by Mel Rodriguez

Created on: November 13, 2009

Disease is a word that infers a malady that has entered the body and is attacking its immune system, vital organ or another life supporting system in the body. Addiction is "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma". (Based on Random House Dictionary) Nowhere in that definition does the word disease reside.

Choices that a person makes can lead them down a dark and distant path. There are people that can survive poor choices and those that fall prey to the choices that they make. Drinking alcohol, using illegal or illicit drugs is a choice. These substances are not airborne and ingested via osmosis. This is something that a person ingests into their body for any number of reasons but the consequences of partaking in these activities can be devastating.

Calling addiction a disease is a way to justify its existence. The politically correct have once again found a way to cast blame aside and say, "it was the disease that made me do these horrible things". A disease never forced anyone to take a needle and stick it in his or her arm for the first time. A disease never opened a bottle of bourbon to make a person get intoxicated for the first time. People make those decisions not diseases.

I would much rather call addiction or alcoholism a condition. A condition that has been brought upon a person through his or her own actions. That very same drug addict or alcoholic can take different actions to change the course of their lives. They recognize that there is a problem with the way they handle the use of controlled substances. They recognize that through hard work and dedication to a clean and productive life they can overcome anything.

This does not sound like the cure for a disease. This is more like the choice to live a life that does not require external forces to enhance the experience but internal fortitude to live the experience of life. Life can be hard and it usually is. The easiest road to take is the one you do not have to navigate. Those roads usually lead to a dead end. Take the wheel and steer a course that leads you to the destination of your dreams, hopes and whishes.

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