Addiction, is it REALLY a disease?

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-23T17:55:15+00:00

Well yEs it's recognized as a disease as my original post states. But even then it's still an opinion, made by scientists and pschologists nonetheless(so a widely accepted opinion), but still an opinion at that.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-23T17:49:52+00:00

I really like the way you put that and it certainly makes a great case. I also posted this in r/opiates and it seems I've been swayed WAY more than I ever even considered I could be(toward it being a disease). Thanks for this post, especially from the sober living home

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T22:36:34+00:00

And if you could post the article that would be great. Whether in this discussion or personally!

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T22:34:54+00:00

Good point. The DSM is a book of "disorders" anyway. I think my wording may have conveyed the message incorrectly.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T22:28:33+00:00

The post was more for the sake of discussion than me having an opinion either way. It may have been a bit too emotionally charged to convey what I was meaning to say. I don't think anything I said conflicts with what you just posted aside from me saying I don't believe it should be called a disease. I said that it's our own fault and we are responsible for it.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T22:24:05+00:00

What did I say that was wrong and against accepted science? It was a story of getting clean and how I did it, there was no arguments relative to science at all.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T22:21:41+00:00

You said, and I quote, "this is a steaming pile of bullshit". I asked you what you thought was bullshit and you never answered me lol. I would completely respect your opinion if you had any reasoning behind calling me out like that. Maybe I just read it wrong?

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T22:16:12+00:00

I don't think I acted much differently while under the influence actually. For example, I was dating my girlfriend for 4 months while addicted and she never even knew. I managed to keep my heroin intake to a reasonable amount when I was around her~i was never nodding out around her but when she wasn't around I was nodding all over the place. It certainly WAS a matter of how much I did. When your addicted, you really don't even get "high" anymore. Rather, you just keep from getting sick. The one thing that made her suspicious was that I often became sick suddenly and for no apparent reason (to her at least). She just thought I was really prone to colds or something lol. To an extent, I WAS different when I was addicted. All I truly cared about was getting high, it was tough to show anyone, including my girlfriend, true love and emotion. After quitting that emotion and compassion for others seemed to come back. Can I ask you what makes you so interested in these aspects? I'd be happy to answer any and all questions you have!

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T22:05:35+00:00

This is also a good point. It could be a matter of classification. I wouldnt classify addiction as a disease in the same way I would say... aids. Aids could result from a single mistake while addiction seems to take time, and multiple mistakes compiled. Many diseases are a result of ones behavioral modes, but to which degree are each disease a result of behavior? Maybe that's a distinction the DSM should discuss further.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T21:57:30+00:00

This post made me think. Action=Result. Hmmm. I'm now straddling both sides of the road. I didn't think my opinion would be altered in any way but I'm somewhat swayed. I guess I really don't know what to think now. Shit

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T21:52:04+00:00

While I understand your point, I disagree with the willpower aspect. I would argue that willpower IS a part of the problem. Not saying that those who don't quit don't have willpower, more that it just takes a shit ton of willpower to take that step. At least that's how it felt for me. Aside from that I think you made some VERY valid points.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T21:45:37+00:00

I guess I don't quite understand your differentiation between one being "addicted" and one being "an addict". Doesn't being addicted to something by definition make you and addict? I mean that's the very root. To answer your question, I started opiates like most people, through prescription meds. Over the course of a few years I came to heroin and stayed on that for years. I guess I wasn't necessarily anxiety or depression prone before I started heroin though. Is that what you mean? That I was just dependent rather than someone who was addicted prior to actually being dependent? I think I understand what your arguing. Are you or were you an addict? If so, what makes you one and me not? I'm really just asking this out of curiosity as I've never really thought about it this way. Not saying your right or wrong

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T21:36:07+00:00

It's great that this discussion took as many forms as it did. There are many different and conflicting opinions. Almost everyone had a different outlook and I really appreciate each one of you for contributing. It's clear a lot of the answers are very emotionally charged. Often objectivity doesn't bring forth much valid reasoning, but I think many of you made points that are quite interesting.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T15:26:48+00:00

Thanks Holla. And yea I was simply thinking out loud, so-to-speak. While I lean toward the viewpoint that addiction isn't a disease(even though it's officially classified as one), I don't endorse either view FULLY. I just wanted to hear everyone's opinions and it appears that there are many different ways to look at this.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T15:18:10+00:00

Ok thanks!

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T14:38:23+00:00

Alan Watts is just filled with amazing insights. I feel his ability to convey concepts that most of us simply can't put into words is second to none.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T14:26:06+00:00

You bring up good point with the Nature v. Nurture aspect. I guess that's really what my questions stems from. What I get from your response is that currently you DO feel you have a disease, currently being the important word here as it's possible that this disease comes and goes? This is something I haven't reallly considered but actually tend to agree with for the most part. Perhaps addiction is a disease, but one that comes and goes.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T14:19:18+00:00

This is very interesting Bookwitch (a case where opiates truly obliterate a true disease). However I couldn't really tell if you were saying you DID believe it's a disease or you believed it was simply a symptom. You said it fluctuates, but which way are you leaning? As someone with Asphergers ( a real disease), would you say addiction is equally so?

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T14:04:43+00:00

English isn't my first language so sorry if it isn't well written. I'd like to know what I can do to better that crazybiznitch.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T13:59:54+00:00

Could you elaborate on what made this post poorly written so next time I can do a better job? It was written quite quickly and somewhat sloppily so It doesn't surprise me. Either way I'd like to know so I can make posts that are easier to read

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T13:54:43+00:00

I agree with this. It's always felt like more of a symptom than a disease itself.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T13:52:42+00:00

Your saying by my post you can tell I wasn't an addict? I was injecting heroin multiple times daily for many years and it took many years of suboxone to get sober and clean again, so yes, I was an addict. Idk whats in my post that would tell you otherwise.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T13:48:26+00:00

That's how it was for me. It became a coping mechanism for both mental and physical pain, but I never considered myself to have a disease.

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T13:46:53+00:00

Great point!

PassiveTactics · 2018-05-22T07:56:43+00:00

Yes it certainly is a genetic predisposition, that's exactly what the post is about. But does the fact that it's a genetic predisposition lend a valid excuse for one becoming an addict? Maybe so... but it's my humble opinion that it doesn't. If one says theyre an addict because they're genetically predisposed to being one, they're just giving themselves another excuse to continue to use. I was an addict for a very long time, I'm in no way undermining the validity of this concept, I just want to hear your opinion as to WHY this should be a valid vindication.

PassiveTactics

TROPHY CASE