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Is addiction an illness?

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  • 21-12-2021 1:47am
    #1
    katherineconlan
    Registered Users Posts: 60 ✭✭


    I have a family member who just got off drugs a month ago. They were addicted to prescription opiates, ADHD meds, alcohol, and cannabis (they live in the US). Their addiction nearly destroyed the entire family.

    Half of my family there disowned them while the other half stayed by them through their addiction despite them pawning off stuff and lying to get money. Even though they are clean, the damage to the relationship is done and neither my uncle nor my mother speak to them. They also scoff at the idea that they had an 'illness'. I would think it's an illness.

    Do you agree?



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    #2
    Strumms
    Registered Users Posts: 24,957 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    addiction is classed as an illness by every reliable medical person.

    Your body craves the chemical it does not have, and is addicted to…if it isn’t in receipt of it you develop physical symptoms…

    Every major scientific association in addition classes it as an illness.



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    #3
    c.p.w.g.w
    Registered Users Posts: 4,994 ✭✭✭c.p.w.g.w


    Addiction isn't ever really cured, it has a very high relapse rate, and it's unfortunately a horrid cycle...

    There are a few threads on here with regards alcohol addiction and it makes for some eye opening reading...

    I personally know of people who suffer with alcoholism and gambling issues...the buddy with gambling issues, can't have his bank card, his mother has to manage his money, as to remove the temptation to have a bet online of draw money out of the ATM to place a bet on the bookies...his out of treatment 36 months and he still has to do that...



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    #4
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users Posts: 81,737 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    M


    Opiates I'd say yes, alcohol not so much. Watch Dopesick or read up on it, there's a huge wave of addiction in the US as a result of over prescription of highly addictive opiate based drugs by doctors. They should be supported by those around them getting off them for a month, it's a big achievement, thousands have been killed by the addiction.



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    #5
    Riddle101
    Registered Users Posts: 8,391 ✭✭✭Riddle101


    Addiction is most certainly an illness. Consider how it affects a person both mentally and physically and can lead to death or serious health issues for the person if left untreated.



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    #6
    El_Duderino 09
    Registered Users Posts: 20,068 ✭✭✭✭El_Duderino 09


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118354715#Comment_118354715

    Why is one an illness and not the other? They're both addictions to chemicals?

    Do you mean you have sympathy for one and not the other?



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    #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355278#Comment_118355278

    Cause they watched a documentary on one and not the other appernetly



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    #8
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 1,263 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355278#Comment_118355278

    You'd have sympathy for anyone in that position, but there is something especially awful about people ending up as street addicts because a doctor prescribed them pain pills.



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    #9
    greenspurs
    Registered Users Posts: 10,309 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    "hes at it again, hes at it agggaaain...

    Oh Mr fegelian , hes at it again ........"

    247469249_2017413731748359_7675802031635703098_n.jpg

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... " #NoPopcorn



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    #10
    Pussyhands
    Registered Users Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭Pussyhands


    The same people will have differing opinions based on the substance.

    For example, gambling addiction has become the new "mental health" in that every man and his dog is talking about it and how gambling companies are scum etc. Everyone wants to get in early for the social points of being an early adopter in these social causes.

    The twitter opinion is that gambling companies should be regulated to the tits. No offers, no ads, no social media pages with banter, limits on spending, massive taxes etc.

    Yet when it comes to obesity, the same people come out with..."just stop eating so much!!!"

    Apparantly someone with a gambling addiction shouldn't be faced with adverts from gambling companies or else they'll be sucked in. Yet ads for McDonalds and Burger King and Supermacs are on the tv non stop.

    My own opinion is that people have a choice and have personal responsibility. If someone sees and ad for a gambling company on tv and that ad "forces" them to gamble then how are they going to walk down a street and walk by a bookies?



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    #11
    El_Duderino 09
    Registered Users Posts: 20,068 ✭✭✭✭El_Duderino 09


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355780#Comment_118355780

    Why would your level of sympathy have any influence over whether it's an illness or not?



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    #12
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 1,263 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]



    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355828#Comment_118355828

    It doesn't. I think it is an illness and people get there through various means, some of which are more sympathetic than others. Off the top of my head, I know an addict that got there through long term self-indulgence and I know one person at least that was prescribed pain pills and ended up dabbling in heroin. Medically, do these origin stories matter? No. That said, I would have a lot more sympathy for someone that was through state institutions as a child and ends up a street heroin user than I would have for the likes of Gerry Ryan.



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    #13
    El_Duderino 09
    Registered Users Posts: 20,068 ✭✭✭✭El_Duderino 09


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355883#Comment_118355883

    Yeah fair enough. That's the distinction I was hoping you'd make.

    Deciding whether it's an addiction based on your level of sympathy would be the tail wagging the dog.



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    #14
    katherineconlan
    Registered Users Posts: 60 ✭✭katherineconlan


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355883#Comment_118355883

    I would be interested in hearing about the person who got addicted to heroin through pain pills. It's quite difficult to get a steady supply of opioids in this country. America is an anomaly (no longer but used to be from the 90s to mid-10s) in prescribing pain relief.



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    #15
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 1,263 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355923#Comment_118355923

    Your instincts were right.. this person is from the US. Was prescribed pain pills after a car accident and found herself in real trouble when the prescription ran out. I've never delved into the details with her as it was such a rough time and she's over it now, but I do admire her for getting through it without ending up homeless etc. (which again can easily happen in certain states in the US).



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    #16
    Tony EH
    Registered Users Posts: 19,052 ✭✭✭✭Tony EH


    Cancer is an illness/disease.

    Addiction is an habitual exercise that gets out of control due to the addict's lack of self control.

    Certain people can become addicted to something due to an underlying condition, mostly a mental one, and that might be where the actual "disease" is. But the addiction itself is not.

    This idea of calling an addiction an "illness" or a "disease" is a fairly recent development. One that stems from America (quelle surprise) and came about in an effort to de-stigmatise addictions, which in and of itself is not a terrible idea. But it can lead to an abandonment of responsibility and a situation whereby the addict can claim that their addiction wasn't their fault. Which IS a terrible idea.



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    #17
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    I'm sure that it's counted as an illness in all the ways that matter

    I'm also sure that this is a theoretical distinction when it comes to each individual deciding how they wish to relate to anyone suffering from an addiction, particularly if they have reason to be wary or find it hard to get over past harm done to themselves by the addict.

    "It's an illness" doesn't undo what's been done for anyone in that situation and tapping the sign saying "it's an illness" as if it does is a fundamental misunderstanding of how relationships and people work.



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    #18
    El_Duderino 09
    Registered Users Posts: 20,068 ✭✭✭✭El_Duderino 09


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118356056#Comment_118356056

    Maybe that's true. But these things matter in terms of shaping policy to deal with it.

    Reclassifying drug use as a medical issue in Portugal has had a massive impact on drug policy and rates of drug use.

    Words matter.



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    #19
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118356035#Comment_118356035

    Addiction is an habitual exercise that gets out of control due to the addict's lack of self control.

    Certain people can become addicted to something due to an underlying condition, mostly a mental one, and that might be where the actual "disease" is. But the addiction itself is not.

    Fundamentally wrong.

    What you've contributed above is mere opinion and has no scientific merit whatsoever. No underlying condition necessary for addiction.



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    #20
    Tony EH
    Registered Users Posts: 19,052 ✭✭✭✭Tony EH


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118356137#Comment_118356137

    I didn't mention any hard and fast "requirements".

    I said CERTAIN people CAN become addicted due to underlying conditions.

    But it's not universal.



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    #21
    silliussoddius
    Registered Users Posts: 3,832 ✭✭✭silliussoddius


    Is it possible that some people are more predisposed to addiction?



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    #22
    Immortal Starlight
    Registered Users Posts: 2,081 ✭✭✭Immortal Starlight


    I don’t think addiction is an illness.



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    #23
    Lillyfae
    Registered Users Posts: 1,813 ✭✭✭Lillyfae


    Opioid abuse, unlike other addictions, leads to altered brain chemistry so at some point it becomes almost impossible to get clean. It’s not as simple as personal responsibility at that point.



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    #24
    global23214124
    Registered Users Posts: 273 ✭✭global23214124


    Addiction just results out of self medicating to cover depression, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy or whatever. It's not really a choice for people at the point when they come addicted. It's a very hard cycle to get out of as well. It probably needs to be treated more as a mental health issue rather than a criminal issue sometimes too with regards prison sentences and reoffending.



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    #25
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    ..

    Post edited by [Deleted User] on


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    #26
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118356894#Comment_118356894

    What is it then?



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    #27
    Fritzbox
    Registered Users Posts: 490 ✭✭Fritzbox


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118356137#Comment_118356137

    It's not fundamentally wrong, it's fundamentally right. The poster's wording leaves a lot to be desired though.


    Many people do develop debilitating addictions due to already having various mental conditions - people who have suffered serious traumatic experiences in the past, for example.



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    #28
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    In truth I couldn’t argue strongly for any definition of addiction, I am not trained in any of the medical fields such as psychology, psychiatry, medicine etc. I’m not sure too many on this thread are either.



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    #29
    Notmything
    Registered Users Posts: 991 ✭✭✭Notmything


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355792#Comment_118355792

    And has admitted stealing prescription pads, tried to buy medication online etc. Looks like it runs in the family.



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    #30
    Fritzbox
    Registered Users Posts: 490 ✭✭Fritzbox


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118357845#Comment_118357845

    Are there any people on this thread qualified to get into the root causes of addiction? I'm certainly not one of them - but I do think that I have enough experience/exposure to both trauma and addiction to make my own small and humble observations.

    In any case I will provide a Youtube link to a person who is certainly more than academically and professionally qualified to hold forth on the topic. In the first 2 and a half minutes he provides an explanation as to what causes, in his words, the majority of serious substance addictions. Well worth viewing.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys6TCO_olOc




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    #31
    PokeHerKing
    Registered Users Posts: 4,300 ✭✭✭PokeHerKing


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118354708#Comment_118354708

    What about addictions that aren't substance abuse though? Like porn or gambling?



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