Addiction 101- Addiction as Immoral or Sinful Conduct

January 16, 2013 — 4 Comments

While the previous views present ideas that addiction is somehow thrust upon us without our choice (a disease in which we did not ask for, a parent or environment we could not control) the addiction as an immoral or sinful conduct view believes that individuals are free to choose their behaviors. 

Furthermore, since we are free agents when we choose to make good decisions and should be rewarded, and when we choose bad decisions we obviously those people would need to be punish.

In this view, addicts are not considered people who have a disease, or are out of control, but rather drunken lushes and bums who need to get a job.

We hear this point of view ever four years, or daily depending on which 24/7 news outlet you listen to, but I bet you didn’t recognize it until now.  When a politician, president, or preacher comes out and recommends harsher penalties for those people who choose to do drugs and alcohol they are speaking from the view point that addiction is a freely chosen, immoral or sinful conduct.   As if somehow punishment is the cure all for people who choose bad choices.

Does this view have any advantages?

If I am optimistic, two advantages could be argued.

  1. If addiction is only an immoral or sinful act that those people choose to engage in, then it would make sense that addiction would be able to stop on command if those people chose to quit.  This would mean that stopping “Cold Turkey” would work every time.
  2. If addiction is only a spiritual issue, then the remedy would be a spiritual one.  This would lead us to conclude that time spent in prayer, meditation, and reading scriptures alone would lead to a total transformation.  I could view this as an advantage because I believe my Creator is much more powerful than I will ever be. However in my experience, spiritual renewal is only part of the recovery puzzle.

Why can’t they just stop? 

Don’t they care about me?

These questions are hard to answer if we view addiction only as a immoral or sinful conduct.  Addiction is a disease of the entire being and effects us: Biologically, Psychologically, Sociologically, and yes Spiritually.

What have you been taught about addiction as an immoral or sinful conduct? Do you believe an addict has the free choice to abuse drugs or alcohol or are they compelled by something more?  Please engage the community by leaving your thoughts in the Disqus comment section below.

In Uncategorized
permalink

noahcoley

Posts

  • http://www.facebook.com/RPStroud Ryan Stroud

    I know that in my early naïveté I would subscribe to this view. I know realize that it is a disease. I still struggle with understanding it more than a moral issue, and tend to believe that addicts put themselves in ‘infected’ situations which led to this disease. Look forward to learning more about how, as usual I’m wrong.

    • http://twitter.com/noahcoley Noah Coley

      Well you may be usually wrong, but at least you are big enough to admit it (haha). Seriously though, It is a very difficult transition for former Bible nerds like you and I to recognize the mysterious ways God can work in someone. Maybe we were naive and thought “If you just believe the Bible” (he said in his most Fundemental Independent Baptist voice), but God is at work no matter how the treatment is presented.

  • Andy Charnstrom

    There is such guilt associated with addiction–guilt on the part of the addict and guilt on the part of those who love the addict. Although the first use may involve a conscious choice, and even a “guilty” choice, for many the first use is simply the opening of a door that leads to a seemingly-inevitable hell-on-earth. In my opinion (and experience), there is no room, either in the response to the addict or to the family/parent/spouse, for a discussion of fault, morality or guilt. It is both counterproductive and insensitive.

    Thank you for this post and for your blog.

    • http://twitter.com/noahcoley Noah Coley

      Thank you for your insight Andy. I hope you find this space a resource for you and your ministry.