Drug Subdiction And Addiction

Further, circumstances such as economical, health, or personal issues resulting in a person’s choice to take drugs ironically can be the same reasons for them to either change their pattern, stop taking drugs, or get help versus the unavoidable, involuntary effect of a diseased brain. Additionally, those that choose to continue being addicted over a long period of time illustrates that by making that choice they are not helpless compared to a person who has a chronic disease. “Rather than being the inevitable, involuntary product of a diseased brain, these actions represent the essence of voluntariness. The addict’s behavior can be modified by knowledge of the consequences. Involuntary behavior cannot (Satel, Goodwin, 1998, pg. 5).

As mentioned, a behavior is immoral if it is degrading and fails to be proficient in a virtue; thus, addiction is immoral because it overwhelms self-control as the drug controls the user in terms of habit and lifestyle (Richards 2). This is regarding addiction as a health concern and uncontrollable thirst; however, according to James Fieser’s "DRUGS," addiction in regard to morality is “ultimately a matter of personal choice,” where “with the right will power,” one can choose to stop the addictive behavior despite the difficulty, and “failure to do so is a moral weakness where users know that their actions are wrong but choose to do them anyway” (1). In this alternative definition of addiction, the behavior remains immoral as the user “chooses” to continue, knowing it is wrong. Regardless of either definition, immorality is evident.

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, industrialized nations have seen the medicalization of a plethora of diseases including the ongoing trend of acknowledging addiction as a ‘brain disease.’ The claimsmaking made primarily by Nora Volkow in the documentary Addiction encompasses the constructionist ideologies of socially constructing a problem, or in the case of deviant drinking and drug use, a disease. The functionality of medicalization in America is seen with many different conditions and diseases. For example, the recent spike in the prescription of medications for ADD and ADHD is a prime model for how a deviant set of traits can be spun into a more socially acceptable and treatable “disease.” Whether or not drug and alcohol addiction

Some people continue to believe an addiction is nothing but a choice. If presented well, it could make a valid argument along

Sub details-Addiction many times reaches a point in which addicts are not only harmful to themselves but others around them as well.

Imagine laying on the floor in your own pool of sweat—miserable, your mind bouncing off the walls while the cloud of your darkest thoughts looms over you. Teeth chattering anxiously, waiting to receive the next second, minute, hour of painless bliss. This—this is the life of an addict; does this horror appear to be a choice or more like a disease haunting the mind of the user? Despite the fact a choice was needed to initiate the result, addiction itself is a debilitating disease NOT a choice due to initial influences and anatomical changes to the brain.

Heyman, Gene M. 2013 "Addiction: An Emergent Consequence of Elementary Choice Principles."Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 56 (5):428-445.

Many people believe the misconception that an addiction is a moral problem and not a disease. To better understand the reasons why an additicition is in fact a disease; I will identify several types of addictions, and the problems associated with them. I will examine reasons why certain people are more susceptible for developing an addiction. Also, I will determine why many addicts deny their problems and many recovery methods addicts use to fight their illness. Researching these issues, will help aid my claim that addiction is a disease.

Doctors believe that addiction or alcoholism isn’t a choice but believe that it is a disease. The definition of disease is “A definite pathologic process with a characteristic set of signs and symptoms. It may affect the whole body or any of its parts, and its etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown” (MDO, 2010). Addiction and alcoholism is more of a disease than a choice. This is because a disease makes people sick and withdrawal will give you symptoms like runny nose, cold sweats, troubles sleeping and nausea just like the flu. Also the human brain can be chemically changed which could cause unstable

"It is, therefore, not the satisfaction of a need but a mere means to satisfy needs outside itself. Its alien character is clearly demonstrated by the fact that as soon as no physical or other compulsion exists, it is shunned like the plague."

The definition provided above is accessible and easy to understand; however, it initiates false beliefs among individuals because it fails to acknowledge that drug addiction is a mental health problem. Moreover, when words such as, “dependence”, “control” and “craving” are used to define drug addiction, it leaves an impression to the reader that addicts are indeed “people who cannot control their impulses.” Consequently, when we fail to recognize that drug addiction is a mental health problem, our focus is diverted towards the physical aspect of drug addiction. This could cause the belief among individuals that drugs alone cause the addiction. It is essential to acknowledge that there are chemical hooks in drugs; however, individuals need to understand that drugs alone do not cause the addiction. We need to identify and distinguish the “root cause” of addiction and ask ourselves: what caused the individual to take the drug in the first place?

When people think of diseases, what do they think of? Generally we think of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, etc… One that people do not generally associate with the term “disease” is an addiction, whether a person is addicted to alcohol, methamphetamines, marijuana or over the counter drugs, people often have different sides to this. Some may say that an addiction is a disease; others say that an addiction is just a poor choice of a person’s life. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that “…drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. In fact, because drugs change the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse, quitting is difficult, even for those who are ready to do so.” Many people think that a disease is something that is always labeled as one while others think that addiction is also a disease. While all people are entitled to their own opinions, there is an answer that can be proven through substantial research. An addiction is a disease.

From the day we are born, we have free will. The things we choose to do, and at what age, or time in our life, is our choice. We are the only one’s responsible for our decisions, for saying yes or no. Every time any person makes the decision to cross these boundaries, this is a choice, not a disease. Having lived with an addict, making the visits to rehabilitation centers, and the counseling the whole family received; I learned a lot about addiction as a disease. Throughout my ten year struggle with addiction (because addiction affects the entire family), no one ever held the addict responsible or accountable for their initial actions, or for the choices they made.

Drug addiction has been increasing immensely among our society today and is spreading rapidly among young teens which is not only harming their health but is also ruining precious time of their life.

Drug abuse is a rampant problem in the United States. Drug usage and consumption has grown over the years. Drug addiction is a dilemma that has greatly increased among our current day society. Addiction is a serious problem. This can be defined as continued involvement with a substance or activity despite ongoing negative consequence. Narcotics like marijuana, heroin, crystal meth and crack cocaine are generally called drugs. Men and woman either take these drugs orally or inhale them. Drugs, other then the ones used for medicinal purposes, are generally looked down upon and their use is unknown amongst the people for many reasons. Narcotics are considered to be harmful to our health and countless people die every year.