I hear about this stupid crap every day on the T.V. People becoming alcoholics or drug addicts and then people telling them that since they are addicts that they have a disease. I think that's bull. A disease is something that you get that you can't prevent. You can't help it if all of a sudden you have a brain tumor or the flu. But you can prevent being an alcoholic or a drug addict by simply not taking the alcohol or the drug. What do you guys think? No flaming please.

I think the better term is disorder, rather than disease.

tRIUNE : Yeah. It is a better term. But that's not what doctors and medical people call it. They call it a disease. I don't think the addictions should be labeled as a disease because it gives the addict less responsibility for their actions. They start to think 'I'm sick. I can't help what I do.' So yes you're correct. If doctors would call it a disorder rather than a disease then it would be acceptable but they don't.

Yeah, it's not a medical condition. So if it is a disease, are they working on a cure... I don't think that's going to happen. Addictions are disorders not diseases.

tRIUNE : Were you going to vote or just remain indifferent? Because if you are I will put that as a voting option for other people that might be indifferent too.

I think my opinion fits between a choice and "disease" because while it may be a choice, that choice overpowers your lack of self-control.

Edit:
For some the addiction is severe enough that they're chemically dependent to the extent that it's a medical condition. In this case they can choose to get the help with medical treatment to quit.

Its only a choice as far as these addicts made a choice to be an addict. It didn't hit them at unawares like diseases do. They got it head on. However, once you're addicted, than it becomes less of a choice.

Yeah, I think it's not exactly a choice when it's an addiction. There's plenty of people who would want to get rid of their addictions, but their one choice to start them got the people to whatever position they're in now with their disorders, not "diseases."

1. Drug addiction is just that.... addiction. Most of the "hard" drugs are extremely addictive.... sure, you chose to start taking those drugs.... but after only a few hits you become physically addicted to the substance so that you require it to simply maintain a normality of lifestyle. Not choice anymore. Not a disease either.

2. Alcohol is not addictive in that way to 99% of people. The people that it is addictive to I would say have a disease or something wrong with them that goes beyond simple choice. I know people who are addicted to alcohol and who have/are losing everything important to them because of the addiction. But alcohol itself is not addictive. There is something about certain people that makes them addicted to alcohol once they start using it. I would consider this a disease. It's treatable, but again I would say it's not in the realm of choice.

Once people get addicted they no longer are rational people. They will lie, cheat, steal, and even murder in order to keep their habit going. You become so tied down by the addiction/disease that you really do lose your ability to choose.

Does that make you any less accountable? No. You walked the path that lead you to this point. You are responsible for what you do because of that.

I don't know why people don't think of it as a disease its a disorder that causes disease so its both. It works just like a disease it spreads, your addiction gets stronger, you spread it to other people etc... so yea its a disease.

Even if you don't take any, I guarantee you people who don't do it but are around it a lot will either A) End up doing it or B) have serious mental issues.

It's a transparent disease its not just a disorder and it doesn't only affect you it affects everyone around you both physically and mentally.

XxChaosxX : Although I understand your point of view I have to kind of disagree… I feel that Alcoholism and Drug Addictions are just that addictions and I feel that it isn’t necessarily a cop out for everybody. I do also feel that some people do work the system and there needs to be a standard for how many times a person has help offered to them.
It would give more of an incentive to get straightened out if people knew that they wouldn’t be able to keep entering rehab.

I say this should be only for those who go into “Court ordered” rehabilitation. The problem is that the so called “Celebrities” that get in trouble and are plastered on the news on a near daily basis give those who aren’t famous that have an addiction a problem because believe it or not some people actually do go in and try to get rehabilitated. It isn’t the easiest thing in the world obviously but it can and has been done.


I think the term “Disease “also fits in certain cases. I have heard that Alcoholism for instance can be hereditary in some people and, obviously there are medical repercussions for those who are alcoholics in the long term. I think it might also have something to do with the environment people grow up in. Some people also have trouble coping with the struggles and stresses of life and turn to drinking as a coping mechanism.


I am not condoning it by any means but I feel that you can’t outright dismiss the idea that it’s not totally hogwash nonsense. I am a firm believer in redemption but also feel that the most important step for people with addictions is to realize that they have a problem and then make a serious attempt to straighten themselves out.


For those who work the system I feel it defeats the purpose of the rehabilitation programs that people who have a reputation of getting in trouble for what ever the reason can use rehab to avoid accountability.

It should come to a point sooner or later for those who work the system to not be able to use rehabilitation as an option. Sometimes people should have the book thrown at them to hopefully finally get the point, especially the “Celebrities”.


I do agree with you to a degree about not being able to prevent a disease but, there are things you can do to lower your risk for certain diseases. The billions of smokers around the world should realize that more people get diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of heavy smoking than anything else. It makes you wonder why they don’t have rehabilitation programs for heavy smokers because that is an addiction.

I do respect your opinion but I can’t outright dismiss it and can’t knife those who are legitimately seeking help and taking responsibility for it.