The Difference Between Choice and Addiction
The Difference between Choice and Addiction
By: Michael Chorba Jr.
COM 220
June 30, 2010
Nicole Mclnnes
Doctors believe that addiction or alcoholism isn’t a choice but believe that it is a disease. The definition of disease is “A definite pathologic process with a characteristic set of signs and symptoms. It may affect the whole body or any of its parts, and its etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown” (MDO, 2010). Addiction and alcoholism is more of a disease than a choice. This is because a disease makes people sick and withdrawal will give you symptoms like runny nose, cold sweats, troubles sleeping and nausea just like the flu. Also the human brain can be chemically changed which could cause unstable amounts of chemicals being produced. The body and brain will grow accustomed to these chemicals. When the brain and body suddenly stops receiving these chemicals it can cause the body to go into withdraw. Those characteristics can cause people to be psychotic which is a disease but drugs can cause the same effect as those diseases. More than 28 million Americans are children of alcoholics or drug addicts; nearly 11 million are under the age of 18. This figure is magnified by the countless number of others who are affected by parents who are impaired by other psychoactive drugs (NCA, 2009). It can be spread like a disease and also addiction can affect the normal functions of the brain and other organs. I personally know for a fact that addiction isn’t a choice it’s a disease. My own mother had problems with alcohol. She was constantly partying with her friends until the sun rose. Her addiction to alcohol never really affected me because I never had a stomach for alcohol consumption. Later did I find out that my mother was also snorting cocaine and painkillers. I still remember the night that she asked me if I have ever done it. At that point in time I used to smoke marijuana but I never ever thought about touching any hard drugs so
By: Michael Chorba Jr.
COM 220
June 30, 2010
Nicole Mclnnes
Doctors believe that addiction or alcoholism isn’t a choice but believe that it is a disease. The definition of disease is “A definite pathologic process with a characteristic set of signs and symptoms. It may affect the whole body or any of its parts, and its etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown” (MDO, 2010). Addiction and alcoholism is more of a disease than a choice. This is because a disease makes people sick and withdrawal will give you symptoms like runny nose, cold sweats, troubles sleeping and nausea just like the flu. Also the human brain can be chemically changed which could cause unstable amounts of chemicals being produced. The body and brain will grow accustomed to these chemicals. When the brain and body suddenly stops receiving these chemicals it can cause the body to go into withdraw. Those characteristics can cause people to be psychotic which is a disease but drugs can cause the same effect as those diseases. More than 28 million Americans are children of alcoholics or drug addicts; nearly 11 million are under the age of 18. This figure is magnified by the countless number of others who are affected by parents who are impaired by other psychoactive drugs (NCA, 2009). It can be spread like a disease and also addiction can affect the normal functions of the brain and other organs. I personally know for a fact that addiction isn’t a choice it’s a disease. My own mother had problems with alcohol. She was constantly partying with her friends until the sun rose. Her addiction to alcohol never really affected me because I never had a stomach for alcohol consumption. Later did I find out that my mother was also snorting cocaine and painkillers. I still remember the night that she asked me if I have ever done it. At that point in time I used to smoke marijuana but I never ever thought about touching any hard drugs so
Cited: Addiction. Retrieved from XRefer XML database. June 5, 2010. *Adapted from Reinking, J. A., Hart, A. W., & Von der Osten, R. (2003). Strategies for successful writing: A rhetoric, research guide, reader, and handbook (6th ed.). Boston: Prentice-Hall/Pearson Custom Publishing.