A new book called Addiction: A Disorder of Choice, written by Gene Heyman, a lecturer in psychology at the Harvard Medical School argues that addiction is not an involuntary disease but is created by personal choices. The disease model of addiction has long been one of the most looked at and practiced theories within the psychology community for many years. It has been believed for a long time that drug addicts cannot control their addiction, and according to Heyman, this is ultimately wrong.
Heyman looked at different factors that can influence an addict to stop using, and pointed out there are thousands of ex-addicts who have beat their addiction. These influential factors can include values and laws, having worries about being arrested, financial problems, and even respect from family. When he looked at these different factors, it turned out when you actually review the literature broadly, an addict does stop using because of some of these different factors.
Gene Heyman agrees that addicts are self destructive, but they do have the ability to change once the consequences are real and these many different factors come into play. It can be argued that labeling addicts diseased can potentially make things worse, and in fact could give the addict a crutch to lean on to continue using. Smoking has always been considered an addiction, and nicotine is a drug. The Surgeon General reports that are released show 80% of smokers have quit, so it seems that people can quit an addiction.
Nick Hayes is a graduate of the Narconon drug rehab program in 2005. Nick takes much enjoyment in writing, and feels there needs to be more information about drugs and alcohol provided to the people of the world. He believes nobody should have to go through an addiction.