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Addiction is not a disease

The task of defining addiction has challenged physicians, judges, clergy, addicts,
their families and the general public throughout history. There are as many potential
definitions as there are groups with an interest in defining addiction. Some definitions
would emphasize physiological dependence, some psychological dependence; some
would focus on family dynamics, some on behavioral problems, and still others on
morality. This list could be expanded at length, and one could come up with their own
definition and add it to the list. All definitions do not agree on what addiction is; some
psychologists argue addiction is a disease. I agree with Stanton Peele when he says
simply, “Addiction is not a disease.”
Addiction is not an illness; it is merely a habit and selection of choices made by

the user. All addicts choose to be addicts, not because it is inherited genetically or by

some other means. According to the Jude Thaddeus Rehabilitation Program i...

Posted by: Geraint Watts

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