Addiction Is a Choice
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Product Description
The author refutes the widely held idea that addiction is involuntary, genetically determined, or a physical or mental illness. He offers convincing arguments that "addiction" is a decision made by someone in order to find meaning and purpose in life. He explains why public policies, based on the incorrect beliefs that addiction is a disease or involuntary behaviour, are ineffective and even encourage addiction by allowing people to feel powerless and demoralized about their inability to break the habit. The volume covers all types of addiction, from drugs and alcohol to gambling, smoking, and sex addiction.
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Today, just about everyone believes, or says they believe, that addicts-including regular smokers, heavy drinkers, frequent gamblers, presidents who seduce interns, and people who run up credit card debts-can't help themselves. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Today, just about everyone believes, or says they believe, that addicts-including regular smokers, heavy drinkers, frequent gamblers, presidents who seduce interns, and people who run up credit card debts-can't help themselves. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book deals with "The experience of being human", and the manner in which it suits the practioners of disease model addiction therapy to both identify, and treat the addiction- diseased individual. Jeffrey Shaler puts forth an argument, one which has long been my own, that individuals make choices, and that these choices are directly influenced by a variety of factors, none of which is physiological, medical, or genetic.. The book cites much research and data put forth by the medical/clinical establishment, that is spouted as supposed evidence of a disease based explanation of addiction. However, much of this is exposed as an inability on behalf of the establishment to accept that they might actually be wrong, and that the treatment dished out to so called addicts does in actual fact reinforce the individuals belief that they are weak, cannot control their actions, are sick and in need of trearment. Jeffrey Shayler argues, quite correctly, that human beings make choices, some positive and some negative, and that by informing the individual that they do not have a choice, because they are sick with the disease of addiction, simply reinforces the belief that they dont actually have any choice at all, and therefore can in no way be held responsible for the choices they make. ADDICTION IS A CHOICE is primarily about empowerment of the individual, about informing the addict that they are not sick, or weak, but just human, and as such they are just as able to make a positive choice as a negative one, if they CHOOSE to do so. If you , like me, hold the belief that only individuals can change themselves, and that no amount of treatment can change a person who CHOOSES not to change, then i wholeheartedly recommend this book , with the further recommendation that , while reading i,t you reflect upon the choices that you have made in your own life, and why. I chose to buy this book, and the choice i made was a good one.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Jeffrey Schaler's book is well written and sourced throughout. He makes his argument that addiction isn't caused by a mysterious disease, but that anyone who suffers from an addiction does so because they find pleasure in the use of the substance they are addicted to.
This is a short volume that is packed with useful information. If it had been the only book I read on the subject, I would have given it 5 stars. Instead, though, I've been reading quite a bit on the subject, and found this slender book to be just a bit shy of of the fifth star I awarded some other authors who wrote on this subject.
The truth of the matter is, there have been numerous studies done over the past several decades (many of which Schaler quotes). Not ONE of them have been successful in proving that alcoholism is a disease. Not ONE. Yet, assuming the physicians and organizations that push AA and similar 12 step treatment are at all well-read (and, I assumed so; I mean, they were the 'experts'), they still push this alcoholism as disease concept! If they don't read the current journals and books, why are they in their posts? Is it the massive amount of money poured into the treatment centers? Is it really a benevolent action to encourage (or, in some cases mandate) those with addictions to enter treatment or AA when ALL of the evidence has proven that it really doesn't work? Sometimes, believe it or not, the evidence has shown that AA and 12 step treatment is, in fact, MORE detrimental than no program at all. As confusing as that sounds, imagine being told every day that you are powerless, lack any control, are not responsible for your desire to imbibe, etc. Those that are indoctrinated with this belief system obviously believe they are diseased, permanently sick, permanently and forever in need of meetings, permanently and forever believe they have no control over their behavior, permanently and forever believe they have no power. In fact, they are told and believe that they will ALWAYS be in a permanent state of "recovery". That being "recovered" is nonsensical and elusive. . . their state, always, is "in" recovery-- they will NEVER be better. They will ALWAYS be labeled as an addict or alcoholic. Imagine having that label for the rest of your life.
Additionally, what makes the most sense? If one is trying to eliminate their addiction, does it make sense to hang out pretty much exclusively with other addicts and alcoholics on a daily basis? Or, does it make sense to hang out with those that have healthy balanced lives and don't "need a meeting" on a daily or almost daily basis? Common sense tells us that to BE healthy, one must have balance in their daily lives. Work, family, recreation, etc. How can this take place when AA members are encouraged to attend daily meetings (it's considered a badge of honor to attend meetings daily, or even two to three meetings daily!), to read only AA "literature" (ugh. I use the word literature, because that's what they call it! Did you ever critically read this material? I wouldn't call anything AA or Bill W. has put out 'literature'), to talk to an alcoholic daily, to do service (help other alcoholics), etc.
There is no balance in this type of life. It's indoctrination and brainwashing. Furthermore, it has been proven NOT to be successful. Other more effective ways to curb addiction has been discovered and it is a shame that the very people we've entrusted to help those struggling with their addictions are pushing an outmoded, proven-not-to-work, decades old bit of folklore.
This is a short volume that is packed with useful information. If it had been the only book I read on the subject, I would have given it 5 stars. Instead, though, I've been reading quite a bit on the subject, and found this slender book to be just a bit shy of of the fifth star I awarded some other authors who wrote on this subject.
The truth of the matter is, there have been numerous studies done over the past several decades (many of which Schaler quotes). Not ONE of them have been successful in proving that alcoholism is a disease. Not ONE. Yet, assuming the physicians and organizations that push AA and similar 12 step treatment are at all well-read (and, I assumed so; I mean, they were the 'experts'), they still push this alcoholism as disease concept! If they don't read the current journals and books, why are they in their posts? Is it the massive amount of money poured into the treatment centers? Is it really a benevolent action to encourage (or, in some cases mandate) those with addictions to enter treatment or AA when ALL of the evidence has proven that it really doesn't work? Sometimes, believe it or not, the evidence has shown that AA and 12 step treatment is, in fact, MORE detrimental than no program at all. As confusing as that sounds, imagine being told every day that you are powerless, lack any control, are not responsible for your desire to imbibe, etc. Those that are indoctrinated with this belief system obviously believe they are diseased, permanently sick, permanently and forever in need of meetings, permanently and forever believe they have no control over their behavior, permanently and forever believe they have no power. In fact, they are told and believe that they will ALWAYS be in a permanent state of "recovery". That being "recovered" is nonsensical and elusive. . . their state, always, is "in" recovery-- they will NEVER be better. They will ALWAYS be labeled as an addict or alcoholic. Imagine having that label for the rest of your life.
Additionally, what makes the most sense? If one is trying to eliminate their addiction, does it make sense to hang out pretty much exclusively with other addicts and alcoholics on a daily basis? Or, does it make sense to hang out with those that have healthy balanced lives and don't "need a meeting" on a daily or almost daily basis? Common sense tells us that to BE healthy, one must have balance in their daily lives. Work, family, recreation, etc. How can this take place when AA members are encouraged to attend daily meetings (it's considered a badge of honor to attend meetings daily, or even two to three meetings daily!), to read only AA "literature" (ugh. I use the word literature, because that's what they call it! Did you ever critically read this material? I wouldn't call anything AA or Bill W. has put out 'literature'), to talk to an alcoholic daily, to do service (help other alcoholics), etc.
There is no balance in this type of life. It's indoctrination and brainwashing. Furthermore, it has been proven NOT to be successful. Other more effective ways to curb addiction has been discovered and it is a shame that the very people we've entrusted to help those struggling with their addictions are pushing an outmoded, proven-not-to-work, decades old bit of folklore.
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
this is a very unusual read with the ideas expressed being interesting and well thought out. However, too much of this book is devoted to the author slating self help organisations in a way which starts to sound almost bitter towards the end. I must also point out that this book is written from an almost entirely american point of view.
It is of amusement to me that the main point of the book seems to be that "treatment" for drug users on the whole does not work. I am currently employed within the substance misuse field working with drug users and I find it very hard to disagree with that statement!
worth reading.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ignorant, obsessive, outdated.
Schaler is a man with an axe to grind, who turns scientific method on its head. Instead of approaching this issue with an open mind and basing his conclusions on the careful... Read more
Published on 18 April 2008 by Arthur Pound
bold critique
A good all round alternative view on addiction, however, criticisms appear somewhat harsh in places. If your view is pro-disease then prepare to be insulted. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2006
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