Addiction is the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. Drug addiction, in particular, changes the way the brain functions and changes the way the body distinguishes pleasure. This is why some people view addiction as a disease rather than a choice. Addiction is also a behavior, which is an action. We choose our own actions and we chose to keep going with the same actions even though we know the consequences. Making addiction a choice rather than a disease. Any addiction starts out with a choice and can be ended with a choice. There are different types of diseases. But the two broad categories are physically and mentally. When a disease is classified, it is usually classified by the organ it is …show more content…
But that doesn’t make it a disease,” (Lewis). Lewis was once an addict. If addicts are not seeing addiction as a disease why does the rest of America? So many people are trying to get addiction classified as a disease because it is the easy way out. Calling addiction a disease allows us to look at addicts like they are sick, and calling it a disease allows the public’s perceptions to change. Treatment centers, such as methadone clinics, have been around for a very long time. Public methadone clinics are paid for by taxpayers, and private methadone clinics are paid for by yourself. Methadone clinics are a multibillion dollar industry. Do you think we would really want to get rid of those? Studies even show that after a heavy substance abuse such as heroin people turn to methadone clinics, only to get addicted to methadone. And yes methadone is also a drug, the only difference is methadone does not provide the “high” people feel when they take the normal …show more content…
People never seem to understand each other. Maybe people tend to listen to reply instead of listen to understand. Not just drug addiction but all addictions. I now understand that once they get hooked on the addiction it is hard for them to get off of that addiction. Their body may then depend on it. I now know that addiction can make you do some crazy things but you still had the choice to start. You still had the choice to keep going back over and over again. Before you got addicted you made that choice to start you made that choice to never stop doing it, no matter the reason you still made that choice. After becoming addicted, you are still have your choice to stop. But you choose not to, and you choose to become more and more dependent on what you are addicted
There are many different definitions in which people provide regarding addiction. May (1988) describes that addiction “is a state of compulsion, obsession, or preoccupation that enslaves a person’s will and desire” (p. 14). Individuals who suffer from addiction provide their time and energy toward other things that are not healthy and safe. The book
People argue whether drug addiction is a disease or a choice. Today, I will be discussing this argument in hopes to have a better understanding as to why this topic is so controversial. Throughout my research, I easily found information on this topic and I am still not sure I have found any answers.
It is hard to put into words the exact reason a person becomes addicted to something such as drugs, alcohol or even gambling. Addiction can be described as becoming so dependent on something that their tolerance could be raised to dangerous levels. When an addicted person needs larger doses, it is because the amount that they originally started with does not provide that “reward” that it once used to. This could lead to a dangerous downfall including disability or even death. One of the hardest parts of the addiction is when the user is in complete denial that there is even a problem.
When people hear the words drug addict, these words have negative connotations and stigmas attached to them. People visualize a person who does not care about anything, including family, work, or commitments, except for obtaining money to buy drugs to get high. However, there are many people who are drug addicts that maintain a normal, functioning life. Before we can examine why these people are addicted to drugs, one must first define the word addict.
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Addiction is normally thought of as drug abuse and alcoholism but people can also be addicted to things such as gambling and sex as well. The controversy on if addiction is a disease or a choice is a continuous debate. Everyone has an opinion on this topic, one side believes it’s a disease, while the other believes it is a choice. Although addiction has been assumed to be a lack of willpower and a weakness, addiction is actually a complex disease that changes the wiring of the brain. Addiction is a brain disease expressed in the form of compulsive behavior (Leshner.) Both devolping
It is not uncommon to view drug addiction as a problem that is created and maintained by the drug addicts. Most of
Addiction /ə-ˈdik-shən, a-/ noun 1. A strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble), 2. An unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something (Addiction). Addiction can cause a person to sabotage their lives in order to get their next fix, whether that be scoring another gram of coke or a double with cheese, a large fry, and a large soda. Addicts are stuck in a constant cycle of getting cravings, going through with their ritual, using, experiencing guilt, and being emotionally triggered, thus bringing them back to the beginning. Now, most people when they hear the word “addiction”, the first thing that comes to their mind is drugs. However, if a vast majority of individuals
Main Point: What defines an addiction? According to Psychology Today, “Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance…. or engages in an activity….that can be pleasurable but the continued use/act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health.” This can range anywhere from drug use to eating disorders, to gambling, to even texting in today’s generation. Shocking to say the least, especially when most people do not even know they are addicted or are an addict until they realize this definition.
Drug abuse and addiction are issues that affect people everywhere. However, these issues are usually treated as criminal activity rather than issues of public health. There is a conflict over whether addiction related to drug abuse is a disease or a choice. Addiction as a choice suggests that drug abusers are completely responsible for their actions, while addiction as a disease suggests that drug abusers need help in order to break their cycle of addiction. There is a lot of evidence that suggests that addiction is a disease, and should be treated rather than punished. Drug addiction is a disease because: some people are more likely to suffer from addiction due to their genes, drug abuse brought on by addictive behavior changes the brain and worsens the addiction, and the environment a person lives in can cause the person to relapse because addiction can so strongly affect a person.
Addiction is a very strong word that brings along many negative connotations. When we think of an addiction we imagine someone who depends on a certain substance, most likely alcohol to have their needs met. Addiction is defined by the Webster dictionary as, "a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal." Even though our society sees addiction and only applies the word to drug addicts and alcoholics, there is a much wider range of subjects that fall under the umbrella of what an addiction truly is. An addiction is a dependency on any kind of materialistic object that you use on a day to day basis that brings
Addiction is something that has been present in my life ever since I could understand what the term "addiction meant". While everyone is entitled to their own opinion I believe that there is an issue surrounding people's concept of addiction. A lot of individuals, at least those that I have spoken to, are quick to judge and negtively label those individuals suffering from addiction as they do not fully understand the strong hold an addiction can have.
People misuse words and phrases constantly. Some people misuse words so much they tend to make up their own definition of the word and forget what the true meaning of the word really is. Addiction is a term that is misused quite often, some people may not see this as a big deal, but it is a bigger deal than people might realize. The actual definition of the word addiction is, “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.
Addiction can kill, manipulate, and even take control over not only someone physically, but also mentally. Addiction can happen to anyone by engaging in something that gives them pleasure or relief. Getting regular treatment for help, as most people know, can stop addiction. Over forty-five percent of people have dealt with addiction at a point in their life, but out of that percentage, only ten percent got treatment to get better. Addiction is compulsive and can happen to anyone, just “bad” people.
Addiction is the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice; to something that is psychologically or physically a habit. Addiction can be a form of severe trauma. Being addicted to something is not a good idea, it can cause a lot of negative effects as well as affecting your personality and health. There are many people that have addiction to a variety of addiction forms. From the “okay” to “most gross”, here are some types of addiction freaks, you might come across one day. Some people might stop that habit due to practicing different methods but for others it might be impossible because of how addicted they are.
In conclusion drug addiction is a very terrible and challenging problem. It affects individuals, families, and the people around them. It is important that drug addicts realize that they must want to stop and seek help for the problem. The drug addict needs the support of friends and family, so they can make it through this process. The process to recover from drug addiction can take a lifetime. There is hope for a drug addict who wants to change their life for the better.