Because we're all sick

Truthfully, I am sick of seeing articles and angry posts of uneducated people ignorantly claiming that addiction is not a disease. Simply by comparing one disease to another (and cancer is always the culprit), you will not be able to fully understand each completely distinctly different disease. They are incomparable. From symptoms to treatments to recovery. Two completely different boxes, and while we're at it, take them out of the confined boxed altogether. Instead of labeling anything, as a disease or choice, can we all agree that it's an epidemic in our society (cancer and addiction) that needs a solution?!

Beside the fact that plenty of drug addictions begin with prescription drug use from a doctor or pharmacist, where they were over-prescribed or prescribed for too long (thus it not starting as the addicts choice to use but the doctors choice to prescribe the certain drug), there is more to this argument that those who have not done research do not understand.

You see, the argument that it was the addict's choice, I get it, yes. There was a moment in time where the addict chose to put the needle in their arm, there was a point where they thought it would be a fun and good idea to get high (whether alone or with buddies)., but after a certain amount of time, according to plenty of clinical studies, your brain gets chemically wired. Your body begins to call for action. The drugs take over. Once this happens, and the addict is dependent on the drug, it becomes a disease. You see, there are people who, simply put, alcohol doesn't call to, but you cannot deny the people in which it does call to. An addictive personality is what we use to describe it. There is a make up in each person that describes how they respond to certain stimuli and this is undeniable.

dis·ease

dəˈzēz/

noun

1. a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.

• a particular quality, habit, or disposition regarded as adversely affecting a person or group of people.

A disease can be cured, no? A disease involves treatment, no> A disease incorporates a recovery process, no? Weird... something similar of addiction.

A drug addiction impairs functions, affects families, is expensive to fix, takes time to heal, and is a "quality or habit that affects a group of people." Stop only putting terminal illnesses in the box of "disease," just because you don't like that label. That's not a good enough excuse. I'm sorry if you're offended, but it is the truth.

So, please, before you shame someone for their personality make up from birth and are affected by their choices, think of how it isn't any different from someone with skin cancer who chose to use a tanning bed or someone with lung cancer who chose to light another cigarette. Does that change the definition of disease simply because they made a bad decision and their body reacted in a strange way? The answer is no, if you were wondering.

We're all addicted to something, whether you want to hear it or not. No one is immune. Your phone, social media, your boyfriend or girlfriend, sex, sugar, food, attention...

The only way we will be able to tackle the drug problem is if people wouldn't throw so much shame on others trying to make it through life. The only way we can receive peace is if we all accept each other for our flaws. The only way we can solve any chaos is if we unite.

Calling someone out on their stains doesn't make your shirt any cleaner. Telling someone that their crap stinks doesn't make yours smell any better.

Please, stop dividing the human race, no matter how, and love.

Because LOVE can change the world.