Do You Believe that Addiction is a Disease

[Seedz]

I'm kind of torn on the subject. There was a time when I was positive it was. I'm not as sure anymore.

I am an addict, never hard drugs, but an alcoholic currently sober. Gambling obsessions as well.

I have more thoughts on the subject that I'll drop as the thread progresses, but do you guys believe it is or not? And why or why not?

 

[Hope]

It's a disease, and not a moral deficiency. Drugs and alcohol are only symptoms of the disease (about ten percent of the problem). Some people use, abuse, misuse, and drugs and still don't accept they are addicts know anything about addiction which is why they die, go to jail or institutions, or just continuously relapse. Some can abstain forever, and just be miserable "dry drunks" or "clean and crazy".

Not for anybody who isn't addict to have an opinion on it, so don't like idea of thread.

 

[Tunez]

Not a disease, addiction is controllable

 

[Seedz]

Not for anybody who isn't addict to have an opinion on it, so don't like idea of thread.

I feel you on that, and I'd obviously take any opinion on the subject from an non-addict with a grain of salt. That being said, I'm still interested in what people think about it.

 

[Mandarin Duck]

No. Not one bit.
Knowing people who have had cancer over something they couldn't control makes me feel like calling addiction a disease a slap in the face to them.

 

[Seedz]

Not a disease, addiction is controllable

What makes you think that?

 

[Hope]

I feel you on that, and I'd obviously take any opinion on the subject from an non-addict with a grain of salt. That being said, I'm still interested in what people think about it.

True, opinions are opinions, especially on net.

I mean it takes couple of years of sobriety (like 2-3 years) to understand recovery and get a better idea of the "disease" aspect in one's personal life. But abstinence is just healthier, creates less problems, and a good start.

 

[notPsychosiz]

Addiction is a lack of willpower. Whatever people choose to call it beyond that is largely irrelevant.
But is it a disease? No. Overall because it is symptomless.

(A craving for things you enjoy is not a symptom its a preference. It occurs naturally in all lifeforms.)

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

Addiction is not a disease... its marketed that way so money can be made off trying to treat it

 

[ManxOfxThexYear]

Personally, I think its situational per se. But i know in the field of Psychology they feel Addiction is a disease and should be treated as such. Then again I think Psychologists and counselors are pointless, then again, Im Narcissistic so thats why However, the brehs and brehettes who think it isn't, coming from a family who is full of alcoholics and drug addicts, I can understand that point of view totally.

So I think its somewhere in between.

 

[Tunez]

What makes you think that?

Addiction is up to the person

 

[Brosef]

People in here acting like if something's called a disease, there is no treatment

Addiction is a disease that can be treated and sometimes cured

Seeking out drugs despite negative consequences is a key part of what separates addicts from recreational drug users

 

[Seedz]

True, opinions are opinions, especially on net.

I mean it takes couple of years of sobriety (like 2-3 years) to understand recovery and get a better idea of the "disease" aspect in one's personal life. But abstinence is just healthier, creates less problems, and a good start.

Trust me, I know I'm no where close to understanding all the intricacies of it, and I'm coming up on 2 years.

My girlfriend has 14 years sobriety, and is actually starting to question the whole disease model for a few reasons.

As I said, I still feel that it is. Trying my best not to be offended by people in here claiming it isn't when they are not afflicted with it.

Devils advocate though: online shopping, anorexia, other compulsions can be addictive. Would you call that a disease?

 

[Hope]

Addiction is a lack of willpower. Whatever people choose to call it beyond that is largely irrelevant.
But is it a disease? No. Overall because it is symptomless.

(A craving for things you enjoy is not a symptom its a preference. It occurs naturally in all lifeforms.)

An addict would not be able to stop without help of other people, a higher power, or both. So that willpower thing makes no sense, unless you mean "motivation" or "desire to stop using".

Drug abuse, misuse, and addiction are three separate things in medical terms. There are several symptoms (observable measures) to drug addiction. There are even signs (physical and concrete).

No. Not one bit.
Knowing people who have had cancer over something they couldn't control makes me feel like calling addiction a disease a slap in the face to them.

Addiction is fatal, progressive, and incurable, sounds just as bad as cancer to me. There are many ways to minimize getting cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and several other life-threatening diseases. U can also detect them early, and do proper treatment to survive and have it be a nonissue. I say this as a person whose sibling died at age 22 of cancer, and a mom who got very sick from cancer and survived.

Everyone's experiences with diseases are different, and we all have different values. I'm mean I'm in recovery, but don't really make a huge deal about being clean or work my program everyday, but I do know it's incurable, but can be treated only a day at a time. sometimes a moment at a time. I relapsed after 3 years clean, and things got much worst. Soon as I picked up, i couldn't stop, until i was forced to stop and was locked away. I'm only clean today, through acceptance of a few things . And it will take a lot more time to accept other things and learn more.



.

 

[Seedz]

Addiction is up to the person

This needs more explanation or else I can't really take it serious.