Is drug addiction a choice or is it an illness ?
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“This blog is a place for you to expand on class discussions, discuss current events, and to give your opinion on given topics. You may comment on the opinions of others and build on their thoughts as a group. Each new post will stay current to the theme we are discussing in class and your responses should reflect your growth as a student of Sociology.”
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29 comments:
Drug addiction is definately a choice. It is your choice to put whatever you want in your body. Although you may have a greater chance of drug addiction if it is in your family, it is still your choice whether you take drugs or not. Even though prolonged drug use rewires the brain and alters the way your brain works, it was YOUR choice that started the drug use. Without your decision or choice of drug use, you'd never have the addiction. You can't get an addiction without choosing to try it. It is not an "illness" and can't be "caught". Addiction happens because of the choices of the addict.
In my opinion, drug addiction is not an illness, it is a choice. If drug addiction runs in your family, you should be 3 times more aware of the dangers of drugs. If someone becomes an addict, it is definitely their own fault because they made the initial bad choice, which was to try the drug. All drug addictions can be avoided with support of friends, family, and one word...no.
At first it is a choice to take the drugs but after that, I think it is an illness. Yes, you decide to take the drugs but once you get that feeling of euphoria, in the case of meth, then you keep having to get that feeling and that is when it becomes and illness. The fact that you need the drug to make you feel good makes it an addiction which I think is an illness.
Drug addiction is not a choice. The usage of drugs is a choice, but once it gets to the point where you can call it an addiction it must be considered an illness because 'addiction' is defined as a compulsive psychological need for a habit forming substance, something that is out of the person's control at some level. Nobody chooses to get addicted even if they are aware of the consequences because the process of taking the drug is gradual, somewhat senseless because of the euphoric element. The choice leads to the illness, therefore it can not be an either nor an or because it is more of a 'cause and effect' ballgame. lol ballgame.
I agree with Tim. Initially, whether or not you do the drugs is entirely up to you (besides, of course, situations in which you unknowingly take the drug or are somehow forced). The first few times you take the drug, you're coming back for more because it feels good, which is a conscious decision. However, the desire to have the drug becomes a physical need, and cannot be denied any easier than one of us could deny food or water for too long. It has effects on your mental health as well. Addiction takes control of your brain and makes it impossible to feel pleasure, paranoid, or emotionally unstable, as a few examples. As for the genetic theory on addiction, I agree with Melissa. If it addiction runs in your family, it's your own fault for taking the drug in the first place and doesn't have an effect on whether or not you choose to start taking the drug.
Drug addiction is both a choice and an illness. First, it's a choice because you are the one choosing to take the drugs. After, you have been taking the drugs it is when it becomes an illness. Drug addiction is a serious condition to be in because it is difficult to stop using the drugs. It is considered to be an illness because even though you may want to stop, you cannot because you are so used to having that feeling in your body which you cannot resist.
I believe that drug addiction is deffiniately a choice. you have the right to say no to drugs thats your option yes or no, you either do it or you don't with illnesses you don't really have a say in wether you have one or not, i believe that when you do drugs you give yourself over to the way it feels, you don't care that it can damage you, your the one taking that risk, that illness that you get isn't something you chose.
I would say that drug addiction is a choice because you make the choice to go out and seek the drug and use it to get your high. Yes drug addiction is a choice it is not an illness, you can't catch drug addiction from other people like a cold. I dont think that i would use the word illness with drug addiction, i would use dependence because i would categorize illnesses as being something like the flu or the common cold that can be caught.
I would say that drug addiction is a choice because you make the choice to go out and seek the drug and use it to get your high. Yes drug addiction is a choice it is not an illness, you can't catch drug addiction from other people like a cold. I dont think that i would use the word illness with drug addiction, i would use dependence because i would categorize illnesses as being something like the flu or the common cold that can be caught.
I think that drug addiction is a choice that then turns into an illness if you let it. The one time that you decide to take a drug is your fault essentially and your choice. If you don't want to become addicted, just don't do it. So, trying it and thinking it will be just this one time; when does that really happen. It may happen because of peer pressure but it is no excuse because you are the one that chose to do it and will have to live with that choice for your lifetime.
I think that drug addiction is a choice. You have the option to decide if you want to take a drug or not. It is your responsibility to distinguish right from wrong and the choice that you make is the choice that can affect you negatively in the long run. As a result of your poor choice, drug addiction CAN become an illness where it is hard to stop even though you may want to after a while. So the best thing to do is to not start in the first place.
Drug addiction is a choice. You are the one responcible for getting yourself involved in those problems, making it your fault if you get addicted. Even though it is said that people with parents with drug problems are more likely to have a drug problem themselves, that is no excuse for getting started in the first place. This theory also seems like an excuse for those with drug user parents. For every person that is addicted to drugs and also has parents addicted, i bet there are around the same number of people who dont do drugs but their parents did. And for the people that were not raised around drugs, nothing gets you addicted except for trying it. Therefore not tryind it would not have lead to the problem they are having now.
This question is a very interesting question. there are many possible answers for this question. In my own opion i believe that an addiction is an illness. People dont just wake up one day and say hey, i want to be addicted to drugs. one close consept of this question is that they choose to take the drug but they dont choose to be addicted to thye drug. most addicts have other family members that are addicts. the addiction gene is hereditary, it isnt a choice its an illness
Drug addiction is a serous thing for some and not so much for others. I think this is because it is a choice.But to add to that I think it becomes an illness the longer you do it. You can look at it like this, if someone has mono and you kiss them. It was your choice to kiss them and contract the illness but if you dont choose to kiss them you wont have a problem and get the illness.
I feel as thought drug addiction is a choice. You are the one who chooses what drugs to put into your body, your the one who chooses to continue with it even though you know that outcome and the consequences can be bad. I feel that people who become addicted to drugs have themselves and only themselves to blame. At times people use the excuse that they grew up in a family who didnt care about them and it caused them to look at drugs as comfort. Drugs is not an easy way out. Although the drugs help you in the begining with getting things off your mind in the end its only damaging your body. Drug addiction is a choice people make for themselves and only they should be faulted for it. You become addicted to something when you make the choice to keep doing it
Drug addiction is definitly a choice. It is a choice to put that substance or drug into your body not an illness. I think that people can become so dependent on the drug that it could be considered an illness because the individual becomes dependent on the drug to even function properly. But the beginning stages of the addiction are a choice. No one is forceing them to do drugs or they dont have an illness so they need to take the drug, drug addiction is a choice.
I'm thinking that drug addiction is actually an illness. When you try a drug for the first time that is out of choice, I don't think that people choose to be drug addicts. Taking drugs is a choice, genuine addiction is an illness.
I believe that drug addiction is a is an illness not a choice. although it is true that drug addicts chose to start abusing drugs thay did not choose to become so influenced by the drugs that it changes who they are. If drug addiction was a choice it would be possible to stop cold turkey without withdrawl symptoms and carry on with a healthy lifestyle, but this isn't the case with drug addicts. Because your body becomes dependent on the drug it very difficult to quit and once a person does they face a life long battle to resist the urge to relapse, this is why many people cannot stay clean because the addiction has over powered them making them sick without it.
I think it's a mix of both a choice and an illness. It first its a choice, but as the addiction increases it becomes an illness. Once they addiction takes over, they don’t have as much of a choice. It’s also more of an illness for the decedents of drug addicts. They might not want to, but because the drug is already in their system, they become addicted.
I believe that in the beginning, it is a choice, but as the addiction becomes stronger, I think it is an addiction. It is your choice to try the drug to begin with. Some might say that they were pressured into it or even curiosity but it all comes down to the fact that you made the decision to try it. So, in this case it was a choice. Depending on the drug, it's unlikely that the person will become addicted after just using once. So, the following uses are that person's responsibility, seeing that they could have quit at any time. As drug users continue to use to the point of addiction, I do believe that they develop an illness. I believe this because drug abuse leads to death and pain and I don't think that their intentions were to head down this path. At this point, it's an illness because it's something that is out of their control. If they try to stop on their own, it's possible that they could die due to withdrawl. So, they really do need help to deal with the addiction so they can get better, which is why I believe that drug use starts out as a choice, and then transitions into an illness.
I believe that drug addiction is definitely your choice. Having parents who are drug addicts is not an excuse for you to also become an addict. If you know that addiction runs in your family, that should give you more reason to not start the drug at all. Nobody is forcing you to take the drug. It is all up to you. People cannot blame addiction on an illness. In the end, it is completely their decision.
IN my opinion drug addiction is a choice. Unlike viruses and bacteria where it is nearly impossible to protect yourself from, one has to physically put the drugs into their body. Also it is impossible to "catch" drug addiction from another human being. Once a virus or a cold is "caught" it is nearly impossible to get rid of with out the use of medications. Once a person is addicted to drugs, they can stop using at any given point with or with out the help of medications. I understand that it is very hard to stop using, but it has and can be done. Therefore it is not an illness.
I think that drug addiction is a combination of both choice and illness. I believe that part of it is choice because you of course have to make a decision whether to try a drug or not. If you liked the drug you experimented with and you and feel a strong urge to do it again, that's when it turns into an illness. A lot of people who are addicted to drugs want to stop but can't. They go through terrible withdrawals and physically need the drug to be better. I would definitely classify that as the disease part of addiction.
I think drug addiction is a choice. When you start to use the drug you have to be aware of the consequences. Most drugs have addictive qualities and once you start to use its hard to stop but it was your choice to begin taking the drug in the first place. I think addiction becomes an illness after a long period of time but it is because of the choices you made that makes it into an illness.
Drug addiction is both a choice and an illness. It's a choice because the person themselves decides to take the drugs. It is only your decision on whether or not to take drugs and no one else can make you. However, i do believe drug adddiction becomes an illness when people get out of hand with it. Whether or not drug addiction is an illness, you should be careful of the choices you make because they can have long term effects on your life.
I believe that drug addiction is a definatley a choice. As a free human you have the choice to put what ever you want into your body whether it be good or bad. Although you may have a greater chance to become addicted to a drug because you have a family member that is or your family has a dependence on that drug. It is still your choice to follow in your family's footsteps and you always have the oppertunity to say no. By you saying no to the drug there is no way possible that you can become addicted to the drug. Just like everything in life the only way to be 100% about something is not to do it "abstinence." In my opinion all drug addiction can be avoided by having the support of your family, your friends, and like I had said before. Just by saying "no" and not doing it.
I feel that drug addiction is an illness and not a choice. I do not think that anyone would willfully choose to live the difficult life of a drug addict. Drug addicts go through many hardships because of their habits which include losing family members and friends. They can also lose their jobs which would make supporting their habit that much more difficult. This could then lead to legal issues since some addicts turn to crime to support their lifestyle. Drug addicts also risk their health with every use. They know that there is always the possibility of contracting a disease or even death. Why would anyone choose this lifestyle? Although the addict has the choice of whether they first start using drugs, it is not their goal to become an addict. Typically they begin using to cope with other issues they are facing.
I feel that drug addiction is a choice. It it someones's choice to take those pills or whatever you are taking but in the same way once people start they become addicted and are hooked. However, some drug addicts are born with the addiction and cannot rid it. Their mother could have been taking some sort of drug when she was pregnant and then could have passed it to the baby. Either way you look at it, a drug habit is hard to shake but it was your decision to start in the first place. It is a choice not a illness, there are some exceptions, but they are very small.
Without a doubt drug addiction is a choice! You know fully well what you are getting yourself into when you first pick up that pill or needle. How can you catch addiction? Yes, some people are born with addictive personalities, but no one is born with a specific something to be addicted to. Even when you "have to have it!" you really don't. You just "want to have it!" Unless you are having a seizure or stroke you are in full comand and control of your body. People who say that they have the illness of being addicted to drugs are not addicted whatsoever. The only problem they have is being weak. They are too weak to stop themselves from curiosity or peer pressure.
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