Is Addiction a Choice or a Disease? - Argumentative Essay

Introduction

Many arguments have arisen about whether addiction is a disease or a choice. There are those who view that addiction is a disease whereas there are others who see it as a choice. There are those others who view addiction as being both a disease and a choice in that it was the choice that led to the disease. All in all, addiction is a vice that is affecting the society in a great way. Whatever way you view it, addiction, especially to drugs and other banned substance, has greatly affected the society whether by choice or as a disease (Kennett, 2013). This paper is aimed at discussing whether addiction is a choice or a disease with examples to help understand the whole concept better.

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It is best first to understand what addiction is before delving deeper into the topic of discussion. Addiction is a complex condition or a chronic brain and body dysfunction that is characterized by over-reliance and compulsive substance use albeit the consequences that is most of the time harmful to the user (Kennett, 2013). It is a pattern that involves motivation, reward, and memory for the addict (Valkov, 2015). It manifests as a craving for behavior or substance with an obsessive pursuit without taking regard to what will happen afterward. Many think that addiction only involves hard substances such as drugs and alcohol. However, addiction covers a wide area such as sex, anger, gambling, food, coffee, and work. It is not wrong indulging in either of these substances and behaviors. The problem comes when a person overindulges and realizes that they are hooked and cannot do well without these things (Berridge, 2016).

There is an argument going round that to some extent makes a lot of sense although many are of the view that it overlooks certain aspect. The beauty of this argument is that it has taken everyone's considerations into account making a hypothesis that makes a lot of sense. It is based on several pops up pornography and online dating site commercials which cause addiction in the end (Valkov, 2015). The argument is that addiction is both a choice and a disease. It takes the form of both a disease and a choice albeit at different stages of its existence (Kennett, 2013). The argument takes a different route from the more common drug and alcohol addiction making it an interesting choice.

It is important to understand what choice and disease mean and how they relate to each other in this argument. A choice is an act of decision making that involves picking from among two or more possibilities (Berrridge, 2016). In the case of addiction, the choice is identifying that overindulging in a substance or behavior is not the best choice but still doing it without much consideration about the consequences. Ideally, to be an addict begins as a choice (Valkov, 2015). He/she has the option of choosing to either stop using a substance or indulging in a behavior. For instance, a porn advertisement may pop up when one is using the internet over a computer. At this point, the user must either watch the porn or close the page to save himself from watching the porn. He/she might find him/herself in a similar situation again and again, and his/her choices will affect his actions. The arguer believes that at this stage of addiction, it is not a disease; rather, it is a choice. It is a critical point of addiction as this moment defines whether the actions will lead to addiction or not (Kennett, 2013).

On the other hand, a disease is a disorder of function or structure of a human being with symptoms that affect a specific part of the body and cannot only be as a result of physical injury (Valkov, 2015). Addiction as a disease is, therefore, a disorder in the brain function of an individual (Berridge, 2016). The bone of contention arises in the question, where does the normal brain or psychological function end leading, and where does pathology begin? Herein lies the characterization of the argument that addiction cannot simply be defined as a choice but also embodies a disease later as it metamorphosis's and attacks an individual's brain function and nervous system (Berridge, 2016). Considering the pornography example above, when one compulsively views the porn even to the extent of searching for the porn him/herself, then he is addicted. His brain function is in dire need of watching pornography to satisfy its urging desires. The choice has become a habit and then disease. In the case where a person is deep into porn, there is a need for medication and treatment to alleviate the problem. At this juncture, it is not just a choice, but a sickness (disease). Together with that, the mode of recovery of an addict also makes it look like a disease because it cannot end on its own but requires treatment (Valkov, 2015). In the end, the argument concludes that an addiction grows from a choice to a habit which in itself is a disease (Kennett, 2013). The argument is inductive as it started with the conclusion that addiction is both a choice as well as a disease and then expounded on the premises that support the conclusion (Valkov, 2015).

However, it should be noted that the argument has some fallacies associated with it. For one, the whole concept of disease has some fallacies to it. Ideally, addiction is not a brain disease as has been understood from the argument. The disease can be argued to be healed through scientific and psychological medication and treatment. However, addiction is cured through choice. Addicts can choose recovery as a choice liberating their minds. Most of the people who seek help often find that help comes from within rather than outside. The outside element (that includes friends, families, and rehabilitation centers) only serves as a guideline for motivating an addict towards healing (Berridge, 2016).

A common fallacy that is associated with the legality of pornography and the freedom to choose to engage in porn. No jurisdiction views porn as an illegal activity. However, the moral standpoint of porn is the basis of contention in this issue (Valkov, 2015). Many people tend to think that because unlike certain behaviors such as taking drugs which is illegal, there should be no issue in the choice one makes. Most even argue that the freedom to such behaviors is otherwise protected by the constitution (such as the freedom of speech). There may be an argument here; however, the freedom to free speech has some clauses to it. For instance, although one has the freedom to free speech, it is illegal to scream "Bomb Bomb" in a public place. One should, therefore, understand why there may be restrictions especially when they are for their benefits (Kennett, 2013).

There are certain philosophical theories that are able to bring more focus to the discussion. The learning theory or the conditioning theory means that addiction is a learned behavior. Classical conditioning which comes from relating with others, operant conditioning which is learning through the eventual consequences of a choice, and social learning which is learned by observing others are the three types of learning associated with the theory (Valkov, 2015). Pornographic addiction follows the learning theory based on the argument. Operant condition particularly identifies with the argument because it is conditioning created by choice (Kennett, 2013).

The exposure theory is based on the assumption that the regular introduction of a behavior to a person's mind leads to addiction. It is a theory that is present in all types of addictions. The drawback to this theory is that it focuses more on the biological processes of the body such as metabolism (Kennett, 2013). However, it could also look at the brain function as a biological organ of the body that is also inadvertently affected by regular exposure. Pornography follows the second line of thinking in that it does not affect other body functions in a similar way as drugs or alcohol but has an effect all the same (Berridge, 2016).

The adaptation theory focuses on the psychological, social and environmental factors that enhance and influence addiction. In today's society, technology has made it very easy to get pornography. The environment we have today of computers, smartphones, free wifi, and other technological marvels mean that pornographic addiction is not as far as many may assume (Valkov, 2015). Indeed, the theory identifies that factors both internal and external have a way of being catalysts for pornographic addiction. It all falls on the individual's efforts to choose to keep away from these cues to avoid being a victim.

Looking at all these issues, it is clear that there is a problem that is existent in the world today. The philosophical theories have identified the different forms and ways of looking at addiction, a particularly pornographic addiction which is the bone of contention. The theories have identified the different forms and ways pornographic addiction can affect an individual. Simply put, the best form of attack is keeping away from urges to view or look at these pornographic videos, images, or stories as an addiction similar to a journey starts with a step. Focusing the mind on relevant issues and keeping it busy is a sure way of fighting these urges and addictions (Berridge, 2016).

Of importance is also to understand the fallacies as they relate to the theories. The fallacies that it is illegal to watch, read, or look at porn. However, the moral aspect comes into play. Can you do all these in the open? If the answer is no, then it should be illegal for you as a person. The learning theory should guide one's ideas in that one should identify from others the wrongs that come with engaging in porn and keep away from it (Kennett, 2013). Also, the fallacies about the cure for addiction only come from within augers well with the philosophical theories in play. Ideally, looking at these theories, one thing is clear and common among them; it rests with you as an individual. Simply put, the choice to engage in substance or behavior abuse is personal. In the same sense, healing is also a personal journey that comes from choice (Valkov, 2015).

Conclusion

In conclusion, addiction cannot be forced on someone, and it takes individual effort to become an addict. When one is hooked, then his/her choice makes the addiction a disease. Choices lead to consequences. That is a known fact and whatever you choose will ultimately have some connotations in the long run (Valkov, 2015). Addiction is one of the consequences of choice yet addiction itself further leads to more consequences (disease consequence). Usually, the consequences of addiction are dire even leading to death especially if not handled soon and with the utmost care (Kennett, 2013). From the argument above, we can conclude that addiction is both a choice and a disease.

References

Berridge, K. C. (2016). Is Addiction a Brain Disease? Neuroethics, 10(1), 29-33.

Kennett, J. (2013). Addiction, Choice, and Disease. Neuroscience and Legal Responsibility, 257-278.

Valkov, P. (2015). Is addiction a disease or choice? Disease model on trial. Trakia Journal of Science, 13(Suppl.1), 541-544.