Addiction isn’t a Moral Weakness
Addiction isn’t a moral weakness, a lack of resolve, or a refusal to stop. This discovery is the result of decades of research on the effects they may have trouble deciding what is right and wrong because the parts of their brains that process morality and evaluate emotions have been damaged by long-term drug use. substance usage on the brain. Individuals who consume alcohol or drugs for the first time do so deliberately and believe they can control their consumption.
Moral responsibility was found to be lower when addiction was related to diseases and disorders, such as defective brain processes, but increased when addiction was associated with agency and addictive behaviors. Individuals who use drugs are seen as more dangerous and blameworthy by people who don’t know them than people who have mental health problems or physical disabilities.
We have seen that when addiction was linked to diseases and disorders like faulty brain processes, attributions of moral responsibility were lower, and when addiction was linked to agency and addictive behaviors, they were higher.
Morals in the Early Stages
When a person is first beginning to experiment with drugs, he or she has a lot of freedom of choice. Before the drug really takes over and the user loses control, most people have to use it for a long time.
This early in the process, morality is a factor. It is up to the person whether or not he participates in drug use. If such is the case, then his morals—or lack thereof—come into play.
Someone who has a strong moral compass, high self-esteem, specific life goals, and an enjoyable way of life is much less likely to turn to drugs or alcohol when given the opportunity.
Recovering addicts need a huge improvement in life skills, particularly the ability to make right and moral decisions, during rehabilitation.
Personal integrity and how to recover it are taught as part of our rehabilitation program, as well as problem-solving skills that can help a person achieve greater success in life.
How Does Addiction Change the Brain?
