Monday, July 14, 2008

Not a disease


A commentor has asked me to explain how drug addiction is a disease.

Let's be clear.

Drug addiction and alcoholism are not diseases.

To call addictons diseases is a comforting convenience for liberal do-gooders, whp don't really understand or want to understand the issues and the mechanics of addictions. They feel that the stigma is thus removed and that doctors can help.

Drug addiction is a condition brought on by repeatedly bad choices. The reasons for these consistently bad choices are complex and, in time, need to be addressed and understood if the addict has any hope of living dope-free.

But it is the addict and other recovering addicts who can help. Medical science has the smallest possible role in recovery.

Dope fiends are stupid and they make lousy choices.

Work with them to help them begin making better choices.

Doctors and nurses will just give them stuff - pills, substitutes, needles, places to shoot up or drink sips.

Addictions are not diseases. They are self-imposed behavior choices.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

David: I agree with you 100% that addictions are not diseases.

However, although I respect and bow to your on-street experience, and although I agree that, in some cases, dope fiends are "stupid and make lousy choices," I do believe that is not always so.

If we take the situation on the DTES as an example -- It seems to be generally agreed that 70-per cent of the addicts on the streets of the DTES are mentally-ill, extremelly poor, aboriginal, or a combination of all three. These are people who (a) need to kill or drown the agony of their worlds; or (b) need to deal and/or take drugs as a means of survival. In short they are people who make lousy decisions.

Until we can accept that, until we begin to treat people instead of enabling their addictions, and until we prevent rather than treat, the problems will remain.

Most of all, David, if anyone can be said to be stupid, it is those who, wilfully, refuse to see the problems for what they really are, and deal with them accordingly. Or, as one of your erstwhile colleagues is wont to say, "We make a serious mistake, if we believe that those in charge know what the Hell they are doing."

Liz J.

Anonymous said...

I've been told by medical professionals that addiction behaves like a mental disease, once it's been established.

But that's where the similarity ends. You don't "catch" an addiction. And even if you're genetically predisposed, if you simply stay away from addictive substances, you'll be perfectly fine. You don't even need a vaccine.

But here's the part that baffles me. How do the "liberal do-gooders" reckon that calling addiction a 'disease' justifies non-treatment (and even enablement)?

If addiction is a disease, then drugs are the germ. And with every other disease, we do everything we can to kill the germ. Or at least remove it from the body.

MurdocK said...

Having been a drunk, from a drunk father, and grandfather I can say that part of the situation comes from accessibility and acceptance.

Another part may have to do with alergic response, which is part of the 'medical' arguments.

So long as we are willing to accept the situation on the DTES then it will remain. Access to the intoxicating substances is increasing all the time in that area --> because it is where THEY ARE.

Customers are all the pusher sees, whether that pusher is a bartender, back alley crack dealer, smoke shop clerk or barista those who sell an addictive substance need to sell them in order to profit.

When we stop accepting such easy accessibility the situation will change.

When we stop accepting seeing mental patients going untreated the situation will change.

When we stop accepting such rampant homlessness going unaddressed the situation will change.

Until we accept our collective responsibility for blindly walking by nothing will change.

Anonymous said...

The disease concept of alcoholism is used in AA and I believe it can prevent a recovered person from "moving on", however, there *may* be a genetic factor - this has not been proven scientifically. To label all addicts as "stupid" is foolish. There are many recovered alcoholics and substance abusers who are extremely bright and successful individuals who reclaim their lives and live productive, loving and caring lives. Alcohol is often used as an "escape" from mental pain and anguish, which among other issues, must be addressed in recovery.


Stupid:
1. Slow to learn or understand; obtuse.
2. Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes.
3. Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless: a stupid mistake.
4. Dazed, stunned, or stupefied.



Very few issues in life are black and white...