer and etc?

Probably because they hurt their loved ones by stealing, engaging in violent behaviors, and abusing them to support their addiction.

People with cancer or other diseases don't, right?

A few days before our camping trip, a couple of druggies broke into our shed and stole all of the kids' bikes so they could sell them. To get money for their "disease". They were recently arrested and we got informed that they pawned off the bikes.

That's the 3rd time we have had items stolen from our backyard in 7 years. Also, I had my SUV stolen 4 years ago so they guy could use it to rob a bank for money to support his coke habit.

I can imagine the grief they must have put their loved ones through.

No sympathy at all for them. I think they are selfish people who whine about having a disease and that we all should feel sorry for them.

I have 3 brothers who are struggling with their addiction. They caused untold stress and misery for my dad and my stepmom. I feel sorry for my dad and his wife than I do feel sorry for them. They are cut out of my life because I want no part of the stress and trauma that comes with their "disease".

Do you feel they have a disease or is it a selfish choice of their own?
 
I think it's a disease, with a genetic predisposition.
That's why you can see it running through family lines so strongly.
 
I don't think it is a disease - rather - a learned behaviour. I have a friend who is a recovering alcoholic. His father is also an alcoholic.


He was adopted.
 
I agree with Botti somewhat...it's genetic. In my family, there have been many alcoholics and drug addicts, even a family member committed suicide a few months ago (overdose). At present, one family member has been clean for 9 months...and counting!....Doing very well, but the thoughts of relapse (as it happened, time and time again)....is a daily concern and one we keep on top of. The damage to her 44 year old body is acute and liver damage will more than likely shorten her life span drastically.. She is sick daily and has to lay down and sleep every few hours. I am her care-taker.

Drugs and alcohol have really done a number on my family for many years. I grew up into that environment and by the grace of God, never became an addict myself, just by watching them poison their bodies.
 
It's considered a *disease* because of the body's chemical dependency of certain substances. Truthfully I have been an addict and still struggle with certain aspects of addiction. It is a mindset, and can be hard for some people to come out of that mindset. Willpower is the only thing aside from physically weaning the body off the substance that can help with that. Even with cigarettes. People who are addicted to those and find it difficult to stop can relate that to the mind succumbing to the body's need for the nicotine that it now uses to function without consequences like headaches and shakes. The withdrawals are the worst part, and depending on the substance, the addict may or may not have to be weaned off it rather than just go through therapy. I'm not condoning any type of behavior. Stealing is wrong. Hurting people that are trying to help you is wrong. Being violent is wrong. Some people however are predisposed to alcoholism, just as they are diabetes. Maybe it is something learned and can be avoided (alcoholism) but diabetes can be paralleled with that at times. I understand your anger and dislike toward addicts, but it's a disease of the mind that have a physical consequence... and the hardest part about it when it comes to family... is that you cannot help those who do not want to help themselves.
 
I don't know to be honest.. I go back and forth on that. I know of friends with grand children or stepchildren- these kids have mothers who are an addict. One of the mothers has bounced in and out of rehab so many times- at least one of her kids is now an addict, one is a college student and has no desire for that life (bright young lady). Another mother claims she is clean but we're not so sure- her kids are still young and their father would like to gain full custody of them.

Both of them have cause a lot of damage to their family, to others and many times without a thought or care to their children. That's the most painful part that angers me the most- the kids through no real fault of their own gets caught in this and hurt.
 
Drug and alcohol use start out as a choice. Because of the way drugs and alcohol interact with the human body, they can become an addiction. Even then, it's not a disease. It's a consequence of bad choices.

My father was an alcoholic. He died way before his time from an alcohol-destroyed liver.

I have a nephew who is destroying his life with drugs.

Calling addiction a "disease" does no favors to anyone, including the addict.
 
The anger....grief...tears...bewilderness....I felt towards a family member!...Years and years of it. Finally, I decided to let it all go, psyching myself to be ready (but knowing in my heart), I would never be ready for it.... for the time when the knock on the door informing me that the family member was dead.....

Mentally, I never gave up the hope that one day...just one day!...something would happen...and it did...Never give up on your loved ones with this disease....Even tho' they drag you down, my feelings are they are family...Patience is the key....Support also...never mind the Lies they will tell you!....It's a life-long struggle with addiction. I could never understand it at first...but have learned, first hand after years of seeing someone going thru this...
 
i think they located the gene or brain part that cause addiction but i guess you got be in the wrong place wrong time to manifest a disease,luck plays apart
 
Drug and alcohol use start out as a choice. Because of the way drugs and alcohol interact with the human body, they can become an addiction. Even then, it's not a disease. It's a consequence of bad choices.

My father was an alcoholic. He died way before his time from an alcohol-destroyed liver.

I have a nephew who is destroying his life with drugs.

Calling addiction a "disease" does no favors to anyone, including the addict.

Yes it can help. My father's father was an alcoholic, who also died young from it.

My father was adamant that it is a disease, and that people who have this gene should avoid alcohol and drugs, because even a little could send them down this path.

So far knowing this has worked out well in my family.
 
Drug and alcohol use start out as a choice. Because of the way drugs and alcohol interact with the human body, they can become an addiction. Even then, it's not a disease. It's a consequence of bad choices.

My father was an alcoholic. He died way before his time from an alcohol-destroyed liver.

I have a nephew who is destroying his life with drugs.

Calling addiction a "disease" does no favors to anyone, including the addict.

Beg to differ on this. After going to many rehabs, talking with many counselors. Addiction is very tricky. Bad choices?...Peer pressure is one....alcohol and marijuana?...changes the attitude...Pills?...There seems to be a "pill" for everything these days...and so easy to become hooked on them...Life in general also becomes too much for some people. Many addicts are afraid to face "reality"...so the drug/alcohol smothers it...Their mind-set at all times is the next hit...

And whenever they think of their suffering family members...they feel "unworthy" and need a drug to cover it up....

I feel most drug addicts that go into rehab have the best intentions to get clean...but the relapse rate is horrific!....
 
Yes it can help. My father's father was an alcoholic, who also died young from it.

My father was adamant that it is a disease, and that people who have this gene should avoid alcohol and drugs, because even a little could send them down this path.

So far knowing this has worked out well in my family.

Agree...I keep my family member away from their old friends and haunts....No alcohol or drugs in my home. At the present time, I do not even interact with neighbors...as some of them do drink....I go with her to all counseling sessions, doctor's appts., and she has even joined the Church and got baptized....Only positive people around us at all times!....But sooner or later, the "real test" will come about and she will have to go back into the world, good or bad.....
 
I used to accept that it was a disease and that people cant help it. However, my line of questioning started when my brothers or reading news of saying that they steal or whatever because they need to feed their drug addiction or disease. I thought, "Wait a min....people with cancer would do anything NOT to feed the cancer." Know what I mean so that made me wonder?

I have addicts in my dad's side of the family and because of that I am careful with alcohol. I have no craving to drink it everyday but sometimes on hot days or when I go on trips, I have a craving for one beer or two and then that's it. After that, I no longer crave the beer or wine and want water for the rest of the night. Is that a part of the disease that runs in my family? I don't know.

Just find it ironic when people say that they have a disease but yet, many do whatever it takes to keep it alive while people with cancer or any other diseases do anything to kill the disease.
Hmmmm.....
 
I used to accept that it was a disease and that people cant help it. However, my line of questioning started when my brothers or reading news of saying that they steal or whatever because they need to feed their drug addiction or disease. I thought, "Wait a min....people with cancer would do anything NOT to feed the cancer." Know what I mean so that made me wonder?

I have addicts in my dad's side of the family and because of that I am careful with alcohol. I have no craving to drink it everyday but sometimes on hot days or when I go on trips, I have a craving for one beer or two and then that's it. After that, I no longer crave the beer or wine and want water for the rest of the night. Is that a part of the disease that runs in my family? I don't know.

Just find it ironic when people say that they have a disease but yet, many do whatever it takes to keep it alive while people with cancer or any other diseases do anything to kill the disease.
Hmmmm.....
But the addiction gives pleasant and rewarding feelings, while the cancer gives only pain.

If cancer felt great, people would want it to grow too.
 
But the addiction gives pleasant and rewarding feelings, while the cancer gives only pain.

If cancer felt great, people would want it to grow too.[/QUO

Knowing that cancer would kill them soon? Good perspective there, Botts.
 
I have family members that have dealt with severe alcoholism. Have had one cousin pass away at 44 from that. I have seen firsthand what a battle it is to fight it. A battle to get on the wagon, and a battle to not fall off it. People don't do things normally when they drink or do drugs, but I don't think it is usually a case of wanting to be stupid, like steal, etc. Their mind frame is altered when they are imbibing.
 
I don't know if I would call it a disease, I would call it an addiction though, the person basically can't control their desire to partake in whatever they are addicted to. As for calling it a disease, I think the medical field had to come up with some reason that their patients where addicted to certain substances so they basically said it was a disease. Some doctors I have talked to refuse to call it a disease, but call it a chemical dependance.
 
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