disease?

What does everyone think about calling drug addiction a disease?

Isn't that shedding the responsiblity when it's usually the result of drug abuse - self induced?

Isn't it more of a condition or symptom?

[jenny8575309]

Well to begin with, Addicts are not recreational users.  I'm not going to speak technically about addiction, I'm just going to give my opinion.  I think addicts have the 'overpowering' compulsion to use.  Addicts can no more control their usage.  They've tried and tried, but nothing worked.  It's as if an INSANE thought comes right before the first use, that overpowers all other thoughts, and emotions.  I don't know about it being a disease,but it sure makes it easier for me to deal with.  I also like to think of it as a demon, or an enemy, my alter-ego if you will.  I know that somewhere inside me is a baffling, powerful urge to use, that will allow me to turn my back on everyone I love, and that would let me kill myself eventually.  I'm smart, I have will-power in other areas of my life.  I don't really consider myself abnormally selfish, I'm otherwise a pretty normal person.  The only difference, is that I have nurtured my addiction until it became a huge monstor that i'm unable to combat alone.  I get the weapons I need from NA. I believe addiction is self-induced, but should one person have to pay the price of a wasted life, guilt, shame, demoralization, becuase of lack of will-power or lack of understanding of their own condition.  I mean let's face it none of us ever said we wanted to be addicts when we grew up.  What happened after we woke up the giant, was pretty much out of our control.  We kept telling ourselves that we weren't going to become addicted, then went on to say that we weren't addicted, then maybe we said ok, this has gotten a little out of hand, but I can handle it.  Then we told ourselves we could stop anytime we wanted.  Then we tried to stop and couldn't, then we tried harder, and tried different things,  We always ended up using again and again, against our own will.  Scared, Embarrased, Ashamed and Alone, eventually we gave up, and covered up our concerns with even more drugs.  One thing I hear in my group, is that we are not responsible for our disease, but we are responsible for our recovery.

[GoingToMakeIt]

A disease, by any other name is still addiction.:)
I believe their are genetic tendencies toward addictive behavior. This has been shown with alcoholism. But I hate to call it a disease. it kind of takes away the responsibility we have to address this problem head on. JMOpinion

[oxyaddict420]

I only read the question, not any of the replys..

My answer is that ADDICTION IS ABSOLUTLEY A DISEASE!!!!!

This isnt even a matter of opinion.. This is an ACTUAL FACT!!

Go to some real research online through reliable sources and you will see that in fact addiction is a disease!!  I was born addcited, and then have had many other factors in my life that have given me horrible odds to beat my natural addiction..  

I in now way use that as an excuse!! I TAKE 100% RESPOSABILITY FOR MY ACTIONS!!  

[bmc1976]

In my opinion I don't know if I can call it a disease. Sure, most of us started using due to a injury or disease but can stop taking them by quitting. No other disease out there can be cured by just quitting. Sure, the meds mess with the chemical balance of the brain but that goes away with time. After that it is all mental. I don't want to sound harsh but if a cancer patient could just quit cancer do you think they would go back to it? I know first hand it's not easy getting off and staying off pain meds but I know it is me and no one else that has the problem. I do wish the doctors would have informed me more about the effects of them before being prescribed but I know they were and are looking after me by controlling my pain. I never took a pain med until age 27 and had no idea what I was getting in to. Even if they would have lectured me on how addicting they are would I have still taken them? Of course. When you're in pain the only thing on your mind is wanting it to go away. All of this is just my opinion and in no way do I think it is right. The only thing I know for sure is that it is a very difficult addiction and do not look down on anyone for it. All we can do is work together to help one another and help everyone to the best of our ability. If only 1 out of 100 of us succeed, that's progress. I wish all of you the best of luck with this battle.
Brian

[broknbck]

i hope i didn't offend you. i could never judge an addict. all they want is just to feel better. i would love to help anyone to get released.

guess i'm just trying to wrap this all up now that it's finally over. i was blaming doctors at first. but have come to realize that it was entirely my fault. and mine alone. the doctors warned me, i just didn't listen. it's my way of making sure i never fall into it again.

wish you the best on your recovery!

[wait2long]

you are not cured of your disease of addiction just by quitting...
once an addict always an addict...FACT.

[nogie1717]

I got myself into addiction by abusing pain meds, so I sometimes hesitate to call it a disease.
But addiction certainly has the symptoms of a disease.  Chronic, can go into remission, etc...

If it was only a moral failing then you could stop without any ill effects.

It's kind of like telling someone who suffers from depression to just put on a happy face and deal with it.

[bmc1976]

I should have also added that after quitting continue to get support. I know it's not just that easy. He wanted opinions and that was mine. I even said it was my opinion.

[broknbck]

i don't know about you, but i'm not an addict anymore.
i don't have withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms anymore
i don't have mental cravings anymore
and i don't take the drugs anymore.

if you keep on saying you're still an addict, you're gonna talk your self into it.

[oxyaddict420]

THANK YOU WAIT2LONG!!  EXACTLY!!

As for the others opinions,, it is just that opinions.. And what are those opinions based on?  From what I gather it is just personal experience right?  Well that doesn't qualify to answer a medical question as you have asked..

This isn't just my opinion.. This is people that have DR degrees, pyhcology degrees, and much much more.. I know what I have and it is a DISEASE PLAIN AND SIMPLE!

I REFUSE TO ARGUE ANYMORE when my statment is based off of facts and not personal opinion..

[wait2long]

so you have been cured of your addiction, and when and if you decide, you can take pills when you want without the worry of ever having an issue with them again??
if you are cured, then why do you continue to post on an addiction forum (just curious)?

[bmc1976]

He just asked what our thoughts were on it. We all have our own thoughts on a subject even if it is medically classified as a disease. I'm not downing the way you look at it even if it is a fact. If broknbck has the those feelings he has, then he beat his disease. I no longer look at him as an addict and congradulate him on that.

[wait2long]

everyone certainly is entitled to have their own opinion...but then that damn thing called reality sneaks up on you when your not looking...
end of my factual opinion.

[broknbck]

sorry, but DR degrees, and pyscology degrees don't mean **** to me anymore.

i think our medical proffesion needs some new schooling. all most of the doctors do is treat our symptoms.

the doctors i dealt with treated my symptoms of pain with narcotics. narcotics that don't even address the specific part that hurts.
instead they screw with your brain and give you even more problems and are known to be addictive.

is this an effectinate way for doctors to be taught to treat people with chronic pain?

[CATUF]

I don't know about yours, but my addiction is a disease.  

For a long time I treated it as simply a poor choice I was making over and over and over.  I proceeded with the notion that I just needed to exercise sufficient control over it so I could stop.  That approach had worked with every problem I had ever been faced with before.  Thus, I saw no reason why it shouldn't work with addiction too.

But that approach didn't work with my addiction.  It didn't work at all.  Not only did my sincere attempts at control not push the addiction back, they didn't even contain it.  It advanced and it grew and grew and grew.  Finally, there was not much left besides my addiction.

Your addiction may well be more of a condition or symptom.  Mine, however, is a chronic, relentlessly progressive disease that is ultimately fatal if it remains active.  It almost killed me the last time I let it become active.  I have no doubt that it will kill me if it ever becomes active again.  For that reason, I spend at least part of every single day making sure that I'm moving forward in my Recovery, not standing still or sliding back where active addiction might catch me.  

CATUF
Day-944

[jenny8575309]

You didn't offend me, don't worry.  I was giving my personal view on it... Is it a disease?  I don't know.. But I agree with wait2long.  Addiction can be exposed by other humans, and I have used after a long period of absinance and didn't really give it much thought.  I know i had solemnly swore off drugs forever, and found myself used again!  I can't even say why I used.. I just DID... Denial isn't only a river in Egypt.. If your an addict, I hate to tell you this, but your problems may not be solved so quickly.. But... they can be solved slowly over a period of time with the correct tools, support and honesty, open-mindedness and willingness... "I'm not an addict anymore"  That statement right there is a red-flag to me.

[nogie1717]

Most people who take narcotics do not become addicted.

Doctors CANNOT treat every patient like they will become addicted.  When I have a medical problem, a doctor treats it.  If that treatment doesn't work, I tell him and we try something else.

Even as a drug seeker, each doctor I went to initially began with non-narcotic options.  Injections, physical therapy, etc.  I was the one who pursued the narcotics.

I think I know a lot about narcotics, but my knowledge is small in comparison to someone who went to medical school, passed the boards and served residency AND THEN became a doctor.

[addictedme]

You say that if you keep telling yourself your an addict your gonna talk yourself into it,,I assume you mean you"ll start using,,,actually when an addict stops thinking there an addict they usually use.Theres active addicts and theres recoverying addicts. Working on a program of recovery gives you a chance of not using. If I ignore or even forget that I"m a recoverying addict I"ll become an active addict again,,,

[broknbck]

i've been posting on here in hopes to help someone else. i am just so thankful everyday of my new freedom, that took me a year to do.

the last 4 years of addiction were the most hellish thing i've ever experienced and i feel so bad for everyone who is still going through it. guess i'm just not very good at it.

wish everyone the best in finding their freedom!  adios

[addictedme]

Not to beat a dead horse but again ,"if you keep saying your an addict,,,,,,,,",arent you leary of coming in here regularly then?