Is Addiction a Choice

“When an addict takes drugs, it appears to be a choice. One of the many reasons people reject the idea that addiction is a disease is the mistaken belief that people don’t cause or contribute to “real” diseases. But they do: Eating fried chicken and pork rinds and doughnuts contribute to the onset and progression of heart disease and diabetes; smoking leads to lung cancer and emphysema….In fact, It’s possible to argue that choice plays a larger role in some diseases than it does in addiction. The brains of people with heart disease who eat fried chicken haven’t been impaired, so they have no excuse.” ~David Sheff, Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy