by Nanette Piotrowski

Created on: August 06, 2008   Last Updated: May 14, 2010

Websters dictionary defines an addiction as a dependence on or committment to a habit, practice, or habit-forming substance to the extent that its cessation causes trauma. It, (Websters), also defines a disease as a disorder or abnormal condition of an organ or other part of an organism resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, nutritional deficiency, toxicity or unfavorable environmental factor.

I see no correlation between the two; one is of choice and the other is an unfortunate genal mishap.

Among the thousands of new "diseases", it is unfortunate that drugs and alcohol have been added to the list. It seems every year we come up with a new disease to cover any type of bad behavior so no one has to account for or take any of the responsibility. An addiction is a learned behavior that one has complete control of. If you want help with an addiction, there are resources available. Don't label it a disease.

When the White man came to this country and introduced alcohol to the Native tribes, it appeared that over time and to the consensus of many that all Indians are natural alcoholics; that they had some kind of gene that predisposed them to alcoholism, which is an absolute fallacy.

Drug addiction, whether legal or illegal has taken over this country and I don't recall everybody being told to line up and start using or else. Drugs like alcohol, are a conscious choice by supposed rational human beings.

We have become a society of "users" and the excuse that 'it's not my fault', is ridiculous at best. Nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions anymore and if we can blame it on something other than ourselves then it becomes alright. Using the term "disease" is a misnomer and should be called by its rightful title, "Mental Stupidity."

I find it shameful to even categorize alcohol or drug addiction in the same class as Cancer, Alzheimers, Hodgkins or any other horrifying disease. The people that have those devastating diseases would give anything they possess to live and have a happy life without hospital stays, constant tests, constant pain, financial loss or the death of a child.

It is cruel to even put those people in the same company as alcoholics and drug users. Addiction to alcohol and drugs is their choice, no one forced it upon them and as I recall there is such a thing as free will. So don't give "Mental Stupidity" the classification of a "disease", they're not even close.

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