Addiction Is Not A Choice

One of the biggest debates among us today, Is addiction a choice or a disease? When someone uses drugs or alcohol for some time, it physically changes the brain. The frontal cortex shrinks. The frontal cortex is known as the “control panel” of how we function, controlling our emotions, expressions, judgment, and even problem-solving. When someone suffers from substance abuse disorder, they have no choice but to use. Their brain has been physically altered. Using becomes a need for them to survive. Many men and women who suffer from addiction have a dopamine deficiency, which can lead to depression and other mental illnesses. More than half of the people suffering from substance abuse disorder also have a mental illness and began using as self-medicating. Before knowing they were born with this deficiency of dopamine, they now become addicted to the substance. Yes, someone did make a choice to pick up drugs or alcohol and use them for the first time, but they never knew they would not have the option to put it down and never pick it up again. When you become a slave to drugs and alcohol, you are unable to stop without proper care. The substance takes the brain hostage, and the addict as lost the power of having a choice of using or not. Addiction is a disease. NOT a choice. The only way for someone to properly stop using drugs or alcohol is with professional help. Recovery is nowhere easy and will be a life long commitment with great reward. With the right support system and a personalized program based on your needs, recovery IS possible. At Bright Futures Treatment Center, we have a team of professional substance abuse counselors and therapists to help you achieve your goal and become happy and healthy again!