Addiction is Not a Choice

Remember, addiction is not a choice but rather an attempt to escape suffering temporarily.

National Addiction and Recovery Awareness month is upon us. September is a time to raise awareness, educate ourselves and one another, reduce stigma, share our experiences, and provide support to our community members affected by addiction.

According to Dr. Gabor Mate who is a Canadian physician, addiction and trauma expert, author, and speaker, “Addiction is not a choice that anybody makes, it’s not a moral failure, it’s not an ethical lapse, it’s not a weakness of character, it’s not a failure of will which is how our society depicts addiction. Nor is it an inherited brain disease which is how our medical tendency is to see it, but it actually is a response to human suffering […]”

Our brains are wired for survival, so, when we are in pain (emotionally, physically, and/or mentally), we find ways to seek relief. Dr. Mate goes on to say that “it actually is an attempt to escape suffering temporarily.”

We find relief in various ways. Some coping skills are learned and some we discover on our own by what is available to us and what frees us from the pain and suffering in the most effective way. Substance use is one form of coping which can can lead to addiction. An addiction forms when there is an inability to stop doing or using something despite it having negative impacts on our relationships and lives.

Examples of addiction include but are not limited to:

• Substances (alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, nicotine, heroin, cocaine, meth, pills, etc.)
• Self-harming/self-injury
• Gambling
• Sex/porn
• Excessive screentime (gaming/social media)
• Food
• Shopping

An addiction involves complex interactions between brain pathways, genetics, our environment, and our lived experiences, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Our environments and experiences can greatly affect our wellbeing, especially if they are unhealthy, toxic, traumatic and lack support. Discrimination, stereotypes, and stigma worsen our suffering. Such environments include, but are not limited to, a range of experiences from all types of neglect/abuse to racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, and mental health status.

The opposite of addiction is connection. Safe, trusting, consistent, and reliable connections help individuals feel grounded and able to cope through life’s challenges. We can help reduce stigma by using person-first language (Learn more about inclusive language), educating ourselves and others about addiction, raising awareness of recovery, getting involved, and promoting healing and recovery.

If you are interested in reducing stigma, the Turning Point Center of Rutland County is hosting their Stomping out Stigma event on September 7^th, 2024, from 10am-3pm, at Meadow Street Park in Rutland. It is a great event to meet neighbors and friends and to begin your own network of community connections.

For more information about addiction, visit the website for the American Society of Addiction Medicine.