Addiction

[Kingfisher]

Is drug and alcohol addiction a disease or a choice?

 

[M-5]

Is drug and alcohol addiction a disease or a choice?

yes

 

[Bigfoot]

Good question. Probably more a choice. Maybe a disease brought on by bad choices.

 

[msplmtneer]

I believe it is a self inflicted disease, because I'm addicted to alcohol even though I haven't had drink in 10 years I still think about it. :tiphat:

 

[callmefence]

It's a choice...calling it a disease is a cop out.
A enabler and a excuse for bad decisions.

 

[Margonme]

Alcohol addiction is both as M-5 got it right. It starts by choosing to use it. If it provides a level of comfort, it becomes an addiction. The cycle is broken by choice. I think choice is the larger part of the equation.

I constantly evaluate my use of alcohol. Annually, my Doctor and I discuss it. She characterizes my use of alcohol as a "love affair". That is exactly the words she uses. She says I do not fit the description of an alcoholic. She says I simple have a "love affair" with it. I can go a week without it and never notice it missing. But I drink a couple glasses of wine daily. Rarely do I drink until evening.

 

[callmefence]

Alcohol addiction is both as M-5 got it right. It starts by choosing to use it. If it provides a level of comfort, it becomes an addiction. The cycle is broken by choice. I think choice is the larger part of the equation.

I constantly evaluate my use of alcohol. Annually, my Doctor and I discuss it. She characterizes my use of alcohol as a "love affair". That is exactly the words she uses. She says I do not fit the description of an alcoholic. She says I simple have a "love affair" with it. I can go a week without it and never notice it missing. But I drink a couple glasses of wine daily. Rarely do I drink until evening.

How is a disease then prince? You choose to do it , then catch the disease.
Sometimes I got fishing when I should be doing something else. Can I call that a disease.

 

[M-5]

its a disease because it is hereditary or your predestined to succumb to vices by our genetic makeup. it can skip generations but the marker is there to become addicted to it.

 

[bball]

Alcohol addiction is both as M-5 got it right. It starts by choosing to use it. If it provides a level of comfort, it becomes an addiction. The cycle is broken by choice. I think choice is the larger part of the equation.

I constantly evaluate my use of alcohol. Annually, my Doctor and I discuss it. She characterizes my use of alcohol as a "love affair". That is exactly the words she uses. She says I do not fit the description of an alcoholic. She says I simple have a "love affair" with it. I can go a week without it and never notice it missing. But I drink a couple glasses of wine daily. Rarely do I drink until evening.

How is a disease then prince? You choose to do it , then catch the disease.
Sometimes I got fishing when I should be doing something else. Can I call that a disease.

Ron and dash are exactly right. Many diseases start from a decision to do something. A decision to have sex, a decision to eat poorly, a decision to be sedentary, a decision to not wash your hands, bathe, cook with safe water, etc, etc. Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs react to receptors in our bodies. Not everyone responds the same to these chemical influences. It's often hard for someone who can drink a few beers and not become dependent to understand how some can become hooked early and often. Chemical addiction is a disease, despite the decision that initiated it. Watch someone go through DTs from alcohol, or withdrawal from opiods- that reaction is NOT a decision.

 

[Margonme]

Alcohol addiction is both as M-5 got it right. It starts by choosing to use it. If it provides a level of comfort, it becomes an addiction. The cycle is broken by choice. I think choice is the larger part of the equation.

I constantly evaluate my use of alcohol. Annually, my Doctor and I discuss it. She characterizes my use of alcohol as a "love affair". That is exactly the words she uses. She says I do not fit the description of an alcoholic. She says I simple have a "love affair" with it. I can go a week without it and never notice it missing. But I drink a couple glasses of wine daily. Rarely do I drink until evening.

How is a disease then prince? You choose to do it , then catch the disease.
Sometimes I got fishing when I should be doing something else. Can I call that a disease.

You got a good point. For me personally, it is a choice. I like to relax in the evening. I could quit! I don't because I enjoy the taste, effect, and the act of drinking. That is why my Doctor calls it a love affair.

 

[callmefence]

its a disease because it is hereditary or your predestined to succumb to vices by our genetic makeup. it can skip generations but the marker is there to become addicted to it.

Horseshyt ....you could say anything happens genetically and randomly skips generations. I say it's a decision to use. It's a decision to let drag you to the gutter and it's a decision to QUIT.

*understanding some drugs like heroin cause a physical dependence. That must be medical treated

 

[callmefence]

Alcohol addiction is both as M-5 got it right. It starts by choosing to use it. If it provides a level of comfort, it becomes an addiction. The cycle is broken by choice. I think choice is the larger part of the equation.

I constantly evaluate my use of alcohol. Annually, my Doctor and I discuss it. She characterizes my use of alcohol as a "love affair". That is exactly the words she uses. She says I do not fit the description of an alcoholic. She says I simple have a "love affair" with it. I can go a week without it and never notice it missing. But I drink a couple glasses of wine daily. Rarely do I drink until evening.

How is a disease then prince? You choose to do it , then catch the disease.
Sometimes I got fishing when I should be doing something else. Can I call that a disease.

You got a good point. For me personally, it is a choice. I like to relax in the evening. I could quit! I don't because I enjoy the taste, effect, and the act of drinking. That is why my Doctor calls it a love affair.

I can't tell my wife I have a love affair with fishing. But if I could call it a disease, well that just might sell.

That's a point, not a joke....well both

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I 100% know that there are people who become physically addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Does it start out as an addiction, of course not, people make a conscious decision to take that first drink or use that first narcotic. For some folks it takes years for alcohol or drugs to blossom into a full fledged addiction but I've seen other hooked on drugs from the get go.

 

[City Guy]

Some times I reply to a post and then it never gets to the thread. What am I doing wrong?
PS I hit submit!

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

You gotta watch to make sure that no one has a post pending ahead of yours.

 

[City Guy]

Addiction is NOT a disease it is a mental illness. Diseases are caused by bacteria or viruses. You can't "catch" an addiction. Some say addictions are inherited but I have my doubts; I believe it is more nurture that nature.

 

[callmefence]

Alcohol addiction is both as M-5 got it right. It starts by choosing to use it. If it provides a level of comfort, it becomes an addiction. The cycle is broken by choice. I think choice is the larger part of the equation.

I constantly evaluate my use of alcohol. Annually, my Doctor and I discuss it. She characterizes my use of alcohol as a "love affair". That is exactly the words she uses. She says I do not fit the description of an alcoholic. She says I simple have a "love affair" with it. I can go a week without it and never notice it missing. But I drink a couple glasses of wine daily. Rarely do I drink until evening.

How is a disease then prince? You choose to do it , then catch the disease.
Sometimes I got fishing when I should be doing something else. Can I call that a disease.

Ron and dash are exactly right. Many diseases start from a decision to do something. A decision to have sex, a decision to eat poorly, a decision to be sedentary, a decision to not wash your hands, bathe, cook with safe water, etc, etc. Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs react to receptors in our bodies. Not everyone responds the same to these chemical influences. It's often hard for someone who can drink a few beers and not become dependent to understand how some can become hooked early and often. Chemical addiction is a disease, despite the decision that initiated it. Watch someone go through DTs from alcohol, or withdrawal from opiods- that reaction is NOT a decision.

Ball
I know I'm in over my head with you.
But to me a disease is a medical condition. You can't decide not to have cancer. You can decide to live a life that reduces the chance. But that doesn't mean it won't happen. And when you get it you can't decide not to have it anymore. Addiction is different because no matter what you do medically it ain't going to do SHYT until the addict decides to quit.

= decision

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

How is a disease then prince? You choose to do it , then catch the disease.
Sometimes I got fishing when I should be doing something else. Can I call that a disease.

Ron and dash are exactly right. Many diseases start from a decision to do something. A decision to have sex, a decision to eat poorly, a decision to be sedentary, a decision to not wash your hands, bathe, cook with safe water, etc, etc. Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs react to receptors in our bodies. Not everyone responds the same to these chemical influences. It's often hard for someone who can drink a few beers and not become dependent to understand how some can become hooked early and often. Chemical addiction is a disease, despite the decision that initiated it. Watch someone go through DTs from alcohol, or withdrawal from opiods- that reaction is NOT a decision.

Ball
I know I'm in over my head with you.
But to me a disease is a medical condition. You can't decide not to have cancer. You can decide to live a life that reduces the chance. But that doesn't mean it won't happen. And when you get it you can't decide not to have it anymore. Addiction is different because no matter what you do medically it ain't going to do SHYT until the addict decides to quit.

= decision

You're missing the boat here Fence. An addict's brain is literally wired different.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Addiction is NOT a disease it is a mental illness. Diseases are caused by bacteria or viruses. You can't "catch" an addiction. Some say addictions are inherited but I have my doubts; I believe it is more nurture that nature.

Spoken like a true person who's never seen it up close and personal.

 

[bball]

Addiction is NOT a disease it is a mental illness. Diseases are caused by bacteria or viruses. You can't "catch" an addiction. Some say addictions are inherited but I have my doubts; I believe it is more nurture that nature.

Chemical dependence is a disease. Alcohol, opiods, nicotine and caffeine are chemicals. Some more destructive than others.