Drug Subdiction And Addiction

Addiction is a “chronic and relapsing brain disease portrayed as an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief

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 before, the medicalization of many diseases in America has lead to the introduction of novel prescription medications, jobs, and explanations for strange behaviors. Using the example of ADD, many pharmaceutical companies revenues increased due to the number of prescriptions prescribed for Adderall etc., not to mention physician’s income for prescribing each medication. Parents can now easily explain to teachers why their kid cannot pay close enough attention for long periods of time and have a quick fix for the exceptionally hyperactive child. These same concepts apply to the medicalization of addiction. Physicians, pharmaceutical companies, and rehab centers profit from the disease concept and the addict in withdrawal. Family and friends have an easier time accepting and explaining a medical condition instead of a loved one that has changed because of drug use. Also, the user themselves has many more resources in today’s society in comparison to being criminalized. Truthfully, only the user that does not seek or want treatment seems to not

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.

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

“In Need of a Fix: Reforming Criminal Law in Light of a Contemporary Understanding of Drug Addiction,” is

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.

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

Addiction is a disease not a crime. Like any other disease, addiction is caused by more than one factor. It does not simply occur because of an individual’s choice, the source is environmental, biological and behavioral problems. Many say addiction cannot be treated like a disease because addiction is a person’s choice. What they don’t understand is one does not choose for their

Those against recreational drug use often argue that it is immoral because it is degrading and leads to addiction (Richards 2-3)(Fieser 1)(Wilson 26). David A.J. Richards’s Sex, Drugs, Death and the Law: An Essay on Human Rights

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 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.

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.

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.