Addiction and morality

[psychedelicist]

Just wondering, what people's opinions are regarding addictions. Not just drug addictions, things like addictions to gambling and stuff apply too. Is there a definitive line that can be drawn between doing something and being addicted to it? Is addiction to anything immoral, and why/not? Should anything that has the potential to be addicting be done (i.e. should gambling be illegal since it causes addiction in some people)?

 

[tocis]

Addiction in and of itself is not immoral. Often very stupid, yes, but not immoral.

Making someone into an addict in cold blood (dealers come to mind) is illegal. Becoming a criminal to finance your substance is immoral. But as long as you only hurt yourself, well, it's your life.
Of course, when does the addict harm others? If, say, his loved ones feel pain seeing him going down the path of addiction, can he be said to "hurt" them? Good question. Aaaah, that's life... never as easy as you (want to) think...

 

[BarbB]

But if you believe that you are a child of God, then addiction is immoral - it's hurting God to see us addicted.

As far as legislating stuff that is addictive, most everything in life is addictive. God helps to overcome addiction.

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

I have always thought for a Christian addiction goes to giving authority to something other that God. An idol so to speak. I know God can help with addiction. I asked Him to remove cigarettes from my life and haven't had one since. Four years smoke free and no craveings.

 

[stumpjumper]

Almost anything can cause addiction. In regards to that it makes no sense to outlaw things that people can become addicted to because that could include almost anything including food. You should not let your vices control your life and focus on God and what your faith is asking from you. If you are focused on something else than you are not focused on God.

 

[Moros]

Addiction is weakness.

 

[jayem]

Substance addiction is a disease. Or at least it's an state of altered brain physiology caused by repeated exposure to certain chemical substances. I don't think there can be any doubt that other addictions, like compulsive gambling, and sexual or pornography addictions must involve some change in the way the brain responds to these stimuli. It becomes an addiction when the drive to obtain such chemical or behavioral stimulation is so strong that it takes precedence over normal activties of daily living. By saying it's a brain disorder doesn't mean there are no moral implications. Addicts do many harmful things to themselves and others in order to get their fix. And even if it is a brain disease, some people may still overcome it by effort of will--voluntarily retraining and focusing themselves to resist their compulsion. But fundamentally, it is has a neurophysiologic basis.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

I believe it is wrong to allow ourselves to become addicted to anything because it destroys our free will, which is a great gift of God.

Having said that, I do not believe that all things that can be addictive should be absolutely avoided. There is nothing wrong in my mind with drinking in moderation, unless we become addicted. The same goes for gambling in moderation. I would even say that, if you ar certain that you can, it may not be immoral to have a cigarette from time to time.

I also think that, once someone is addicted to something, their culpability for commiting it (e.g. masturbation, drugs, drunkeness) is seriously reduced. Of course, this is very serious and help should be sought.

 

[Blackmarch]

Just wondering, what people's opinions are regarding addictions. Not just drug addictions, things like addictions to gambling and stuff apply too. Is there a definitive line that can be drawn between doing something and being addicted to it? Is addiction to anything immoral, and why/not? Should anything that has the potential to be addicting be done (i.e. should gambling be illegal since it causes addiction in some people)?

An addiction to anything is harmful; as you have given up freedoms, and have made it harder for yourself to be able to make choices.

 

[MoonlessNight]

Knowingly becoming addicted to something is wrong. But, of course, most addicts didn't really get that way knowingly.

Addiction is a problem because ir prevents us from clearly judging what we should do. While we might be able to consider the pros and cons of other courses of action, we will do what we are addicted to (and often for no reason other than we are addicted to it) unless we conciously resist it. Now there is nothing immoral about being in a state of addiction, though it would be immoral to not resist a harmful addiction. Now, how immoral that would be is all dependent upon the extent that the person is addicted, because clearly the more you are addicted the less able you are to resist that addiction, and in some cases the addiction is so strong that it may as well be impossible for any of us mortals to resist it. That last case is part of why I support outside intervention in cases of addiction, often its the only way that the person is going to get their life sorted out.

As for avoiding things that have the potential to become addicting, I think that it is only necessary if you know that there is a strong risk of you becoming addicted. So while there is no problem with someone responsibly gambling from time to time for some fun, there would be a problem with someone from a family with a strong history of alchoholism deciding to drink to the point of getting drunk (and they probably should be wary about drinking at all.)

 

[VMOS]

you're addicted if you can't give it up
as for laws against addictive stuff, that's impossible, because almost anything has the potential to be addictive.
The only things I've ever been addicted to are coca cola and chocolate, giving up the coke was really difficult, I'm still on the chocolate but as for gambling, drugs, alcohol, tried them all and didn't see what the fuss was about

here's a thought, are you addicted to praying? how long could you go without it? a day? a week? can you get gum for it?

 

[Niemand3D]

Addiction is a form of losing 'self-control'. Self-control is an attribute that we're taught to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Should people avoid what may be addictive? That depends on what you refer to.

 

[Ledifni]

Making someone into an addict in cold blood (dealers come to mind) is illegal. Becoming a criminal to finance your substance is immoral. But as long as you only hurt yourself, well, it's your life.
Of course, when does the addict harm others? If, say, his loved ones feel pain seeing him going down the path of addiction, can he be said to "hurt" them? Good question. Aaaah, that's life... never as easy as you (want to) think...

I would say that when your choices cause pain to your loved ones, that does not necessarily mean they are immoral. It is one of the facts of life that we all make choices that pain our loved ones. My loved ones are pained that I am an atheist, for example.

There is, of course, certain consideration that one should give to the pain one causes loved ones. However, to say that we are "hurting" our loved ones in an immoral way whenever our choices are hard for them to accept is to say that we should never disagree with those who are close to us. That is an impossible requirement, and a bad one; ideally, we would all grow intellectually beyond our predecessors, so even though our choices may be bad ones, it wouldn't be reasonable or right to say that it's immoral to make them simply because people we love may disagree.

 

[Niemand3D]

I'm unsure how our choice of faith or lack there of can be considered an addiction.

 

[Blackmarch]

you're addicted if you can't give it up
as for laws against addictive stuff, that's impossible, because almost anything has the potential to be addictive.
The only things I've ever been addicted to are coca cola and chocolate, giving up the coke was really difficult, I'm still on the chocolate but as for gambling, drugs, alcohol, tried them all and didn't see what the fuss was about

here's a thought, are you addicted to praying? how long could you go without it? a day? a week? can you get gum for it?

interesting, although if there was to be something to be addicted to, one would prefer that it be prayer. Currently it's easier to put off prayer than pray so it's not an addiction for me.

 

[Ledifni]

I'm unsure how our choice of faith or lack there of can be considered an addiction.

Are you talking to me? If so -- I didn't say it was an addiction. I said it was a choice that pains my loved ones. I'm talking about choices in general and whether it is morally acceptable to make choices (including choices that lead to addiction) that pain our loved ones.

Are you trying to say that choices that lead to addiction are fundamentally different from other choices in some way, such that it is wrong to make them if the possibility of addiction might pain our loves ones?

 

[Niemand3D]

There is no question that our 'choices' have consequences. Our choice can cause others pain as well. As for the 'moral acceptability' of our choices, we make them typically because we deem our decision above its reprocussions.Choices of addictions or others all have consequences, but the morality of them are each different. Choosing to physically hurt one's self or others by our choices are wrong period, whether we're talking about an addiction or not. As for mental pains, well... that's certainly an entirely different topic from the OP.

 

[Ledifni]

There is no question that our 'choices' have consequences. Our choice can cause others pain as well. As for the 'moral acceptability' of our choices, we make them typically because we deem our decision above its reprocussions.Choices of addictions or others all have consequences, but the morality of them are each different. Choosing to physically hurt one's self or others by our choices are wrong period, whether we're talking about an addiction or not. As for mental pains, well... that's certainly an entirely different topic from the OP.

A different topic from the OP, perhaps; but tocis brought up the point that our loved ones might be pained to see us fall into things that we become addicted to. I was addressing that point specifically, as I quoted in the first post I made here. As I explained in my post, I think that "my loved ones will be upset if I make this choice" is insufficient reason to decide not to make that choice. It is a consideration, certainly, but not an overriding one.

Do you want to address something I said specifically? If not, then... I'm not sure what to say to you. You seem to object to my post but I can't see how your objections have anything to do with what I'm saying.

 

[Niemand3D]

A different topic from the OP, perhaps; but tocis brought up the point that our loved ones might be pained to see us fall into things that we become addicted to. I was addressing that point specifically, as I quoted in the first post I made here.

Since we originally agree that a religous choice is not an addiction, we have no difference of opinion. My apologies for any misunderstanding. If we're talking drugs, stealing, or such, then we're on the same sheet of music.