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Addiction Is A Disease, Not A Crime

Arnold

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by Christian Duque First and foremost, I’d like to put my cards on the table. Yes, I’m probably the most liberal person you’ll ever meet in the world of bodybuilding. Some may even call be a closet socialist – maybe I am. I was, after all, a Bernie Sanders delegate and I did vote for

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Meh...legalize it all and tax it. The "War on Drugs" has been about as effective as Prohibition. Where's that Ted Talk type video about the country that legalized everything? I don't remember which thread it was in.
 
However anyone feels about addiction we should all agree that nonviolent drug offenders should not be in prison for decades. While in the federal system I saw hundreds of inmates serving sentences based upon mandatory minimums up to life. A lot of these sentences were based on conspiracy convictions where the drug quantities that triggered the sentencing ranges were based upon cooperating co-conspirators testimony determined to be relevant conduct (what we called "ghost dope"). The feds do not even have to catch a person with the drugs. All they have to do if find informants who will testify that over a given period of time you sold an average of this much drugs per month and then at sentencing they do the math. It is bullshit in the extreme.
 
Only the government is allowed to sell death... education reform would hinder drug addiction/problems more than prison... that’s why I always said I’d rather non violent offenders have access to educational programs rather than just stick them back out in the same poverty stricken life they already tried escaping, even on my tax paying dime...better than feeding the pig law makers. Shit pisses me off bro....25 years for selling weed...10 years for selling legit juice....eat me
 
I got 6 months for 2 Xanax...system is broken I developed a heroin habit in state jail...never touched anything harder then hydrocodone before i was locked up...
 
So disease means something you have no control over?

Forget about personal responsibility?

There is an 800 pound gorilla in the room and no one wants to talk about it.
 
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So disease means something you have no control over?

Forget about personal responsibility?

There is an 800 pound gorilla in the room and no one wants to talk about it.
It's not the same.

I've been clean a long time and I'm an addict and alcoholic.

Here's why addiction is a disease

Even now, if I were to be slipped a pain pill or my drug Of choice, there's no telling what could happen. Personal responsibility, yes you're absolutely right. But it's not that easy. With addicts and alcoholism you KNOW you're fucking up but that doesn't matter. When that switch gets turned on, it's like you're not you anymore.

You know what's happening but you can't control it. I consider myself a very responsible person. I work hard. I live right. But I still have no control of myself when it comes to drugs and alcohol.

It's not a personality thing.
 
Also, let me clarify.

I don't think that being an addict or alcoholic relieves someone of the responsibility to address their disease work on it. It also isn't an excuse to keep using.

I just understand why we do what we do and how you really can't unless you're one of us.
 
So disease means something you have no control over?

Forget about personal responsibility?

There is an 800 pound gorilla in the room and no one wants to talk about it.

Diseases like cancer and diabetes are often caused by personal choices too but they are no less a disease than addiction. I agree that my personal choices led to my addictions and I am personally responsible for my treatment and recovery.
 
So disease means something you have no control over?

Forget about personal responsibility?

There is an 800 pound gorilla in the room and no one wants to talk about it.

I agree 100% im a former alcoholic, people need to take personal responsibility for themselves. You’re in control of how you wanna live. Weak motherfuckers come up with excuses
 
The war on drugs is just a war on Americans freedom. People with addiction need help not to be turned into a criminal. The justice system is broken and creates more criminal. Let’s get back to REAL American principles.
 
The war on drugs is just a war on Americans freedom. People with addiction need help not to be turned into a criminal. The justice system is broken and creates more criminal. Let’s get back to REAL American principles.

The war on drugs is war against the system of drug manufacturers and suppliers, not necessarily the end users.

But I do agree the war on drugs is the wrong approach and has obviously not worked.

But until a person decides they have a problem or hit rock bottom they are not going to quit.

People addicted to meth, heroin or any other street drugs are criminals. Many if not most lie, steal and cheat to support their habits.

Just a few years ago a meth head stole shit out of my truck. He left his phone so I had phone numbers and text messages.

How should he have been dealt with?
 
It's not the same.

I've been clean a long time and I'm an addict and alcoholic.

Here's why addiction is a disease

Even now, if I were to be slipped a pain pill or my drug Of choice, there's no telling what could happen. Personal responsibility, yes you're absolutely right. But it's not that easy. With addicts and alcoholism you KNOW you're fucking up but that doesn't matter. When that switch gets turned on, it's like you're not you anymore.

You know what's happening but you can't control it. I consider myself a very responsible person. I work hard. I live right. But I still have no control of myself when it comes to drugs and alcohol.

It's not a personality thing.
I too have battled the bottom of many bottles.. Its like a demon, trying to explain what its like is like trying to shovel while its still snowing..

when I went out (thats what my wife and I call it, meaning myself is gone, I went out mentally) there was no saying what I would do or what will happen.. her and I are pro's at picking up the pieces and moving on, but we'll never have an understanding of the mindset that takes over when I'm out.. Its been a LONG time since then, by Gods grace I have a life worth loving now, and I did then too, but, I was out, I couldn't rap my mind around what I had or what I was gonna lose, it just doesn't register! :stupid:

My brain will never ever, ever function while drinking, it's not geared that way and I except that and I'm accountable for my actions..
 
The war on drugs is war against the system of drug manufacturers and suppliers, not necessarily the end users.

But I do agree the war on drugs is the wrong approach and has obviously not worked.

But until a person decides they have a problem or hit rock bottom they are not going to quit.

People addicted to meth, heroin or any other street drugs are criminals. Many if not most lie, steal and cheat to support their habits.

Just a few years ago a meth head stole shit out of my truck. He left his phone so I had phone numbers and text messages.

How should he have been dealt with?

That’s different. If they stole something, that is a crime. I’m talking about just the person using drugs. Not stealing. There is no war on the big manufacturers. I wouldn’t doubt that the cia is involved. There is a reason it is everywhere. Make money on both ends.
 
It's not the same.

I've been clean a long time and I'm an addict and alcoholic.

Here's why addiction is a disease

Even now, if I were to be slipped a pain pill or my drug Of choice, there's no telling what could happen. Personal responsibility, yes you're absolutely right. But it's not that easy. With addicts and alcoholism you KNOW you're fucking up but that doesn't matter. When that switch gets turned on, it's like you're not you anymore.

You know what's happening but you can't control it. I consider myself a very responsible person. I work hard. I live right. But I still have no control of myself when it comes to drugs and alcohol.

It's not a personality thing.

I disagree with this. You know if you do it, the end result is bad. You do it anyway, that is called excuses and bad choices. No one forces you to do anything. It's like the old thing if people saying they don't remember doing stuff because they were drunk, bullshit.
 
I disagree with this. You know if you do it, the end result is bad. You do it anyway, that is called excuses and bad choices. No one forces you to do anything. It's like the old thing if people saying they don't remember doing stuff because they were drunk, bullshit.
You can disagree.

Are they bad choices? Yes. But unless you're an addict, you can't fully understand it.

Imagine hating your life so much that the idea of suicide sounds better then another day of drinking but, if you kill yourself you can't have that drink..... Think on that.
 
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It’s a reward system within your brain that controls your actions, like the lab rat who chooses the opiate water over food. Once you become addicted your no longer in the drivers seat. The science proves the brain disease of addiction. With that being said it’s not to say that everyone who does something stupid under the influence once in a while is diseased. Who in there right mind would repeatedly sabotage there own life all in the name of a high? Addicts do.


where I get confused is the term functional addicts. I feel like if they can function daily and not become a burden then why label them? I’ve known heavy drinkers that have never been in trouble and had successful careers.
 
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It’s a reward system within your brain that controls your actions, like the lab rat who chooses the opiate water over food. Once you become addicted your no longer in the drivers seat. The science proves the brain disease of addiction. With that being said it’s not to say that everyone who does something stupid under the influence once in a while is diseased. Who in there right mind would repeatedly sabotage there own life all in the name of a high? Addicts do.


where I get confused is the term functional addicts. I feel like if they can function daily and not become a burden then why label them? I’ve known heavy drinkers that have never been in trouble and had successful careers.
Because with a functional addict, they have to have the drug or drink to function.

Without it, they can't.

You could say this is the same as people who take medication for an illness like diabetes I suppose but, addiction is treatable without using the "drug" while some cases of diabetes can't be cured and you MUST have the drug.
 
Addict here as well

I believe it is a disease for many reasons -the 2 most prominent ones to me are these
- lack of control over desire (using constantly when you know you shouldn’t be
-loss of insightful judgement (when using judgement is completely off balance and irrational and centered around one thing - getting more drugs regardless of who it hurts)

I have been down the relapse road many times
Been to prison
Rehab
Mental hospitals
Detox
Etc etc

None work ^
Why?

It’s an intrinsic motivation that is needed to want to combat this illness - I combat it with 12 step meetings and physical wellness and fitness.

If you’re not an addict then you simply don’t have the ability to comprehend this ^ you can have an opinion and judge a situation based on your experience - but you don’t have the ability to put yourself in that situation with the given circumstances (having a illness of drug addiction)


Personal responsibility lies in the idea of taking a proactive approach to improving your situation and trying to get out of the cycle of negativity and drug use - going to church , meetings , treatment etc etc at all ways that this can be attempted


Imagine this for a second - and really imagine it not just think and then drop some impulsive comment bc your on too much Tren

Waking up every single day feeling physically like death - knowing that using will fix it - but will simultaneously take you further down into the problem .

Being stuck in this limbo of decision making every second of the day and having to choose the right thing when the wrong thing is instant and immediate and the right thing takes time, work , effort and experiencing often times difficult emotions and thoughts.

If you’re not an addict then you’re blessed bc you don’t have to live this way

If you are an addict you’re also blessed - bc you’re alive another day to try and make things right
 
Addict here as well

I believe it is a disease for many reasons -the 2 most prominent ones to me are these
- lack of control over desire (using constantly when you know you shouldn’t be
-loss of insightful judgement (when using judgement is completely off balance and irrational and centered around one thing - getting more drugs regardless of who it hurts)

I have been down the relapse road many times
Been to prison
Rehab
Mental hospitals
Detox
Etc etc

None work ^
Why?

It’s an intrinsic motivation that is needed to want to combat this illness - I combat it with 12 step meetings and physical wellness and fitness.

If you’re not an addict then you simply don’t have the ability to comprehend this ^ you can have an opinion and judge a situation based on your experience - but you don’t have the ability to put yourself in that situation with the given circumstances (having a illness of drug addiction)


Personal responsibility lies in the idea of taking a proactive approach to improving your situation and trying to get out of the cycle of negativity and drug use - going to church , meetings , treatment etc etc at all ways that this can be attempted


Imagine this for a second - and really imagine it not just think and then drop some impulsive comment bc your on too much Tren

Waking up every single day feeling physically like death - knowing that using will fix it - but will simultaneously take you further down into the problem .

Being stuck in this limbo of decision making every second of the day and having to choose the right thing when the wrong thing is instant and immediate and the right thing takes time, work , effort and experiencing often times difficult emotions and thoughts.

If you’re not an addict then you’re blessed bc you don’t have to live this way

If you are an addict you’re also blessed - bc you’re alive another day to try and make things right
This hit me hard, when i read this i felt exactly what you just stated, as do all of us.....


Its a constant fight but like you mentioned we lucky to be alive...
 
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