Addiction is an illness, not a criminal act ?

Question

I was a heavy drinker for a number of years and over that time I often found people judged me without even knowing me and looked on me as if I was someone who was doing wrong as opposed to me being a person who needed help. I believe strongly that anyone who has an addiction should be looked on in the same way as a person with a physical illness, I dont believe that anyone with a problem like this should be looked as as a criminal or a bad person (if they have done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law) And even then, for example, if the police pick someone up for being drunk, should they treat them the same way as a person who has been in a fight or commited theft for example, because what that person needs is actually help, not condemnation.
I came to this conclusion when I stopped drinking and looked back over my own experience.
Opinions on this matter please ?

Just a quick reply to 'TWO FACED'. Your brief and ignorant response got you two points but a lots of thumbs down. I thought at first it was an attempt at humour but when I went to your profile and I saw you are level one and the only question you have asked is 'Who enjoys a good back stabbing?' I can see that youre actually someone who maybe doesnt understand the gravity of the question Im asking.
Alcoholism is an illness that grips you like a cancer and Im bloody lucky to be alive today, let alone to be in one piece with a child of my own and a life to be getting on with. While I expected some negative replies - and why not thats what a discussion platform is for - Shut up you drunk is not only insensitive but its ignorant and totally wrong. Im not a drunk. I WAS but Im not now. Hence my reason for asking this question. But you didnt see that, you didnt read the question properly.
Who's next on your hate list? The Disability section maybe?
Don't soil my questions with your answers

Thank you to everyone who has answered this question and given sensible answers, both agreeing and disagreeing from an adult point of view. To those of you who have supported my view also, thank you for your contribution, my love goes out to you all.
: )
And to those of you who gave idiotic responses, I'll say, addiction starts in many different ways for very complex reasons and often have deep roots that begin elsewhere, sometimes when wer'e too young to even know a seed of poison has been sown. To have your life spiral out of control is terrifying and when in that experience it is like stumbling around in the dark alone with no way of making your voice heard because you are too lost. Its a place you never want be in, believe me. Some people never come out of it. I did, and Im stronger. Strong enough to let hurtful comments pass by me and disappear, like a cloud of noxious gas, or a very pungent fart.

But to the nice people out there, again, THANK YOU and much love to you all XX

Answer 1

well can i firstly say to all u people out there that have put bad or nasty answers......
i hope u never have an addiction problem or mental health problem cos if u do ur fucked! cos if we listened to u lot there wud b no help out there which wud mean u wud perish!

i have had addiction problems with drugs, oh and by the way i still worked throughout my addiction so dont be telling me that im wasting ur tax money (it was mine i was wasting so f**k U)

just because u have an alcohol or drug problem it doesnt mean ur a bad person, everyone is different and not every1 is brought up wiv a happy loving and caring home! sum of us are mentaly and physically and sexually abused, does it mean that that is our fault as well? i dont think so i think we r lucky to have the services available to us because if we didnt i wud have been dead a very long time ago.......

so b4 u go on about u shud help urself take a minute to realise that not every1 is able to help themselve and sum people just need sum1 to say here im gonna help u!!!

sorry for the rant but wen i hear people say thing like this wivout actually thinkin bout it like 'shut up u drunk' which by the way sooo aint original! it pisses me off!!

Answer 2

In my opinion I would say that addiction is a illness of the mind, usually caused by feelings, but not always it depends on the addiction. However it is the addiction that often leads to criminal acts. (again not in all cases) Some people with addictions do need help, but you have to remember that each case is very different and usually the only person that can help, is the sheer will of the addict themselves wanting to change. Most people at some stage get addicted to something, an addiction is uncontrolled behaviour regardless of the negative consequences. It can be something illegal like drugs, or it can be substances that are legal like cigarettes, drink. People also become addicted to money, retail therapy, credit cards, numerous affairs, work, and even other people.An addiction will generally take over aspects of an individual’s life, and in some cases, can be the sole focus of one’s life. Some of these other addictions can cause as much destruction and sometimes more than drink. It really depends on the circumstances and who the addiction is hurting. Sometimes its hurting the addict sometimes it can have a huge impact and destroy many lives. Not all addicts want to change as ever person does not think alike, some people live in a way that is disfunctional but they do prefer that option.

Answer 3

There's plenty of things in this world to become addicted to.
Some things are illegal (which makes it criminal);
some things are not, which makes it a disease???!!!

Addictions are behavioral problems, and the consequences of short-sightedness. Trying things for the sake of new experiences usually has a price that comes with it. If you like something too much, it becomes an addiction (mentally, physically, or spiritually).

Before jumping into something new, do some research and see what the far-reaching consequences are before exposing yourself to something that may consume YOU after you consume IT.

Have a goal in life, and don't let things side-track you, even if they're fun.

Answer 4

If you treat this as an illness it is so much easier to understand. People that are addicted are sick people trying to get well not someone bad trying to be good. People with addictions usually a void somewhere in their lives. When you can feel that void then you are on your way to recovery. This is a social issue but people would rather not deal with it because they feel helpless.

Answer 5

Criminal Records Search Database : http://www.InfoSearchDetective.com/Help

Answer 6

Agreed in terms of alcohol, substance misuse etc but where do you draw the line? For instance, if someone is a kleptomaniac or a pyromaniac should they be treated as being "ill" as opposed to criminal ?

Answer 7

I agree with you Hun, I am getting all this grief as well at the moment.
Some people even question me when I have a bottle of water............ Thinking there is something else in there !
Come on, I like a pint.
But I wish that they would give me a bit of credit.

XX.

Answer 8

I don't agree. You are in control of what you do to your body and citing it as an illness is you trying to make excuses for yourself and every other alcoholic and junky out there.

Why should I, a hard working tax payer, support people like you who choose not to contribute to society and get out your face every day instead?

Why should I donate an organ only for it to be given to an alcoholic to waste away with booze again?

You want help? Help yourself.

Answer 9

Yes, I believe the same of smokers who are widely condemned. But whether they chose to smoke or not, they still have a physical addiction that can be helped, not hindered.

Good question.

Answer 10

Of course addiction is an illness, but people don't see it like that. Just keep strong and turn to PEOPLE for help no gods or god they wont help they will just give you false hope believe me on that one. Good luck and I hope you stay clean.