Reply #18: I don't believe addiction is a choice, it's a disease... a horrible

[radwriter0555]

disease every bit as bad as the ones that rot the body, it's just a conduit.

And.... as a disease, it should be treated and not punished. Putting drug users and addicts in jail solves nothing, it merely makes the pain worse and their "home remedies" that more fatalistic.

I don't put down drug and alcohol addicts. I truly feel for the pain they're going through. It's horrible to stand by and watch loved ones succumb to their self-imposed ravages... and far too often so much worse for everyone involved.

I've watched a few friends overcome lifelong addictions... and I've seen a few friends die from those addictions. It's pretty awful. I don't judge them, I recognize the power their addictions have over them and hope they have to strength to battle the demons and emerge victorious.