Is cocaine addiction a disease?

Question

A mental health worker told me that my daughter had this disease and that she could not help herself.OK she knows that they have said this to her,My question is don`t you still have to make a choice,maybe I`m wrong,but in away it kinda gives them an excuse to keep doing it.If they don`t have control.If you don`t understand my question email me!I don`t mean to sound cold,it just that I have been going through this for 15 years.

I am very tired!!!!!!!!!!

She has been in about 12 different rehabs

Answer 1

Any addiction is a choice, just as getting treatment is also a choice. You need a support group to help you deal with your daughter's addiction. AA and Al-anon can get you started. It's your daughter's choice to get clean, and stay that way. It's your choice to look for the help you need not to get "played" by your daughter or enabling her to continue using excuses, although it sounds like you have begun to see the light after 15 years. I have experienced the same problem with my son. It's heart breaking, but sometimes you just have to let go and let God deal with them. Learning to over come the guilt feelings is the hardest, but with help you can do it. Guilt, either real or self-imposed is a crippler, it keeps you from moving ahead and growing, and does nothing to heal or help, or make the right decisions. You can find AA listed in the phone book or most churches host AA or Al-anon, they can guide you in the direction you need to go for your self and your daughter.

Answer 2

It starts off as a choice, but rapidly develops into an addiction, which is a "disease". Many people have chemical imbalances within their genetic makeups that make them more vulnerable to substance abuse (alcohol,drugs, etc). After a period of time, some people no matter how hard they try or how many choices they make to stop, are unable to fight off the physical and psychological cravings of the substance. It can often take years of counseling, medical therapies, and horrific detox to win the battle at hand, but make no mistake-all it takes is one slip and the drug takes over like you never even tried to quit. I'm a nurse and I see so many patients struggle with this on a daily basis. Best of luck!

Answer 3

There are two parts to your daughter's problem: the fact that she would make such a bad decision as using cocaine indicates serious problems about deciding what is right to do; the other part of the problem is that now that she has used cocaine, she has become addicted to it. My understanding is that cocaine is very addictive, so it is easy to become hooked. But your daughter cannot ignore the fact that somehow she started this whole situation, and that she needs to learn to make good decisions. I think you are right, your daughter has to make the choice, and she has to choose actively, otherwise, her life will be ruled by her need for this junk, and possibly other junk.

I would counsel patience, but it sounds like you have been very patient for many years. Good luck and God bless you in this.

Answer 4

Addiction is the disease. Cocaine was her drug of choice. It's physically and mentally addicting. It takes a really strong person with a lot of support to get through it. It could take one day to beat it, take 10 years, or die from it.

I'm sorry you have been through it for 15 years. The best thing you can do is educate youself on this type of addiction. Support your daughter with love only. It's one of the hardest thing you will go through and even harder for your daughter to try and beat.

Answer 5

They probably say it's a disease because it's soooo hard to stop. As a former addict, I personally know. I don't think it's a disease though; they just say that to give them an excuse as to why they can't quit. Your daughter CAN help herself, but it takes a very strong willpower to do it. Cocaine gives her the best feeling of happiness she's ever felt and she wants to get that feeling over and over and over. That's why it's so hard to quit. After you start though, it's so much easier to keep going than it is to stop; so some people would say that they can't help themselves. But I personally believe it's just an excuse they give when they can't quit.

Answer 6

I understand by telling her this she thinks she has to live with it because shes got a disease not so I DON'T THINK YOU ARE WRONG I think its time for tough love a
nd If you have not applied it I think you are ready too. You never said if she has been in rehab . She does not need sympathy but she does need love and Im sure you are giving her this or you wouldnt be ask ing the questions

Answer 7

physical change takes place in the brain-creates a need and desire and it is as i understand permanent-she can make a choice not to but would be much harder still that is her only choice the other is just a slow way to die-keep the peace lots of love old hippie here-

Answer 8

yes it is at first you have a choice then before you know it you don't have a choice no more you use it for crutch in life to get along at to deal with life you feel if you do more that it makes you normal just like smoking you know it causes lung cancer you know it killing you but your mind thinks it needs its hard to explain but its something that you wake up one morning and say well am gonna stop doing coke and save myself hundred dollars a day but try NA theres people there to help you IF you want help to STOP

Answer 9

it could be considered a disease. a strong willed person could easily overcome any addiction. there are places where you can get the drugs completely washed from your system which USUALLY kills any real addiction to the drug however its not a proven fact talk to a real doctor/physician it might cost a little bit of cash although

Answer 10

its choice. and willingness to quit something. i was addicted personally to coke and meth for over 5 yrs. and then one day i just had enough and i wanted no more. been clean now 2 1/2 yrs of the evil powders. they are so addicting and mind controlling it aint even funny. seems like you already have to know the hardships and drama this stuff causes families. during my 5 yr excursion. i overdosed twice. scared me silly!!! anyways bring that type of stuff up. there'es more to life than yay.