About the alcohol thread.

[sisterpine]

Yes I have heard this too. There is a treatment center wrapped in the same package. All I know is that there are actual physical, chemical, metabolic changes that occur with long term drug abuse and that makes it a physical disease as much as anyother thing. Just my opinion of course. Choosing to use ETOH or drugs even though you know addiction runs in your family is like eating tons of sugar when you know diabetes runs in your family. You are just testing the bridge and it will likely fall with you on it. And then the rest of the population will pay to help you discover the real truth.

[Home Harvest]

Well, I just posted my opinion on the "war on drugs" in another thread, but I'll summarize here.

1) It isn't the job of government to protect us from ourselves. The "war on drugs" is fundamentally unconstitutional.

2) Billions have been spent, and the "war on drugs" has become an industry unto itself. Our jails are full of young people who commited no crime other than possessing a controlled substance. The US incarcerates the highest percentage of it's citizens of any country in the world. That land of the free.

3) Prohibition by government of anything that people want has never worked. It won't work in this case either. We will never see this country "drug free". No matter how much money we spend.

It would be far better to decriminalize drugs, regulate and tax them, eliminate the criminal element, use the tax dollars to fund education programs, and get treatment for those who can't use drugs responsibly.

[Jena]

Originally Posted by sisterpine

Yes I have heard this too. There is a treatment center wrapped in the same package. All I know is that there are actual physical, chemical, metabolic changes that occur with long term drug abuse and that makes it a physical disease as much as anyother thing. Just my opinion of course. Choosing to use ETOH or drugs even though you know addiction runs in your family is like eating tons of sugar when you know diabetes runs in your family. You are just testing the bridge and it will likely fall with you on it. And then the rest of the population will pay to help you discover the real truth.

There are physical consequences of taking drugs, just like there can be physical consequences of playing with fire, but that doesn't make lighting a fire any more of disease then choosing to put certain substances into your body.

[Jena]

Originally Posted by whodunit

This is kind of along the lines of what this author is talking about. He believes "addiction" is not a "disease", but esentially a choice. The person chooses to use then chooses to stop. The actual chemical part has nothing to do with it. He cites millions upon millions of people quitting nicotine (the most "addictive" substance on earth according to some) every year without any help at all. He says its all about your values. If you truly value health over tobacco, you'll find a way to stop. You might value smelling good over tobacco, etc.- everyone must find their particular value or motivation and it can't be dicated by someone else. Not saying I fully understand or agree; just passing along what I've read so far.

Is that Stanton Peele?

[whodunit]

Originally Posted by Jena

Is that Stanton Peele?

Yes, Seven Tools to Beat Addiction. Easy to read and learning alot about myself.

Also, I am part of the criminal justice system and see juveniles in and out of "rehab" numerous times; normally forced on them by probation officers and judges. I have to wonder how many of these juveniles we are making such a big deal about smoking a joint now and then will just grow out of it. Instead, they commit fairly minor crimes then remain on probtion forever for "dirty UAs". Seems like a waste of everyone's time and money.

My deal is food (overeating), which in a way is tougher than many "addictions" since a person doesn't need to smoke, drink, do drugs to live, therefore one is faced with their "addiction" three times a day at semi-normal intervals.

He seems to make sense in that once you decide that something is no longer worth the addictive behavior you are practicing, then you will find a way to stop.

One area I see overeating affecting me negatively (besides health) is financial. I am really worried about be able to support my large family and "retiring with dignity" and can see overeating, i.e. fast food as getting in the way. BUT what happens when fiances are NOT an issue any longer? Hmmmm. I guess it's a start.

[Jena]

Originally Posted by whodunit

Yes, Seven Tools to Beat Addiction. Easy to read and learning alot about myself.

Also, I am part of the criminal justice system and see juveniles in and out of "rehab" numerous times; normally forced on them by probation officers and judges. I have to wonder how many of these juveniles we are making such a big deal about smoking a joint now and then will just grow out of it. Instead, they commit fairly minor crimes then remain on probtion forever for "dirty UAs". Seems like a waste of everyone's time and money.

My deal is food (overeating), which in a way is tougher than many "addictions" since a person doesn't need to smoke, drink, do drugs to live, therefore one is faced with their "addiction" three times a day at semi-normal intervals.

He seems to make sense in that once you decide that something is no longer worth the addictive behavior you are practicing, then you will find a way to stop.

One area I see overeating affecting me negatively (besides health) is financial. I am really worried about be able to support my large family and "retiring with dignity" and can see overeating, i.e. fast food as getting in the way. BUT what happens when fiances are NOT an issue any longer? Hmmmm. I guess it's a start.

You might try thinking about it like this....

If you don't drink water, you'll be dead in a few days. Much faster way to die than starvation. An alcoholic doesn't quit drinking, they just quit drinking certain things. It's not about not eating, it's about not eating certain things. Same-same.