Let’s Talk Addiction

~ sophienaylor1

Hi loves.

Today, I want to talk about something widely discussed throughout society. It’s something people have varied opinions on, some I passionately disagree with. It’s something millions of people across the globe suffer with: Addiction. Particularly, drug addiction.

The main myths about addiction is that it’s a choice, which certainly isn’t true. Why would anyone choose to feel they need something that damages them so badly? The dictionary definition of addiction is ‘The inability to stop doing or using something, especially something harmful.’ When someone has a drug addiction, it feels impossible for them to stop taking that drug. The person often feels they have no control over their own actions anymore, as the drug has taken that control away from them. Does that sound like a choice to you?

According to DrugWise, around 1 in 11 people aged 16-59 have taken a drug in the past year. I’m not here to tell people what to do, as long as someone is safe taking a drug I personally believe it’s their own personal choice, however any one of those people could become addicted. Drug addiction is so much more common that people tend to think, and it’s devastating to the victim and those around them.

Did you know, according to Addiction Helper, that in 2001 it was estimated that in England 118,500 people received help from drug misuse services to help fight addiction? Many of these people are ashamed of their addiction, which isn’t helped by the stigma society creates around addiction. 118,500 people just in England alone is a whole lot of people. If anyone with an addiction happens to be reading this, I want you to know you are not alone. There are thousands of people out there suffering with the same illness as you, not to mention the people who haven’t sought help due to factors such as feeling ashamed/embarrassed, or not knowing how/where to go to get help.

We need to fight the stigma around addiction. It could happen to any of us. It’s a disease, and the victim needs as much help and support from professionals and general society as possible.

Nobody wants to have an addiction.

Addiction is not a choice.

Lots of love,

Soph. xx

Published by sophienaylor1

15 thoughts on “Let’s Talk Addiction”

  1. Loved reading this one. It’s such an important topic. I hate when people say addiction is a choice, it’s 100% not, whether that’s drugs or something else. There definitely needs to be less stigma around it ❤️ xx

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  3. On a similar note, sugar addiction is certainly not a choice, especially if it’s linked to a candida overgrowth. I think that refined sugar should be considered a drug. There’s sugar in everything and it’s hard to avoid in the western world. For anyone who doesn’t take meds, think of sugar, and consider how addicted you may be to it.

    For those who need to take prescribed medication, I feel for them. I used to look down at people who took a laundry list of meds until I was prescribed antidepressants a couple months ago. I take a low-dose (half-dose) antidepressant which I think I’ve built a tolerance to. I am very moody and still very depressed. However, I refuse to increase the dose because of addiction risk or stop it completely due to high risk of relapse with this drug. Lately I’ve also been experiencing vertigo and idk if it’s due to the low dose hormonal-pill I’m on, since I can’t take the typical combined one. Drugs are scary because I have 0 control over the unwanted side effects, and I feel like I’m being controlled by substances and neurotransmitters in my brain rather than being able to make my own choices. If I could quit both meds, I would. I miss the days when I was medication-free.

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    1. I definitely agree sugar should be considered a drug! It’s so addictive and dangerous. Personally, I feel prescribed medication can be life saving and needed, but there are definitely negative side effects and withdrawal symptoms patients need to be fully informed and aware of. Thanks so much for your informative comment! 🙂 x

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  4. Shall we call it as on obsession? Drugs addiction or obsession, is a ritual act of escaping from anxiety or stress. Current lifestyle of people is keeping them stressed and anxious to escape from it they get addicted to such drugs. All they need is switch their lifestyle and to a peaceful job/family/location. It is not a choice, There are other options where fail to look at. Good Post✨👏 Well written ✨👌

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    1. I personally feel it goes a little further than obsession as often it’s not just a mental matter, however it’s definitely similar to obsession! The addiction often manifests itself physically, hence why people get such awful withdrawal symptoms. People facing addiction usually require some professional help – professional help they’re often not receiving. Thanks for your comment! 🙂 x

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  5. Never truer words: addition is not a choice. This was an interesting post and I suggest, if you haven’t already, that you check out Juno Dawson’s novel Clean which tackles addiction head-on in the novel and is a book which I feel portrays addition in a truthful light.

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  7. Great post! This is an important subject and one that always surprises me—in the sense that it seems like it should be common knowledge that addiction is never a choice. Thank you for sharing and bringing awareness to a topic that should be approached with empathy and understanding.

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