So diabetes is not a disease then? How about schizophrenia? How about PKU (don't even know what that is do you?). I have never met an addict who set out to become one nor have I met one who is happy about it. Your response is bullshit. Many people are born with genetic aborations that can be controlled by the consistent use of certain substances. Others can't. I suppose you don't consider mental illness a disease? How about depression? Need I go on. Think!
Not going to get into one of these things again.
Diabetes is certainly a disease. Yes, i know what PKU is- there's no need to be condescending just because we have differing views on addiction. Both of these are related to enzyme or hormone deficiencies (involuntary physical problem). Someone with pku/diabetes can't wake up in the morning and think, "Hmmm i guess i'll have my body process phenylalanine/glucose properly today!" whereas an addict
can decide, "Hmmm i think i won't use drugs today." There's no chemical imbalance forcing them to use a drug of choice, and by forgoing drugs they don't put their body at risk or compromise vital processes. The diseases you mentioned aren't dependant upon any choice by the afflicted person, but on an abnormality in the body, so i really don't understand the comparison.
i agree completely that addicts may have more intense or more distracting CRAVINGS than 'normal people' but that's a minor, psychological annoyance that doesn't affect your body's ability to function (unless you're physically addicted- a point you push yourself to). A craving isn't a disease, it's an excuse. You may disagree but that is the way i see it (and the way i experience it).
You don't get addicted to any drug over a day, or a week. It takes continued and repeated dosing, during which you are CONSCIOUS and fully aware of what you're doing, and of the inevitable results of those actions. If you know you're predisposed, you should be smart enough to avoid it at all costs. Even if you do start to drink/use, and have difficulty stopping, you can always make the choice to quit, or to use less if you're at a point where your body will suffer without your DOC. It's not as if the drug-demon possesses you and forces it down your throat independent of your mind and free will (although that's the way many addicts try to represent it).
There's obviously a huge difference between someone who uses coke every day because it helps them feel 'better' and someone who takes insulin everyday because their body needs it to avoid physical damage. The coke/heroin/meth/etc addict won't have any health issues from staying sober.
Of course drugs help with certain illnesses. i'm pretty sure that's the intended purpose of drugs from a medical standpoint- but someone with intense social anxiety (for example) who uses benzos to counteract the problem isn't afflicted with the 'disease of addiction,' they're afflicted with mental illness, and are using the benzos as
treatment to correct the chemical problem in their brain.
i've been addicted to heroin, IV meth, and crack, all of which i quit by just deciding i wanted to stop. i didn't taper down, or get on maintenance drugs, or fuck around with 12 step meetings, or go back and forth between using and sobriety. i just used free will to stop (ANY addict can do this, if they want to badly enough). It was uncomfortable, but far from physically damaging or life-threatening. Any 'disease' that can be cured by a simple decision is not, imo, a disease. I'm not debating that addiction can be difficult and is an incredibly powerful pulling force. i'm just saying that i don't see it as a disease in the sense of a physical problem that you can't do anything WITHIN yourself to cure.
Defining addiction as a disease sets people up for failure. Instead of taking control of their own problem, they surrender to 'powerlessness' and allow the addiction to run rampant because they're told that it's something they can't control. Viewing it as a disease gives it a more powerful hold over the addict.
i do believe in mental illness, but i think it's grossly over-diagnosed and that many people use a mis-diagnosis or self-diagnosis as an excuse for succumbing to personal weakness.
when your desire to be clean outweighs your desire to get high, you'll quit. i can't think of any real disease that can be solved this simply.
There's no point in arguing this because it's really a matter of opinion.