is addiction really a problem............?

Question

dont you think that if someone really wanted to change, that they could stop. they are smart enough to put their mind to it. for example, if someone was addicted to drugs, they could stop. its thier own brain saying that they need it. people have control over themselves, they just need to stop being lazy and blaming it on somthing else

Answer 1

True that

Answer 2

I wish it were that easy! I have known people that had drug and alcohol addiction. Its very sad! The problem is that the addiction actually changes the way they think and feel. They do not see that their using is causing any problems. They believe they take the drugs, etc, to escape from whatever problems they have in life. They begin to use excuses to do their drugs...if they had a bad day, received bad news, or even a good day or a celebration, it will be their reason to use. They believe that they can stop if they want to, when they want to, but for the time being it is the drugs that is helping them get by or just something they enjoy. But, its not that they are just making it up...its what they truly believe because that is how the drugs affect their brain. Usually it is this vicious cycle that causes the drug addict to spiral downwards and eventually hit rock bottom. Eventually, when they no longer have a way to pay for the drugs and have lost their friends and family due to their behavior, they finally see that they are in need of help. If you know someone that is using drugs, you should urge them to seek help right away. Its very difficult for them to stop alone.

Answer 3

Well, from experience I can tell you that some substances are not physically addictive at all, and others are very addictive.

However....

Some people would seem to have little or NO self-control. You've heard the old phrase,"one drink is too much and 100 is not enough?"

I've been a performing musician for many years, and as such, I've been exposed to and have tried a variety of things, and guess what????

I've never had to go through detox or a step program, or been arrested for DUI, or tanked a relationship, etc., etc.

Hell, some people can't seem to stop putting doughnuts in their pie-hole. Is food as addictive as heroin? For some, I guess it can be, eh?

So yes, self-control is a big issue.

Some got it, and some do not.

And some people should stay away from substances altogether.

Answer 4

It is very much true...what you said that is, BUT you neeed to understand that it may not be as simple as saying no, putting down the pipe or even quitting cold turkey...when someone uses it's a method to cope or deal wioth whatever stress or problem they are having, when addiction becomes a problem is when it starts negatively affecting the important aspects of ones life: job, family, loved ones, and health, when ANY one of these becomes adversly affected then you have an addiction. Now qutting for some can be an easy thing to do but for many it's not...some are strong enough to just quit others need alittle more help and some still need to remove themselves completely from others in order to be sucessfull, what's imporant is the fact that they have someone there for help someone there to talk to and someone there to keep them in line, take it from somone who knows how difficult it is/was to quite and addiction...beating and addiction take a combination of love, time, patience and chance...it's a tough road that often and sadly enough leads to bad things but it's not impossible to make it.....i take it you've never had to deal with having an addiction and i pray you never do, that is the only way for someone to truly understand what having one is like...i'm one of those who made and has turned my down times and low points in the a better job, a book ( i'm published ) and finding the love of my life...but still it was a tough battle and one i almost lost.

Answer 5

No. Addiction is a real physiological problem.

There are different types of addictions but the ones most people talk about are typically related to changes that occur in the chemistry and structure of the brain. These changes make it almost impossible for the person to stop their addiction.

Recent studies on tobacco addition have found that there is a change to a specific region of the brain. If a person has a stroke to that portion of the brain, their addiction stops.

Other drugs, such as methamphetamine, cause a rewiring to the pleasure center of the brain, such that the person is unable to find any enjoyment in life anymore, except for taking the methamphetamine drug. Often this leads to depression and suicide.

So it is clearly not just an issue of will power or wanting to quit.

Answer 6

My best friend is addicted to crack cocaine, and heroin. I have, like many that grew up in the 70's, used many drugs in my life, (currently, no, I'm practicing meditation) but have never let their usage interfere with my work or my personal life. I didn't go to work high, nor have I ever operated a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants. I'm lucky, my friend was not. Simple as that. The way that drugs affect him is off the scale. He never should have opened door #1. What Monty Hall had in store for him,was, well, a life of pain, suffering, and jail. My friend is a sweet, kind, gentle person. He was brought up in a surburban middle class environment, and was not lacking for attention. I've known him since he was a teenager. He is not the same person that I met some 20 years ago. He is a slave to drugs. Don't be so quick to judge. It COULD happen to someone in your family, or to a friend. Learn a little about addiction here:

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/addiction/genetics/index.cfm

Take care........Rob

Answer 7

It depends what the addiction is. At first, a person will start
out using a drug, then before they can realize what's happened
to them, the drug is using them.
Take herion - the human body adjusts to the chemical
influence, that's why trying to stop makes them so sick when
they are no longer feeding the addiction.
Some addictions can be mind over matter, but serious ones
like herion, meth & even cigarettes need severe
intervention to be stopped.

Answer 8

Please do not apply normal rules and expectations to a person who suffer from addiction. It is true, they are no longer capable of helping themselves.

They need help in a sensitive manner, love is not enough for them. A correct way is needed to put the message into their head.

They are very weak inside, you can not tell if you never care about one before.

For your addicted love one, make sure no more common expectations, make sure use correct ways to approach them if you want to get results.

Unfortunately, all the addicts get in real life are be-littering, put down, guilt and some other unpleasant things. It is sad.

Answer 9

You can quit any addiction only if you really want to quit you can. I have quit smoking and drinking together and had a rouigh time doing it but I wanted to quit and I did. I would let my mind tell my body what to do and not let the body want and crave it. I have been clean for about 26 yrs. SO yes If you really want to quit you can by yourself or with help. So give it a try and if you need a friend to chat with just IM me anytime.

Answer 10

Sounds simple doesn't it? I think that many people become addicted to the lifestyle associated to drugs because once they quit none of their druggy friends want to hang out with them. This in turn makes the person lonely and resort to the lifestyle again. But some addicts can't stop because the chemical addiction is so strong that it hurts if they stop, that's why there are rehab clinics. But as with any situation some people are just stupid or lack willpower.

Answer 11

Obviously you do not have an addiction. The nature of addiction is that you cannot stop even though you want to with all your strength. It is a three-fold illness: physical, emotional and spiritual. The dire three. Very very difficult to combat. It's the adage: judge not lest ye be judged.