What is your opinion?!
Question: Some people believe addiction is a disease and can't help his behavior, while others think it is a choice. What is your opinion and why.
Answers: Some people believe addiction is a disease and can't help his behavior, while others think it is a choice. What is your opinion and why.
I think its both. They begin by choosing things, what ever they are, think of any habit, the way you make the bed, or the mess in your room you want left just the way it is. Then at some point it becomes important to you. Someone changes things in your room and you freak as if some horrible thing has actually transpired against your person. It has not. So we become irrational.
Alcoholics choose to drink, and choose not to stop. But then why would most when they don't think they have a problem. They have so many built up self justifications for their behavior that they believe what they are doing is correct and responsible. So its a disease because its taken control of their life and they cant even see the problem. Then of course there are the physical dependencies.
I grew up surrounded by alcoholics, many who died young. I hate some of them. They made choices, bad choices, not just for them selves but for us kids. But it was a disease of dependency that they were so lost in that it no longer became a choice for them, it was part of their life and who they are. Booze before food, clothes or anything else. Always.
I don't like alcoholics in the least, but I would see them get treatment if only so they don't inflict hell on other kids. But most will never choose to stop. So I come full circle in my argument. So that is why I say it is both
Be safe, be sage
I think it is a choice. I do believe it is a difficult choice - that's what makes it an addiction but whether you are talking about drink, drugs or gambling (you don't make that clear) I do not believe that "enjoying" something makes you completey unable to stop it. As for it affecting behaviour - that's just an excuse. Alcoholics get pandered to nowadays by the politically correct brigade and told that everything they do is not their fault - it's an illness. That really bugs me.
It is a habit. All habits are learned. All learning involves choice; you could choose not to learn that way too.
An association is built between addiction(say drinking) and relaxation/forgetful of painful memories and so, the habit is built up.This is usually found in dependent people who have,for whatever the reason,very limited repertoire of behavior to engage into meaning relationship with people/world.any stressful situation, they opt for this futile(as it will only be a very temporary solution) activity(drinking) instead of realistically tackling the situation interacting with people in the world out there which would be a long term solution.
If you never start taking drugs or alcohol, then the unacceptable behavior NEVER begins. At least nothing that can be contributed to drugs or alcohol.
If drug or alcohol abuse run in your family DO NOT ever attempt to dabble in it. Its too dangerous since obviously you probably have a predisposition.
The "disease" occurs when you have used and abused to the point where you've whacked out the chemistry in your brain. You ARTIFICIALLY caused it to stopped functioning normally. I wouldn't call that a disease. But others may disagree.
My adopted daughter was born with crack cocaine in her system. She is only 9 (now) but we are already having in depth conversations about drugs and alcohol. She should NEVER dabble in drugs and the alcohol is pretty much a given also. We talk and talk and I point out celebrities and etc.
She has the predisposition to destroy her life by using drugs or alcohol and I'm trying my BEST to educate her about these very real stumbling blocks before her.