Defining Addiction
The dictionary defines addiction as “the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity” (Addiction, 1991). I believe that’s putting it awfully lightly. Addiction tears through lives like a tornado, with nothing but destruction and chaos on its mind and leaves behind only ruins of what once was. It destroys lives, families and jobs with no remorse. Addiction comes when the addict is no longer to make the choice for themselves, they recognize the harm it is causing but are unable to stop. Addiction is not just alcohol and drugs, it holds no bias to whom it affects. It is a disease, not a choice.
First off, it seems that when people think of addiction they usually picture heroin addicts shooting
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Similar to other chronic diseases, such as asthma and diabetes, addiction follows almost an identical path. “The patient will go into remission, but may have several relapses before beating the disease entirely,” (Gould). Along with being comparable to these diseases by their course of action, addiction can also be treated in a similar manner by being maintained with proper treatment and support. Some may argue the point that addicts chose to do the thing they became addicted too, although this is true, it is irrelevant. Some people use drugs and/or alcohol and never become addicted. Others, however, have a biological susceptibility for becoming addicts. Once they start using, the addiction takes on a life of its own. The decisions this person makes are no longer in their own hands, which is why so often we see addicts who don’t care how they get the drug as long as they get it. People who would never dream of doing these things sober begin taking on entirely new personalities because they are no longer in control. Some addicts will go as far as to steal from their own families just to get a fix of whatever it is they’re addicted to. Their brain becomes rewired to make the person who is addicted feel as if they need this thing, be it drugs, sex, alcohol; whatever it is. In many cases, their bodies are completely dependent on the substance that they use. This is where rehab comes in. With the proper