General Forums >> The Lobby >> Do you believe drug addiction is a disease?
Do you believe drug addiction is a disease?
|
Posted 6 months ago I believe it comes from hedonistic behavior but can be arrested, like alcoholism, in a minority of individuals who really want to change. How about you guys? |
|
| Posted 6 months ago
You could research this question and get as many varied results as there are patients in studies. Some will argue that certain people’s brains are wired differently, while others agree with your opinion.
Fact is that once certain receptors are activated through the use of chemicals, it is difficult if not impossible to turn them off.
This question will likely spark lively debate.
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago Funny I just went off about this very topic the other day when I caught a bit of that LAME ASS Celebrity Rehab show and one of the addicts was referring to his "disease". To me, a disease is something like MS, ALS, alzheimers, cancer, etc. It can be said that some forms of cancer are brought on partially or entirely by the person through abuse of their bodies (via addiction to things like smoking or alcohol) but most cancers, like most diseases, are something people get by no fault of their own. Calling an addiction a "disease" is, in my humble opinion, a ploy for more sympathy for the addict. I will not claim that I am perfect and have never been addicted to anything.I believe in the end we all have free will. Regardless of what substance an addict abuses, they can choose to get clean. I find addicts tend to be weak minded, weak willed, and most are downright pathetic. They CHOOSE their addiction over their lives, their families, their jobs, and their health. Help is always available in some form, they simply need to decide to seek it. But getting clean is too hard, too much work, too painful, blah blah blah. My ex brother in law chose his cocaine addicion over my sister, who he'd been with for 14 years, and his 9 month old twin boys, when he abandoned them in the middle of the night to go downtown and get high. He never came back. My other brother in law (you'd think my sisters and I were raised dysfunctionally but we really weren't!) is an alcoholic who verbally abuses my sister constantly and has no interest in his twin 5 year old daughters, or working on his marriage or himself. Both of these men are weak, pathetic losers. They don't have a "disease", they have addictions that they don't care to rid themselves of. And when perhaps someday they do get a REAL disease that has been brought on by their abuse of their bodies, then they can say they have a disease but they will get as much sympathy from me then as they do now. None.
RANT COMPLETE! If you don't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them. |
|
| Posted 6 months ago It's a desease. Now, as previous poster stated it's brought on by their own actions. There is no doubt that some people are more predisposed to being addicted to certain things. Personally I don't think that there is any debate as to whether it is a disease or not. I believe that it is. There has been debate that there is a gene within our DNA that predisposes us to certain behavior. Examples would be violent behavior, homosexuality, pedefiles. As far as this issue goes I really couldn't say. I think that our genetics play a part but so does environment. The number you have dialed "9-1-1" is not a working number. If you feel you have this message is an error please hang up and don't call back. |
|
| Posted 6 months ago Sorry DOG, But its not a disease, its a CHOICE, plain and simple. The weak make the CHOICE to injest drugs, the disease is the aftermath of their addiction. Again, the lableing the CHOICE, as an addiction, is called "enabling". It enables the weak minded to blame everything other than themselves for their CHOICE to do drugs. This enables them to continue the use, rather than take personal responsibility for their own CHOICES. Can you see the cycle that encourages? Im sorry but I have no tolerance for weak minded people no matter their circumstances. At around 8-10 years old, the concept of right and wrong is understood. You either take the right path or the wrong, thats your choice .Once taken, its your problem to fix, not societies, or anyone elses. The addiction label is encouraged and helpful to the drug and medical industry in this country becaue they get vast subsidies from the gov. to combat the problem (see the war on drugs). Everyone should get 1 chance to clean up along with education and such. After that, if you make the CHOICE again, you go directly to jail and dont see the light of day for years. The scourge of drug and alcohol addiction is the single most devistating factor on our free society. Without it we in our profession would be looking at unemployment. Most of all crime (and you can name so many that you wouldnt think connected to drug and alcohol abuse) is affected by drug and alcohol abuse, think deeply on that and you will agree with me. |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago SGTDEMANDA, I just read your post, in the aftermath of my own, and I see we are lock step in agreement on this topic. I applaud you for your position and I too have no sympathy for the weak minded, or the self absorbed, who prey on our society, and addicts are predators by nature. They prey on everyone, and have no moral compass or self dicipline. They will do anything for their high, family, friends, society be damned. I could walk over htier near dead corpse and not even flinch or otherwise acknowledge their pathetic selves. Yeah thats cold, but when you've been in this busines for as long as I have, and seen the resulting pain and sorrow caused by these predators, than you would be cold too. I waste no time on those that arent willing to help themselves. My wife and I volunteer with many groups, mostly children, and that is where I will put my energy not on the weak minded, self absorbed, hedonistic as it was aptly stated earlier. Screw em' and let them be delivered to God for judgement, its not my problem.
SCREW EM"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago First off Lt. You need to whatch the language on here. I'm editing your posts so that you conform to the regs here on PL. Second, i didn't say it wasn't a CHOICE, they do chose to do what they do, but an addiction is a desease and in some is terminal and others treatable. It is a desease that attacks and ravages our society and population the same way that HIV and AIDS have. There are alot of people that have those diseases that you could made the "CHOICE" to get it because of their bahavior. A disease is what it is, reguarless of the choices made. The number you have dialed "9-1-1" is not a working number. If you feel you have this message is an error please hang up and don't call back. |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago First off, my language is the language of policeman ,not liberal idiots who make excuses for everyone in society ,who chooses their own demise. Your probably a tree hugging dumbocrat who thinks society is responsible for everyone in it. You can monitor wahtever you like but dont talk down to me. Ive probably had more experience in this realm of our profession, more world experience and such so it is my opinion and if you dont like it, fine we can agree to disagree as all civilized persons should. But dont threaten me or otherwise talk down to me, I wont have that. What regs are you refering to and editing my posts??? get real! Now go back to your monitoring before I say sometihng that would offend your little ears. |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago Dog, Are you even an LEO? Your profile is incomplete and a little lax in your background. Who are you to dictate to me in this forum? You look younger than my son, who is currently serving his country, and it appears as if you have little credibilty with veteran officers such as myself. If you are the real deal, and I doubt that, You obviously havent experienced half of what myself and others on this site have ,or you wouldnt be so condicending and niave to us. |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago LtFrank says ...
First off Lt. I'm a moderator on this site. Second I'm intentionally vague on my background because we don't have just LEO's on this site. I have the right not to reveal everything about myself online. Especially when the ones we frequently deal with on the street go online looking at sites such as this. If you would notice on my profile that I"m a verified LEO when i Didn't notice that on your profile. You language may be acceptable among LEO's but that isn't the only demographic of our members. Please respect the powers that be or further action can be taken. I've been polite up to this point. Oh, BTW, ask some other members on here...more tenured members than you how "liberal" i am.... The number you have dialed "9-1-1" is not a working number. If you feel you have this message is an error please hang up and don't call back. |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago And Lt...I thank your son for is service. I myself served in the U.S. Marine Corps. The number you have dialed "9-1-1" is not a working number. If you feel you have this message is an error please hang up and don't call back. |
|
| Posted 6 months ago I agree with Lt Farnk drug use is a choice. They Make the choice to start usiing drugs that by now they should be well aware are addictive and will eventually kill them. My problems with the great commonwealth of Massachusetts that panders to these idiots. The recently made purchasing needles legal to anyone, taking away another tool for Law enforcement. I'm tired of these theives being treated as victims. |
|
| Posted 6 months ago yeah i'm sorry but to me it has been and always will be a CHOICE! no one and nothing forced you to start, you decided you want to. just like killing is a choice, we aren't predisposed to do something like that b/c of our brain, no one is born like that Life has many influence's; it's your application that set's you apart |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago devildog911 says ...
and most of those people w/ AIDS and HIV CHOSE to do what they did which lead them to contract it, whether through sex or drug use. then if they have kids its passed onto the children who have to deal w/ their parents CHOICES Life has many influence's; it's your application that set's you apart |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago LtFrank says ...
BUMP...thanks LT nice to know we are on the same page :) If you don't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them. |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago thebig_d_58 says ...
"no one"...what about the person that suffers from severe mental illness. The truely mentally ill have killed, and not necessarily by choice. I have never, nor will I ever say that a person addicted to drugs is innocent. I completely agree that the addicts make a concious choice to use, and susequently become hooked on drugs, which usually leads to more and more crime to support their habbit. But once the addiction takes hold of them it acts like cancer, it consumes their whole lives, until, like cancer it's terminal and their is no treatment. It is a disease medically speaking. It also happens to be ILLEGAL, it's the only illness that carries with it criminal charges. Trust me, I don't have any sympathy for drug addicts that have chosen to lead the life they do. I will be as tenatious as any of you will in pursuing them. But considering that our current laws won't let us simply cut out this particular cancer maybe we should be advocates of trying to treat it. The number you have dialed "9-1-1" is not a working number. If you feel you have this message is an error please hang up and don't call back. |
|
| Posted 6 months ago Everyone makes the choice to start using drugs. However each person's personality and chemical balance is different. Some people never become addicted to anything. Then again some become addicted to everything. I myself am closer to the latter side. I smoke cigarettes, drink coffee every morning, drink a beer when I come home from work, and refuse to go gambling because I know I will not quit until I've lost my house. So I recognize the fact that I have an addictive personality. It's not something I can alter, it's just how I am. So is starting to use drugs a choice, yes. The first few times it's a choice because of an addictive personality. But because the endorphine receptors become altered after using drugs, your body becomes addicted to the prescence of the drug to keep it balanced out to keep the "feel good" feeling. So starting drug use is a choice but it does alter your brain until it's no longer a choice and instead a must. I don't necessarily recognize it as a disease but I do recognize there is more than just a choice involved.
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago I am not qualified to say if addiction it's self is a disease or not. But without adoubt I can say that taking that first hit, or drink, or what ever is a choice. I have never had a problem with addiction myself, I can have a drink or not, use tobacco or not, I feel no need to have these things. But I am smart enough not to try the illegal drugs becuase I am aware of the results. It is a choice. I reject your reality and submit my own. |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago bmorgan says ...
I agree with you Morgan, I was smart enough to avoid drug. That was a choice I made.
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago A disease that one makes his/hers own choice to have. That old anti drug advertisement says it all: "No one says they want to grow up to be a drug addict." Life is a series of chocies, you choose your road in life. Once the choice is made, you have to work to achieve it, weather it is a positive choice or a negative choice. "Fear is an instinct. Courage is a choice."Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan USN
|
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago devildog911 says ...
so in other words, unless i'm interpreting this wrong and someone can correct me if i am, you're making an excuse for these low-lifes doing what they are doing. they chose the course that they did, no one put a gun to their head and made them do this, its no excuse, i'm sorry. now you sound like you're giving low lifes like them a cop-out and say that what they are doing is ok b/c they have a disease which MAKES them continue to do drugs, and not only continue to do so but also make them start in the first place. i'm sorry but you are sunding very much so like one of those liberals who say its ok for you to not accept responsibility for their actions b/c something is making them do it Life has many influence's; it's your application that set's you apart |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago bump Life has many influence's; it's your application that set's you apart |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago i don't see how a "choice" should or could be a disease. One does not choose a disease, but one does choose to do drugs. No sympathy for them. |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago LtFrank says ...
As Moderator of the "Ask a Cop" forum I would like to inform you that not all cops use foul language. Also, Devildog is a Moderator on this site and whether you like it or not he has every right to monitor your behavior. And finally, you have not as yet verified your position as a LEO thus until you do, you are being disrespectfull to a verified LEO. Earn your star before you get in the face of someone who has theirs. Also, read paragraph 5 of the Terms of Use on language and go back to the Introduction Forum and read those rules. Although we try not to violate "Freedom of Speech", this is a private site so that one goes out the window. You are a member but you must follow the rules. Moderator 13
Being a Tyrant does not make one a Leader! |
|
| Posted 6 months ago No ... addiction is not a disease.. it is that a habit or an addiction...People make a choice to use .. but not to have a disease... Be careful what you ask for... You just might get it.... |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago First off, my language is the language of policeman ,not liberal idiots who make excuses for everyone in society ,who chooses their own demise. Your probably a tree hugging dumbocrat who thinks society is responsible for everyone in it. You can monitor wahtever you like but dont talk down to me. Ive probably had more experience in this realm of our profession, more world experience and such so it is my opinion and if you dont like it, fine we can agree to disagree as all civilized persons should. But dont threaten me or otherwise talk down to me, I wont have that. What regs are you refering to and editing my posts??? get real! Now go back to your monitoring before I say sometihng that would offend your little ears.
Dog, Are you even an LEO? Your profile is incomplete and a little lax in your background. Who are you to dictate to me in this forum? You look younger than my son, who is currently serving his country, and it appears as if you have little credibilty with veteran officers such as myself. If you are the real deal, and I doubt that, You obviously havent experienced half of what myself and others on this site have ,or you wouldnt be so condicending and niave to us. LtFrank, slow down on the personal attacks. Everyone has an opinion. Can't we discuss this like adults? |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago Why oh why can't we all just get along and have our own opinions. Play nicely kids! If you don't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them. |
|
Account Removed 
|
| Posted 6 months ago A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions,[1] associated with specific symptoms and signs.[2][3] In human beings,"disease" is often used more broadly to refer to any condition that causes extreme pain , dysfunction , distress , social problems , and/or death to the person afflicted, or similar problems for those in contact with the person. In this broader sense, it sometimes includes injuries , disabilities , disorders , syndromes , infections , isolated symptoms , deviant behaviors , and atypical variations of structure and function, while in other contexts and for other purposes these may be considered distinguishable categories. |
|
| Posted 6 months ago sgtdemanda says ...
Sgt. Amanda ^ |
|
|
| Posted 6 months ago OMG! LIKE LOOKING IN A MIRROR! BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHA.... If you don't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them. |
