Addiction as a Neurobiological Issue Essay Sample
I will argue that addiction is not a moral failing, instead it is a neurobiological issue that also stems from external factors. Neurochemical effects of addictive drugs should be labeled the main issue for addicts instead of personal ethics. Other outside contributors are responsible for addiction as well, which is why blaming addiction on one specific item is irrational. The stigma around addiction enhances people to believe that it is a moral issue; however, I believe this to be wrongful and will use philosophers’ arguments and counter arguments to assert this opinion.
Addiction should be viewed more in a scientific manor instead of a characteristic matter. Hannah Pickard uses addiction science to evaluate the reasons behind addiction. Her presentation of the brain disease model signifies that addiction is a chronic relapsing neurobiological disease. This explanation contradicts the statement of addiction being a moral issue. She also elaborates on how the stigma of people’s perspective on drug users amplifies addiction even more. Addiction comes from outside factors as well which Pickard also emphasizes stating how “people grow up in different circumstances, some with terrible limited hope”. Therefore, to blame drug use as a character flaw is ignoring external aspects which is not an equal ground for comparison.
Self-control is another element that is argued when it comes to addiction. However, this response fails because relying on one inconsistent presumption of behavior proves there are flaws for that argument. This argument ignores the many other contributors that should be held responsible. Dill and Holton touch on this matter of self-control. They state how “the task of self-control is far more difficult for the addict which is why it is often unreasonable to blame addicts for giving into temptation”. This implies how unfair it is to equalize a non-addict and addict for self-control when it is something that is out of their control.
Proof that addiction is something not easy to overcome is also in the numbers. Thus, implying that addiction is a matter of one internal item contradicts how there are so many numbers if it was just a moral failing. For example, the opioid crisis in America. According to Public Health, “The death rate from drug overdoses more than tripled between 1999 and 2017, and that from opioid overdoses increased almost sixfold during the same period.” The statement proves how there must be other reasons other than morals to be responsible for these massive numbers. Another contribution to addiction mentioned by Public Health is an environmental matter named targeted marketing. Public Health defined the affair as “The strategy took advantage of the prevailing image of a drug addict as an African-American or Hispanic person who lived in the inner city to head off potential concerns about addiction”. This is only one of the many examples that prove evidence for external factors contributing to addiction. Unfair systems prove that there is a unbalance to how some people are more likely to become a victim of addiction.
Many argue that addiction results from the repetition of voluntary behaviors. Those with this argument usually see addicts as weak or bad people. However, addiction should not be viewed as a voluntary action or a character flaw. Many jump to this conclusion instead of understanding the reasoning behind addiction. Progressive changes in the brain drive compulsive, uncontrollable drug use to blame, not a moral weakness. Many instead jump to the first assumption of blaming voluntary actions or as character flaws, when science proves this theory wrong.
An enormous negative stigma is shown on addicts when people perceive their fixation as a choice. Understanding the brain’s role in addiction can help reduce negative perceptions and attitudes of those struggling with substance use disorders. The perception of this stereotype promotes addiction by convincing addicts that their problems are only character flaws. Hannah Pickard also reflects on this area of concern. She explains, “We have choices on how we respond to people who use drugs, we can respond not in a moralistic condemned way but in a way which expresses care, concern, and compassion.” I believe this perspective of changing the common viewpoint of addicts will help fight the problem of addiction.
Addiction is a matter of understanding addict’s neurochemical effects and other background contributors. It is something that affects everyone in different ways, hence why it is wrongful to view this issue on a moral level. Every person experiences some type of craving whether drug related or not, it is known that some people experience them worse than others. Therefore, we should not blame someone with addiction for failing to overcome their neurobiologically enhanced cravings. Lastly to concede this point, is the other outside contributors mentioned beforehand that prove addiction can be caused by environmental and social factors as well. In conclusion, addiction is not a matter of someone’s morals, rather it is a much more complex matter that has scientific and external contributors that need to be made more aware in society today.
