Comments on: Addiction–Disease or Behavior? http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/ Drug rehab blog from Gatehouse Academy. Gatehouse is a long term drug rehab and alcohol rehab and extended care treatment center for young adults offer the opportunity for young adults age 17-25 to recover from their dependencies. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:33:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: hellen http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-665 hellen Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:19:05 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-665 I do not believe that alcoholism is of genetic origin or all of the reasons every one is trying to link it to. I believe I have to learn to consume alcohol and since it is coming from me myself, I should be the same one to stop it if it becomes a problem to me and others. I think it is simple. Every expert and therapists are cashing in on this so called alcoholism by poisoning peoples minds giving them all sorts of therapies that do not work. I have been there and none of the that stuff worked for me. I wanna hear from someone else who feels the same way. One day, I just said enough is enough of the mess. I will do it responsible if need arises. How about that? I do not believe that alcoholism is of genetic origin or all of the reasons every one is trying to link it to. I believe I have to learn to consume alcohol and since it is coming from me myself, I should be the same one to stop it if it becomes a problem to me and others. I think it is simple. Every expert and therapists are cashing in on this so called alcoholism by poisoning peoples minds giving them all sorts of therapies that do not work. I have been there and none of the that stuff worked for me. I wanna hear from someone else who feels the same way. One day, I just said enough is enough of the mess. I will do it responsible if need arises. How about that?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Anonymous Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:50:03 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-41 <p>Having been raised in alcoholic home, there were many examples of why not to drink. I have stopped asking myself the question of how or why I am an alcoholic. The reality is there is a cure and for me and it is the 12 Steps, and just like any other remedy for an ailment it requires following direction.</p> Having been raised in alcoholic home, there were many examples of why not to drink. I have stopped asking myself the question of how or why I am an alcoholic. The reality is there is a cure and for me and it is the 12 Steps, and just like any other remedy for an ailment it requires following direction.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Anonymous Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:15:47 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-40 <p>There is not a doubt in my mind that I was born with this disease. I come from two parents who are also recovered alcoholics and from as far back as I can remember my behavior shows repeated examples of alcoholism. This behavior wasn’t taught, it came natural to me. Drinking is only a symptom, I can have an obsession over anything and act out if I am not spiritually fit.</p> There is not a doubt in my mind that I was born with this disease. I come from two parents who are also recovered alcoholics and from as far back as I can remember my behavior shows repeated examples of alcoholism. This behavior wasn’t taught, it came natural to me. Drinking is only a symptom, I can have an obsession over anything and act out if I am not spiritually fit.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Anonymous Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:00:24 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-39 <p>I think that alcoholism is a disease but addictive behaviors that go along with alcoholism are learned. I found somethings i liked and continued to do it until it just became how i had to live, I learned to deal with certain things by using alcohol or drugs. It became the only way I knew, but I have now learned other healthy ways to deal with the same things.</p> I think that alcoholism is a disease but addictive behaviors that go along with alcoholism are learned. I found somethings i liked and continued to do it until it just became how i had to live, I learned to deal with certain things by using alcohol or drugs. It became the only way I knew, but I have now learned other healthy ways to deal with the same things.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Anonymous Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:35:06 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-38 <p>I do not think drug addiction and alcoholism can be looked at in such a black and white manner. There are many gray areas. Both the disease aspect and learned behavior aspect can play a role. There are many things that factor into drug addiction and alcoholism such as; genetics, environment, drug of choice, family, friends, and much more. Therefore, it is almost always a combination of these that end in addiction. To remove the concept of it being a disease removes the power of the problem, to remove the learned side is to say one doesn't need to change their environment.</p> I do not think drug addiction and alcoholism can be looked at in such a black and white manner. There are many gray areas. Both the disease aspect and learned behavior aspect can play a role. There are many things that factor into drug addiction and alcoholism such as; genetics, environment, drug of choice, family, friends, and much more. Therefore, it is almost always a combination of these that end in addiction. To remove the concept of it being a disease removes the power of the problem, to remove the learned side is to say one doesn’t need to change their environment.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Anonymous Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:34:55 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-37 <p>In my opinion I would say that addiction is a learned behavior. Alcoholism is a disease. The reason that I say addiction is a learned behavior is because the addiction process is as follows. It starts with one’s thoughts, this then turns into one’s feelings, which continues to turn into one’s actions, which then becomes one’s habit’s. Eventually overtime the habits that one acquires will rapidly become full blown alcoholism. There are so many things that people can be addicted to and it all starts with our thoughts. I know for me that becoming addicted to drugs was learned from other people. That is not to place blame on anyone for my behaviors. I am simply saying that once I used I wanted more and I would perform whatever necessary tasks to get them. This is why I say that addiction is a learned behavior.</p> In my opinion I would say that addiction is a learned behavior. Alcoholism is a disease. The reason that I say addiction is a learned behavior is because the addiction process is as follows. It starts with one’s thoughts, this then turns into one’s feelings, which continues to turn into one’s actions, which then becomes one’s habit’s. Eventually overtime the habits that one acquires will rapidly become full blown alcoholism. There are so many things that people can be addicted to and it all starts with our thoughts. I know for me that becoming addicted to drugs was learned from other people. That is not to place blame on anyone for my behaviors. I am simply saying that once I used I wanted more and I would perform whatever necessary tasks to get them. This is why I say that addiction is a learned behavior.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Anonymous Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:23:27 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-36 <p>In my opinion I would say that addiction is a learned behavior. Alcoholism is a disease. The reason that I say addiction is a learned behavior is because the addiction process is as follows. It starts with one’s thoughts, this then turns into one’s feelings, which continues to turn into one’s actions, which then becomes one’s habit’s. Eventually overtime the habits that one acquires will rapidly become full blown alcoholism. There are so many things that people can be addicted to and it all starts with our thoughts. I know for me that becoming addicted to drugs was learned from other people. That is not to place blame on anyone for my behaviors. I am simply saying that once I used I wanted more and I would perform whatever necessary tasks to get them. This is why I say that addiction is a learned behavior.</p> In my opinion I would say that addiction is a learned behavior. Alcoholism is a disease. The reason that I say addiction is a learned behavior is because the addiction process is as follows. It starts with one’s thoughts, this then turns into one’s feelings, which continues to turn into one’s actions, which then becomes one’s habit’s. Eventually overtime the habits that one acquires will rapidly become full blown alcoholism. There are so many things that people can be addicted to and it all starts with our thoughts. I know for me that becoming addicted to drugs was learned from other people. That is not to place blame on anyone for my behaviors. I am simply saying that once I used I wanted more and I would perform whatever necessary tasks to get them. This is why I say that addiction is a learned behavior.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Anonymous Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:00:59 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-35 <p>It is my belief that addiction is infact a disease. A disease which progresses with time, a person addicted never gets cured, however can recovery through total abstinance.</p> It is my belief that addiction is infact a disease. A disease which progresses with time, a person addicted never gets cured, however can recovery through total abstinance.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Anonymous Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:52:44 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-34 <p>Everyone has an opinion so every answer is possible. When addiction is taken away it seems like a disease because of the sickness you go through. The learning part of it is everywhere. That is when I can use any word in the serenity prayer to be strong.</p> Everyone has an opinion so every answer is possible. When addiction is taken away it seems like a disease because of the sickness you go through. The learning part of it is everywhere. That is when I can use any word in the serenity prayer to be strong.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Anonymous Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:10:34 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2007/09/07/is-addiction-a-disease-or-learned-behavior/#comment-33 <p>When I was able to force down my first 3 Schlitz Malt Liquours, I found heaven. The whole in my soul was filled. I didn't learn this. It was instantaneous!</p> <p>From a scientific perspective I see alcoholism as a quantitative trait - a number of variables are at play including genetics and environment. I'm not sure the question can ever be answered as it would be unethical to perform the necessary experiments on humans to come to some meaningful conclusions.</p> <p>It goes back to Dr. Silkworth's insightful observations that we are dealing with a physical allergy coupled with an obsession of the mind and it usually takes an act of Providence to assist us in getting sober and a complete psychic change for us to stay sober.</p> When I was able to force down my first 3 Schlitz Malt Liquours, I found heaven. The whole in my soul was filled. I didn’t learn this. It was instantaneous!

From a scientific perspective I see alcoholism as a quantitative trait – a number of variables are at play including genetics and environment. I’m not sure the question can ever be answered as it would be unethical to perform the necessary experiments on humans to come to some meaningful conclusions.

It goes back to Dr. Silkworth’s insightful observations that we are dealing with a physical allergy coupled with an obsession of the mind and it usually takes an act of Providence to assist us in getting sober and a complete psychic change for us to stay sober.

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