Addiction Isnt Just "Bad Choices" Its Alot More Complicated Than What People Think

Should addiction be treated as a disease rather than a personal choice? Addiction should be understood as both a disease and a result of personal choices. 


Photo by Tiffany Michael

Addiction has become one of the most serious and widespread social problems in the United States, affecting millions of people, families, and communities. The effects of substance abuse are everywhere. Many people are dying from overdoses, crime rates are going up, and more people are becoming homeless. Families are being torn apart. Communities are strained, and the healthcare system is being overwhelmed, trying to help with the growing crisis of addiction and substance abuse. Despite billions of dollars spent on prevention and treatment, addiction continues to worsen.

One major reason for this ongoing failure is the way society debates the issue. Too often, addiction is framed as either a disease or a personal choice, but they do not think about both. This simplified thinking has led to ineffective solutions. We need to think about addiction as both a disease and a personal choice. When we only think of it as a disease, we might feel sorry for individuals with addiction. On the other hand, when we think of it as a personal choice, we might blame people with addiction, but don't offer them help. 

There is strong scientific evidence that addiction functions as a disease. Repeated use of drugs or alcohol can significantly alter brain chemistry, especially in areas responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and judgment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a chronic brain disorder that affects behavior and makes it extremely difficult for individuals to stop using substances, even when they want to. This is why a lot of people struggle with addiction and have a hard time quitting. Addiction is like health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease, that need to be managed over a long period of time. If we don't recognize that addiction is a health issue, we might try to solve the problem in ways that do not work. For example, punishing people for addiction does not help them get better. If people think that addiction is a personal failing, they might be too ashamed to ask for help. 





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unit 3 - part 1 model assignment

Image
 You Won't Believe What Researchers Found In People That Were Bullied At A Young Age!! Have you ever thought about how bullying truly impacts a young kid? Bullying in schools is a global issue that many students experience in their lives. Many of these students develop serious problems that many kids deal with long after they graduate. Problems like depression, anxiety, self-harm, and substance abuse are among the most common. According to  Center for Violence Prevention , "26.1% of middle school students are bullied." Middle school is where someone begins to figure out the person that they want to become and where they are in society. Being bullied at this time of self-discovery can lead to depression.  Depression is a mental disorder that affects many of the students that are bullied in middle school. This disorder causes constant feelings of sadness, hopelessness that never seem to go away. This disorder typically follows a person into their post-graduation life. ...
Read more

What Really Happens to Teenage Girls Working in Toxic Environments (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

Image
Let's be honest, a first job is supposed to be exciting. It's where you gain you gain independence and make money which is always a plus in this economy. For many teenage girls, it's also their first introduction to the adult world. But for far too many, that introduction comes with something they didn't sign up for which is unfortunately sexual harassment. And while people still try and down play it as "not a big deal" or "part of life" the reality of it is much more severe than that. It isn't just an awkward interaction with your jerk of a boss, it has lasting mental health effects that can change the mindset of a teenage girl for life. Sexual harassment in the workplace has a negative impact on the mental health of teenage girls, leading to increased anxiety, lowered self-esteem, and long-term emotional distress.  Here's the thing, being a teenage girl in an a new work place already comes with a learning curve. You have to figure out how t...
Read more

Writing 103--Persuasive Blog Post--2:00

Image
      Why Bullying isn't just socially corrupt , but morally wrong                      Imagine a life where your biggest worries aren’t about an upcoming project or exam                    within a classroom setting, but the everlasting realization that you will get mortified by other students                    due to things that are out of your personal control, whether this be religion, gender, race, etc.                    Constantly in fear, dreading day-to-day interactions. For millions of children worldwide, this  is  their                  brutal reality. Bullying is not simply ‘kids being kids’; this form of hurt is intentional, precise, and         ...
Read more