ArguingWAristotleTiff, is it perhaps that you somehow feel that if there is a biological component to addiction, one can feel less "guilty" of having been addicted? I think there is no shame in addiction either way, whether it be psychological or genes. I know how a little partying can, before you know it, turn into a full blown hard drug addiction. I know how something so "taboo" can become "normal" very soon. I know how there can be a paradoxical freedom in using: i felt temporarily free, though while actually I was imprisoned in an addiction. — Wilco Lensink
I apologize for the delay in my response as life has had my immediate attention for a while. First let me welcome you to The Philosophy Forum! Your opening post is very defined and over time you will figure out the bells and whistles of the forum, till then, keep on thinking!
In response to your reply, I took some time to think about what you said about "guilt" which is something I never really equated to addiction. My first addiction was my choice and it was at a time in life when I did not have the responsibility of a family to care for. As far as I have worked through my first addiction, I quit on my own terms, at the time of my own choosing, because I was losing everything I valued and realized that my 'friends' weren't really "friends" but rather people who shared in my addiction so when I went clean in my body, I had to cut off relations with every person who was attached to the habit. I essentially had to start over, from zero. My take away was, that even though I stayed awake for a year and was experiencing the consequences, I lived a LOT in that year and if I had to do over again, I would likely make the same choices. It was a chapter in my life that gave me more "character" as I call the storms I have endured and come out the other side with something positive to compartmentalize that experience with allowing me to move onto the NEXT.
My second addiction didn't have any guilt at ALL attached as I had a Doctor prescribing me my addiction. At this point I did have a family and children to be responsible for but my injury was real as was the healing time. No guilt. Though over the years, I have come across pictures that I am in, but I have very little recollection of but I have a dear best girl friend who has filled in the spaces for me.
I can see the correlation in how a phrase like "predisposition to addiction" could offer some wiggle room when it comes to knowledge becoming a self fulfilling prophecy but I am willing to take that risk.
Is it wrong for me to not feel guilty about having an addiction?
With society as addicted as it is today, I am fairly confident that the exposure to addictive activities will arise, regardless of my warning my Indians or not. I think sharing this knowledge with them opens up a line of communication in regards to addiction.
Overcoming an acute addiction is one hell of a feat, something I personally am proud of and encourage in others. Some addicts fear sobriety more than they do death. So to stare down an addiction within yourself is absolutely an accomplishment but the chances of a relapse is enormous. Many addicts channel their addictive tendencies to another form, when they are stopping an acute addiction.
What is the difference between a habit and an addiction?