For years it has been debated on whether or not addiction should be considered a brain disease or a personal choice. This contention is much more prevalent today because it is not just narcotics that people get addicted to anymore. The new era of technological advancements enables people to become addicted to things such as social media or the internet in general since people have access to it with literally the touch of a button. With research and data supporting both arguments on addiction being a disease or a choice, it is tough to choose which side is more correct.
What precisely is an addiction? Addiction can be defined as, “…a chronic and compulsive dependence on a substance such as alcohol, drugs, or nicotine” (“Addiction”). It is …show more content…
Just like cancer requires a type of chemotherapy and diabetes requires insulin injections, addiction requires some sort or therapy, medication, or treatment. In his article, Leshner claims, “…the essence of addiction [is]: uncontrollable, compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences” (Leshner). Recovering from this psychological dependence will take a lot more than just a friend hiding the addict’s alcohol from them. It will take professional help from real experts. Leshner goes on to use the example of smoking cigarettes to prove the difficulty of getting over addictions without serious medical help. He states that of all the people each year who try to quit smoking on the own, only three to seven percent of these people actually succeed (Leshner). This is because while the addict has the choice to quit using their addictive substance, they do not possess the ability to actually stop craving the substance on their own (McCauley). With the constant craving buzzing around in the back of their heads, it makes it nearly insurmountable for the addict to conquer their addiction on their own. The evidence behind this claim is if the addict is making the conscious decision of being addicted to that certain drug or alcohol, then they would be able to stop abusing the addictive substance without any sort of professional
What precisely is an addiction? Addiction can be defined as, “…a chronic and compulsive dependence on a substance such as alcohol, drugs, or nicotine” (“Addiction”). It is …show more content…
Just like cancer requires a type of chemotherapy and diabetes requires insulin injections, addiction requires some sort or therapy, medication, or treatment. In his article, Leshner claims, “…the essence of addiction [is]: uncontrollable, compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences” (Leshner). Recovering from this psychological dependence will take a lot more than just a friend hiding the addict’s alcohol from them. It will take professional help from real experts. Leshner goes on to use the example of smoking cigarettes to prove the difficulty of getting over addictions without serious medical help. He states that of all the people each year who try to quit smoking on the own, only three to seven percent of these people actually succeed (Leshner). This is because while the addict has the choice to quit using their addictive substance, they do not possess the ability to actually stop craving the substance on their own (McCauley). With the constant craving buzzing around in the back of their heads, it makes it nearly insurmountable for the addict to conquer their addiction on their own. The evidence behind this claim is if the addict is making the conscious decision of being addicted to that certain drug or alcohol, then they would be able to stop abusing the addictive substance without any sort of professional