The Complexities of Addiction

     Everybody has learned of and about the effects of addiction. Addiction, whether it be one of drugs, alcohol, pornography, or gambling, has noxious effects on the addict and those affiliated with said addict. These effects are seen all throughout society and are quite costly economically. Furthermore, more so for the individual, these effects are toxic because the addict must have their need of substance of choice met or they go into withdrawal; they have a dependency on it; their body needs it to function. This means that it is incredibly difficult to overcome an addiction. Consider this article written by Dr. Alan Brody, for example (Graff, 136). Dr. Brody states his main argument that, "I believe that understanding addiction requires appreciating elements of that model [The Willingness Model] as well as conceiving of addiction as a disorder involving a compulsive process which undermines the ability to regulate one’s behavior" (Brody). I agree that addiction is a disease of the brain that undermines one's ability to have an appropriate level of self control because recent research confirms this as well as examples stated in Dr. Brody's article (Graff, 62). 

     To take a case in point, observe what Dr. Brody discussed in his article (Graff, 136): "Addiction undermines the person’s self-regulation, true. But it also undermines their ability to accurately assess their problem’s seriousness as it repetitively generates a willingness or motivation for acting in violation of their most important preferences, even knowingly" (Brody). What Dr. Brody is saying here is that because of addiction, one's brain redirects its neuronal pathways which in turn impede with the ability to maintain a sense of self control and assess the severity of one's problems (135).  While the article may not explicitly state this fact, this is what is happening. The pre-frontal cortex of the frontal lobe of the brain is one of the anatomical structures that plays a part in making good choices. Due to addiction, these neuron pathways get rewired and in turn, do not function the way they are supposed to. This can be seen when Dr. Brody states, "For instance, many smokers would prefer not to smoke. They believe that smoking is bad for them, and often express their preference not to smoke, perhaps just before lighting up. These addicts know that they are failing to enact their preference, and they do not intellectually sanction their akratic acts, even though they have intentionally engaged in them" (Brody). This quote highlights this claim of redirecting cranial pathways by showing the example of the smoker. The smoker prefers not to smoke and knows it is bad for them, thus their prefrontal cortex is trying to do its job and tell the person "do not light and smoke that nasty carcinogen," but due to addiction and its effects, these neuronal pathways are not functioning the way they are supposed to which leaves the smoker to succumb to the urge to smoke.  

     As Dr. Brody says, "Addiction is not just a condition made up of a bunch of weak-willed acts" (Brody). Addiction is a disease of the mind. It is incredibly hard to overcome due to psychological and physiological factors. The effects of addiction spread far and wide meaning people as a whole have to support efforts to battle addiction. It is not an individual's problem, it is a societal problem that needs to be addressed. 

Brody, Alan. "Addicts, Mythmakers, and Philosophers." Philosophy Now. Philosophy Now:     

           2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2015.

Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. They Say I Say. New York: W.W. Norton

           & Company, Inc., 2015. Print.