Alcoholism is a Disease, and Drug Addiction is a Choice?

by Rebecca
(Pittsburgh, PA)

Almost 10 years ago, after my son was kidnapped, I became a meth addict, which was an addiction. I chose to use, and I chose to fight it which was the hardest thing to overcome, especially since I did it on my own. By the definitions, shouldn't that also be considered a disease? You would think so, but for some odd reason, it's called an addiction.

Now I'm married to an alcoholic, almost 8 years now. His "disease" caused him to finally came to the point of him beating me mercilessly, resulting in him finally joining an alcoholic outpatient rehab, and attends AA meetings where he gets reminded that he has a disease and it's not his fault... poor, poor him and his disease that he was born with, or contracted by no choice of his own. Can anyone say COP OUT??? Admit that they all have the same addiction as someone who does cocaine. It's a choice and a weakness, it's NOT a tumor like cancer, or crippling like Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson's... people with those REAL diseases did NOT have the option to choose whether or not they wanted it. Even people that suffer from psychological diseases such as depression, bi-polar or schizophrenia were never given the choice.

Whether alcohol, pills or heroin... those that use them and can't stop or control themselves are called addicts who made the personal choice to use/abuse them. Once they become ADDICTED is when the brain and body craves it, or get sick from not having it, which can cause agitation, restlessness, and irritability. But having withdrawals that MIMIC symptoms of psychological diseases still does not give anyone the right to try and classify alcoholism as a disease.

The definition on MedicineNet.com for addiction is - A chronic relapsing condition characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and abuse and by long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. Addiction is the same irrespective of whether the drug is alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or nicotine.

I am tired of groups like AA teaching ADDICTS that they have a disease and it's not their fault. What they are doing is removing the responsibility from the persons actions, their choices, their addiction and their recovery allowing them an excuse to minimize the seriousness of their choices and behavior. I strongly and firmly believe that ANY addiction is most certainly a choice, and referring to it as a disease is only an excuse, a cop out, never forcing the person to face their addiction head on, always giving them a reason to blame their behavior on instead of themselves.