Is Drug Addiction a Choice or a Disease? (Re: Drugs Are Super Fun)


 

Is drug addiction a choice or a disease? (re: Drugs are Super Fun) – This is a response to the following video: www.youtube.com Typical nervousneuron style, taking a 3 min video and making a 15 min response. But the question “Are people who are addicted to drugs weak?” is actually quite complicated. Of course, most of us could reply with our yes or no answer with a personal anecdote. But if we go deeper, new questions arise such as ‘are all behaviours choices?’ and ‘what is a disease?’. For the tl;dnw version, basically addiction is a disease of choice. People may be predisposed to addiction but that does not mean there is nothing they can do about it. There is still personal responsibility, but it is not weakness of character. Compulsions are strong, so resisting them would be more of a strength of character. LINKS: Pleasure unwoven: www.youtube.com Nicotine and gene polymorphism study: www.nature.com I did not go into this specific study into detail because it would require another 15 mins to explain it properly. And it requires knowledge of the pharmacology of nicotinic receptors as well as some brain anatomy (the habenula and the interpeduncular nucleus) and understanding the methods requires knowledge of rat/mouse self administration protocols and neurohistochemistry. Magazine article on the question: www.cosmosmagazine.com Animal models of addiction: www.acnp.org (I only skimmed this so don’t know if it’s the best) Any questions, ask away in the comments.

 

Former addictions boot camp thrives

Filed under: drug addiction articles

MUSKOKA – Former drug addicts celebrated their accomplishments in overcoming addictions, fears and personal barriers at a graduation ceremony of sorts on Tuesday. Seven former drug addicts graduated from boot camp on Tuesday, Dec. 18, receiving …
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Jenelle Evans' Shocking Alleged Heroin Confession — Report

Filed under: drug addiction articles

Reports have been swirling around Jenelle Evans' drug addiction goes far beyond her love for marijuana, and that she had been shooting up heroin for months. Now, a Facebook conversation with fellow Teen Mom 2 star Leah Messer's friend, Amy LaDawn …
Read more on Hollywood Life

 

Zambia's battle against drug addiction

Filed under: drug addiction articles

The abuse of illegal drugs such as marijuana and heroin is growing in Zambia. The costs of buying drugs is relatively cheap, with sachets of heroin fetching little more than $ 20 (£12). Hospitals are seeing more patients for drug abuse. The country's …
Read more on BBC News