MovieChat Forums > Matthew Perry Discussion > No, addiction is not a disease.

No, addiction is not a disease.


A disease implies that you have no control over your actions.

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Disease does not imply that at all. You're inferring that based on what you think disease means.

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None of us really have control over our actions, we are under the control of the environment at all times, we are not separate from the universe. We are a reflection of our culture and genetic endowment.

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Yes, addiction is a disease. No, that doesn't mean the person has no control over their actions.

You probably understand and accept that diabetes is a disease. A diabetic cannot control the fact that they have the disease but they can control their behavior in order to live with it comfortably. If they follow the dietary modifications that diabetes requires, they will likely have many more years with their loved ones, and a better quality of life during those years. If they CHOOSE not to adapt their lifestyle to the disease, chances are they'll have serious health consequences (eg losing limbs, needing dialysis) and probably have a shorter and much less comfortable life. Surely it gets extremely difficult not to be able to enjoy certain things, especially when people around them can. But if they go ahead and eat them, they are making a choice, and accepting the consequences.

Same with an addict. They have to continue choosing a new, healthier lifestyle every day, every minute. It's not easy, but it's always a choice.

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A diabetic cannot control the fact that they have the disease but they can control their behavior in order to live with it comfortably.


Untrue, and I know this from personal family experience. My nephew was always slightly built and athletic. At age 25 thereabouts, he suddenly began losing weight and grew a beard to hid his sunken face. Turns out he's a type 1 diabetic. He eats virtually no carbs, he's underweight, and he has a pump.

My cousin's child was born with juvenile diabetes. He's in his 30s and still diabetic and always will be.

Some milder cases of diabetes can be greatly mitigated with careful dieting, but they still can't eat "normally".

I can eat any freaking thing I like. My A1C at my last checkup (I'm 66 and maybe 10 lbs heavy) was 5.2, down from 5.3 at my last checkup.

My wife is 62 and is "pre-diabetic". She's reduced her carbs (if we have a burger, she has hers over a salad while I have mine on a ciabatta roll). The only sweets she has is ice cream which we have every Sunday night.

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OP is not an expert on addiction he is just a keyboard bully. Addiction is a disease,

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No. I just have a problem comparing drug/alcohol/gmabling addictions to what is truly deadly: Cancer, etc.

Perry can stop drinking; someone can't stop having cancer!

My blog: jrichardsingleton.blogspot.com

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Fuck you and your insular blog.

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yeah, you told him and his 9 year old post from another website.

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Then you lack compassion and understanding and will always see things as "black or white".

I feel bad for anybody that has or will to ever deal with you. You come across as "your way or the highway" That is very sad! People (like you) become isolated from everyone living like that.


DO some research! If you open eyes you can open your heart.

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And what about cancer, cystic fibrosis sickle cell anemia, etc. just to name a few genetic diseases?

I totally understand the reason for the labeling with respect to alcohol and drug addiction, but in no way does it fall into the same category as any one of the diseases mentioned above. With that said, I don't find it to be a disease. I find it to be an extremely huge problem for the person experiencing it, but that's where it ends.

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