Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them. Although well said, the beginning of addiction is a personal choice, there are other factors that make their presence felt in the equation of addiction. Lets take a look at that equation:
Substance/Situation+Person+Opportunity+The absence of identity/relevance/purpose=addiction.
The person does make the choice to continue to use, as of yet, none of the implications of addiction have come home to that person. The uppermost thing in the future addicts thought pattern is the return to that feeling of the “Virgin High” complete and total euphoria, no concerns about what tomorrow may bring, no fears to deal with today, no concerns about what to wear, what to say, how to look, or what to own to be part of “The Group” The only thing that matters is what we think and feel, everything else is extraneous.
In todays society, individuality is pushed to the maximum, advertising is aimed at the individual IE; “You deserve it” “You are worth it” “it was made for you” “it is you” “An Army of One” “You deserve a break today” “Better living for you through chemicals” “Think of the fun you could have with this product” More and more we disenfranchise ourselves from our neighbors and friends and families. Neighbors become the person next door, friends become acquaintances, families become holiday contacts.
Intrinsically man is a gregarious creature, he is designed to be among others of his kind. In the Book of Genesis God created man and woman to be together not to live in two different sections of the house, alone and separate, children were created to be with families, not alone, friends were created to share, not horde, neighbors were created to say hello, nor seclude themselves. I don’t know what happened to create the difference we now experience, but happen it did. What purpose does it serve to have everything but be able to share nothing? Though this sounds like nothing, look again at the equation above, see if this does not lend itself to the fourth part of the structure?
Next the subject will be the third part of the equation, the opportunity, I hope you will return.
