I wanted to start a civil discussion about this on here. Most of the time people go: 'Drug addiction is a disease, blah blah blah' and no one argues with them on it. I'd like to know what you guys think?

Personally, I think that drug addiction is not a disease. You don't just sneeze and BAM! cocaine in your nose. I actually think that people calling drug addiction a disease are actually feeding to that addict psychosis. You know addicts, they lie, and don't take responsibility. If you say that they have disease, then they don't HAVE to take responsibility, and they can never get better.

That's my personal opinion, I want to hear yours!

Please be civil!

I'm sorry I don't have time to give a full response right now (I need to bump this thread for now).

Drug addiction is a much more complicated issue than either side is making it out to be. It's not as simple as a disease or a lack of willpower. Drugs play on emotions and feelings we have yet to classify. It's very easy to disregard all of that and say 'Drug addicts are scum, get a job, etc.', however until you have experienced it for yourself, it's difficult to know exactly what is going on.

I don't think that drug addicts are scum, I just think that it's not good to call the decisions they make 'diseases'. I'll admit I have some personal bias, having dated a drug addict, but in the end it's all about the person. You can't fix people, people can only fix themselves.

For example, if you force someone to go to rehab, but they're not ready, then they won't get better.

I just don't think we can compare that sort of thing to a disease.

Sorry for spamming.

Saying someone who is addicted a disease is complete nonsense. Instead of labeling them, someone should help them :(

Saying someone who is addicted a disease is complete nonsense. Instead of labeling them, someone should help them :(

Saying someone who is addicted a disease is complete nonsense. Instead of labeling them, someone should help them :(

'A Series of Bad Decisions'

^

A constipated is a disease, being addicted is not. I opted for "A Series of Bad Decisions" People addicted to drugs need a lot of willpower to break free, as in all addictions but it is not a disease. We must do everything in our power to help them
Sry for my english.

It's in many ways both. I would say that there are factors that undoubtedly contribute to the bad decisions that lead to drug addiction, however, ultimately the vast majority of people are able to make their own choices, and cannot blame their circumstances for them. However, the best way to treat drug abuse is as a disease, a health issue, and not as a crime. Think of it as a disease that is caused by a series of bad choices.

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drug addiction is also hw people deal wid stress or depression....
the need real help nd dey shouldnt be shunned....
as u said though being addicted is nt at all a disease....

In a way, it's kind of like a disease. But it's more of a conscious effort on whether you choose to let is spread based on your decision.

People are the disease.

They probably meant something like the "love disease", just a metaphor

Nya!

It's not a disease, it would be inconsiderate to even suppose it is.
It's a few mistakes, a few situations, leading one to find a way out, an escape.
Drugs help to take their mind off things on a short term, but they only cause more problems in the long term.
If someone's having trouble with their life, they should try talking to a friend, or a relative, or an elderly figure for advice. If you turn to drugs, it's gonna be hard to turn back. So please be careful, everyone.

Calling it a disease will just make the addicts feel like its an uncontrollable impulse to do drugs.

will i'am a drug addict and i cant stop its taken over me.

it's a disease i think, it's really bad to be addicted to drungs..and it's very harmful , infuling the person (who takes drugs)and his surounding.

I would agree that it's a series of bad decisions and may be a societal disease.

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bump

It's a series of very bad decisions once your addicted there no going back

I believe that drug addiction is a series of bad decisions that can lead to a very serious MENTAL disease (The addiction itself). Most people think that once someone is addicted t something, they can never go back, but that just isn't true. Plenty of people bounce back from addiction.
By saying it's a disease, I'm not even trying to be cynical and rude. All I'm saying is that a disease can be cured but someone's nature and the way they make decisions is not so easily fixed.

Doing drugs is not, and never will be, a disease. It is just a very long chain of wrong decisions made by the user.

I agree. Drugs aren't a disease you have the choice to control self while on drugs. It's a not a disease you can't catch drugs out of no where with out using them.

I agree. Drugs aren't a disease you have the choice to control self while on drugs. It's a not a disease you can't catch drugs out of no where with out using them.

Anyone can also pray to God to help them. Doing drugs is your choice.

Yeah, I agree on what Deki said. Doing drugs is your choice, and choosing drugs is a stupid choice.

Yes, the decision to use drugs is a choice. Something you decide to do, of course. However— some people have extremely addictive personalities (it's in their genes, so on) and once they make that choice, it's with them forever. I would not like to compare drug addiction to cancer, but the relation is this: just as someone who gets throat cancer from choosing to smoke all their lives, an addict chooses to try using an addictive substance and the disease of addiction is with them from then on. Many addicts will tell you they'd do anything to go back and decide not to try it. Even with 10, 20, 50 years clean— it's still always there, always something they have to fight.

Well this is your own choice ^w^.. Young people this days die young..I can tell you what happened to people when they eat drugs.. 18% suicide 52% killing a human 30% raping someone.. 100% getting crazy and becomes an addict.. Not only many things will happen to you but possible you'll have a Heat dissease or a cancer..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuv2mvfO_mg
^ this video is based off a true story
This kind of thing can happen to you if you give in to peer pressure and drugs

Is it a disease?? O.o Who says?? I though All we knew it IS a bad débiton XD...
Actually, you are very very right. Bad desitiond, bad persuations, but drugged people finally decided to get drogged...
BUT... I Am not sure, but i think there is some neurological things that might attract drugs to some people to drugs ((like female feromonas attracts men xD))... But it was their desition (also) to get into that stuff. XD

A disease is defined in Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers as "Any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any body part, organ, or system that is manifested by a characteristic set of symptoms and signs and whose etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown."

An illness is defined by Mosby's Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine as a "malady of either body or mind the symptoms of which may be physically unobservable. Within general medical practice,
disease is nearly synonomous; however, illness has a more general connotation encompassing the subjective aspects of the patient as a whole rather than just physical or diagnostic symptoms; thus an alternative medical practitioner may prefer to treat illness rather than only the disease."

Addiction is defined in the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine as "[...]a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance. The term has been partially replaced by the word dependence for substance abuse. Addiction has been extended, however, to include mood-altering behaviors or activities. Some researchers speak of two types of addictions: substance addictions (for example, alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking); and process addictions (for example, gambling, spending, shopping, eating, and sexual activity). There is a growing recognition that many addicts, such as polydrug abusers, are addicted to more than one substance or process."

This is a matter of linguistic discussion, not particularly medical.

Addiction while yes a bad decision is also some what genetic. I'm saying that it is an excuse im just saying that for some it may only take one try to get addicted where for others they may do it once and not be addicted.

Disease is something that can't be cured completely, but can be treated so it's not severe. People are are addicted to drugs; first off it was their choice to start using the drugs, and when they can't stop using it, they become addicted. Yes, addiction can be cured, they can stop with help of others, which does not make it a disease at all. Diseases can gradually get worse, and if someone gets effected by it, then they now have the disease. Some people don't know they have a disease, like AIDS; they don't show up for a while. Addiction is shown, and you can't be diagnosed with being addicted to something. Hope that makes sense.

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