Addiction is a disease

[Malachi]

Addiction is a state of mind.

Correct. And when you get down to the nitty gritty addiction is idolatry. In essence addiction is "covetousness" for pleasure (mental, emotional or physical) and covetousness is idolatry (Col 3:5).

Not only does it violate the first three commandments, but also the last of the Ten Commandments -- "nor ANYTHING that is thy neighbour's". One's "neighbours" are the addicts getting their "highs". Those who covet these "highs" get addicted. Even coffee can be addictive, or TV, or video games, or what have you. Self-examination is essential every day. In order to escape moral responsibility, people resort to the "chemistry of the brain" excuse. Deep down they know it is just an excuse. Adam and Eve both made lame excuses.

And no doubt invisible evil spirits are involved in these matter, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but (1) against principalities, (2) against powers, (3) against the rulers of THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, (4) against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph 6:12). There is a whole hierarchy of wicked spirits arrayed against humanity dwelling "in the air", and controlled by "the prince of the power of the air".

 

[Gary]

 

[th1b.taylor]

Thank you Doc

LOL!

 

[stovebolts]

Okay, okay I have heard enough, addiction is a Spiritual thing. The secular world calls it a disease.

And it has a physical side as well.
Again.. Mind, body and spirit.

Last I checked, your healthcare was secular. So was the grocery store you nought your food and so are the hospitals.

People need physical help and catagorizing it rightly as a disease can help save lives while reducing the strain on society as well as our jails and prisons.

Jail and prison isn't the answer. The war on drugs isn't working. We take people to the hospital when they are sick and we do follow ups. Why doesn't the addict get the same treatment?

 

[Gary]

We take people to the hospital when they are sick and we do follow ups. Why doesn't the addict get the same treatment?

They do. It's called counseling, rehab, AA, etc. But in order for those options to be effective, the individual has to take personal responsibility for their addictions. They have to want to change. You can't change someone's behavior unless they're a willing participant.
.

 

[stovebolts]

They do. It's called counseling, rehab, AA, etc. But in order for those options to be effective, the individual has to take personal responsibility for their addictions. They have to want to change. You can't change someone's behavior unless they're a willing participant.
.

Gary,
I hope to write more about choice tomorrow at a computer.

What you say is only a quarter truth. You don't just go to rehab. Who pays for it and have you seen the wait to get a bed?
When they are ready, rehab has to act fast. I know of a family who's son was finally ready. He was told a week. I was more than he could bear. He needed help now. As a result, he took his own life with a shotgun.

The need is real, but the resources are few and incomplete. The standing attitude has been they did it to themselves.... Lock em up. That doesn't work.

 

[jasonc]

Gary,
I hope to write more about choice tomorrow at a computer.

What you say is only a quarter truth. You don't just go to rehab. Who pays for it and have you seen the wait to get a bed?
When they are ready, rehab has to act fast. I know of a family who's son was finally ready. He was told a week. I was more than he could bear. He needed help now. As a result, he took his own life with a shotgun.

The need is real, but the resources are few and incomplete. The standing attitude has been they did it to themselves.... Lock em up. That doesn't work.

ok, I think I will just call you one of these days and chat. I know you well enough to know you haven't said anything that violates scripture.

 

[Gary]

Gary,
I hope to write more about choice tomorrow at a computer.

What you say is only a quarter truth. You don't just go to rehab. Who pays for it and have you seen the wait to get a bed?
When they are ready, rehab has to act fast. I know of a family who's son was finally ready. He was told a week. I was more than he could bear. He needed help now. As a result, he took his own life with a shotgun.

The need is real, but the resources are few and incomplete. The standing attitude has been they did it to themselves.... Lock em up. That doesn't work.

What you're describing here is a lack of resources. I personally see no connection in the shortage of resources and addiction being a disease.

Addiction is a state of mind.
.

 

[jasonc]

What you're describing here is a lack of resources. I personally see no connection in the shortage of resources and addiction being a disease.

Addiction is a state of mind.
.

so is being shot, the ability to control an asthma attack. but that doesn't mean I shouldn't seek treatment.

 

[Gary]

so is being shot, the ability to control an asthma attack. but that doesn't mean I shouldn't seek treatment.

Didn't say one shouldn't seek treatment. Asthma attacks and gunshot wounds can be physically treated. What's the treatment for an addict?
.

 

[reba]

And it has a physical side as well.
Again.. Mind, body and spirit.

Last I checked, your healthcare was secular. So was the grocery store you nought your food and so are the hospitals.

People need physical help and catagorizing it rightly as a disease can help save lives while reducing the strain on society as well as our jails and prisons.

Jail and prison isn't the answer. The war on drugs isn't working. We take people to the hospital when they are sick and we do follow ups. Why doesn't the addict get the same treatment?

So often the addicts dont want the help.... they want the next fix... help to them can be stealing your last few bucks for fix....
Would it be a good idea to force a person with cancer to take the treatment... ..

 

[th1b.taylor]

And it has a physical side as well.
Again.. Mind, body and spirit.

Last I checked, your healthcare was secular. So was the grocery store you nought your food and so are the hospitals.

People need physical help and catagorizing it rightly as a disease can help save lives while reducing the strain on society as well as our jails and prisons.

Jail and prison isn't the answer. The war on drugs isn't working. We take people to the hospital when they are sick and we do follow ups. Why doesn't the addict get the same treatment?

You have demonstrated that most of what society considers addicts are self medicating and I and many others have proven you can't force us to quit. Taking folks like me to a hospital gets the Law a chuckle, taking us to prison might get our attention. Reform the prisons to the Texas model before the freak, William Wayne Justice, destroyed it with one stupid, stupid, ruling and you will get the addicts attention.

The root of the issue must be dealt with, and the Texas system did until that ruling. As long as there is noced labor because working under the Texas sun is cruel and unusual punishment, all you have is an air-conditioned retreat.

 

[th1b.taylor]

What you're describing here is a lack of resources. I personally see no connection in the shortage of resources and addiction being a disease.

Addiction is a state of mind.
.

It's not so much a lack of resources as it that they go on paid vacation. The prisons in Texas did not explode until it became illegal to force them to work 8 hours a day... just like I had to do to live on the outside.

 

[th1b.taylor]

So often the addicts dont want the help.... they want the next fix... help to them can be stealing your last few bucks for fix....
Would it be a good idea to force a person with cancer to take the treatment... ..

That is absolute truth.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I'm all about getting people some kinda help for what ails them, including addictions, but...be careful w/ mental health people. They generally speaking...don't care a whole lot. In public health you're just an assigned case, in for profit the level of care depends on your insurance. See what I'm saying?

 

[jeff77]

Why do some people like certain foods while others hate those foods?

I suppose it has something to do with food they were introduced to at a very early age or people could be born with a preference.

Why then is it that some people can get high, and they don't like it? Others only get high on occasion while others get high all the time?

A possible explanation is that certain drugs can cause an unpleasant feeling in certain people maybe even for the same reasons as the preference for different foods.

What drives those cravings and why do some have to really put forth effort to resist that craving while others have no craving at all?

I think a person can have cravings from the first time they use and the more they use the stronger the cravings get. Some people have to put forth a lot of effort to resist giving in to the craving because they have altered the chemicals in their brain that cause them to feel normal.

These are the things I want to discuss and we will look inside the mind from a molecular level to explain it.

These are some of the answers I can think of. I believe that drug use alters the chemicals in the brain but that doesn't make it a disease. I have read a little about neuroplasticity which is what goes on in the brain when we learn and practice behaviors. Some experts say that the changes in neuroplasticity shown on the brain scan of an addict are normal and can be seen in people who are not addicts, but are accustomed to practicing a certain behavior over and over again. The scans also show change back after periods of abstinence. The lack of endorphins being released from an addict who is trying to quit is a normal reaction.

 

[jasonc]

Didn't say one shouldn't seek treatment. Asthma attacks and gunshot wounds can be physically treated. What's the treatment for an addict?
.

both are psychological , have you ever read the statements of the medal of honor recepients whom did die but were shot and still saved lives? our minds do have an effect. but with addiction is just that, a switch? I don't think it is. there are chemical interactions. the brain is an organ.

 

[Jesse]

It seems we're all addicted to something and the only real cure is Christ.

 

[jeff77]

Correct. And when you get down to the nitty gritty addiction is idolatry. In essence addiction is "covetousness" for pleasure (mental, emotional or physical) and covetousness is idolatry (Col 3:5).

Not only does it violate the first three commandments, but also the last of the Ten Commandments -- "nor ANYTHING that is thy neighbour's". One's "neighbours" are the addicts getting their "highs". Those who covet these "highs" get addicted. Even coffee can be addictive, or TV, or video games, or what have you. Self-examination is essential every day. In order to escape moral responsibility, people resort to the "chemistry of the brain" excuse. Deep down they know it is just an excuse. Adam and Eve both made lame excuses.

And no doubt invisible evil spirits are involved in these matter, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but (1) against principalities, (2) against powers, (3) against the rulers of THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, (4) against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph 6:12). There is a whole hierarchy of wicked spirits arrayed against humanity dwelling "in the air", and controlled by "the prince of the power of the air".

I also believe addiction is idolatry and a sin. I believe the changes in the chemistry of the brain are a result of drug use. For a while addicts will have a hard time making the choice to not use (maybe even years for some) but the Lord does not want us to live in bondage to sin and we are not tempted beyond what we can handle.

 

[jeff77]

It seems we're all addicted to something and the only real cure is Christ.

Right, everybody has something or someone that they place as the "most important thing" in their life. None will measure up to Christ. I do believe that drug/alcohol addiction has more consequences than being addicted to things like tv, shopping or games. Not to say that they are not all equal in God's eyes and I am sure there are specific examples of a person with an addiction to shopping that caused just as much or more harm to themselves and others than a drug and alcohol addict did.