I think the word 'disease' is used far to easily now. No, I dont think that alcoholism or drug use is a disease, but a hereditary issue. A disease , to me, is something that you have no control over, like the tick that bit me and gave me Lyme disease. I do not feel sorry for addicts because they know, before they start, that addiction can be a problem. Tough tookie if you get addicted. And I speak from experience in that, hubby is an addict, clean for 6 months, but an addict. HIs father was an addict, he knew the risks, tough tookie and stop whining ( that is a comment to hubby, no one here) .
I'm fat, and believe it or not, I have a "disease". But if I exercise and eat right, and lose this weight (if only I had the motivation), then I can cure my disease.
They classify everything (obesity, drug addiction, alcoholism, eating disorders, bad parenting, being a bad person, etc) as a disease. Now, I know that some people are overweight because they do HAVE a disease (thyroid disorder, diabetes, etc), but being lazy shouldn't be classified as the same thing. And I guess quite a few people have the "Nicotine trying and continuing" disease. After all, it's an addiction, therefore it's a disease. My father had a drinking problem, as did almost every member of his family. I on the other hand, HATE alcohol (the taste, the effects). So I guess I either lucked out with not getting his "abusive behavior" genes, or I decided I wasn't going to use the fact that my whole family did it, so I must to, excuse. My mom's ex-boyfriend has been a user for some time now. He keeps going to prison where he's clean for a couple years, then he get's out and does really good, until he starts hanging out with his old friends..then guess what...his disease comes back, and he get's caught yet again, just to start the whole cycle over. He has no problem staying clean, so if he moved or stopped hanging out with his "user" friends...but he chooses to go back to that lifestyle.
I have nothing against people who do drugs...we all have our demons to fight with. I do however, chose not to associate myself with them any more than I have to. Yes they're people, and yes they deserve the same treatment and fairness that those who chose not to do drugs do, but there's places/clinics experienced to help those people. But all the same, the people you chose to socialize with speaks volums about the person you are. I spent my school years running around with gang members, and I had friends who did/sold drugs, who got drunk, who did crimes and murdered people...but those aren't the same people I'd hang around with now. I do however still say hi and talk with them when I see some of them. I have never done drugs, I've been drunk once ever, and I've never so much as stolen more than a coloring book when I was 4 years old (my mom didn't realize I had it in my hand until after we left the store, which we did go back and pay for).
My husband's sister killed her own three year old child while she was on drugs. I won't go into details because the Riverside police said it was the worst case they have EVER seen done to a child. A week before, she had mentioned that if she ever killed her kids, she would plead insanity due to drugs. She got sentenced to ten years in a sanitarium, and she is now out amongst us, causing more trouble.
People use the fact that drugs are a disease way too easily. People don't choose their diseases! People don't chose to have cancer, or diabetes, or parkinsons...it's something that happens to them. People choose to do that first hit, or take that first drink, and they let it get carried away to the point that they have trouble stopping. There's a big difference, and there are places these people can go to get treatment...it shouldn't be where children and elderly have to witness it.
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