Addiction: Disease or Choice?
This is a touchy subject, whether or not addiction is a disease or a choice, but after engaging in a heated debate on Facebook I decided it is necessary for me to express my views on the topic. And, for the record, all of my views are supported by facts, science, experience, and the most recent research available. Addiction is not a choice, nor is it a typical disease. It is more akin to a disorder, a learning disorder, to be specific. It effects the brain in much the same way as autism or attention deficit disorders would. There is something different about the addict brain in comparison to other brains. We are wired differently from birth, but our choices determine whether or not we become hindered by that disparity, what types of addictions we develop, and how severe the affliction becomes as it progresses. That is not the same as saying addiction is a choice because it is surely not. What I'm saying is that an element of choice is involved. But just in case there are a few na...