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Is it my fault for being an addict?

20 Answers
Last Updated: 09/08/2020 at 12:32am
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United States
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Andrea Tuck, LCPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

I tackle and discuss a multitude of social and emotional health issues. I have a belief that through empowerment and non-judgmental support clients' can thrive.

Top Rated Answers
Wideawake4Life
October 23rd, 2014 5:55pm
No. It is not your fault for being an addict. You are not to blame for your desire to feel good by using a substance or behavior. Addiction is a desire to feel good. Having a desire to feel good is not a negative thing. You are not responsible for having a desire to feel good. However, you are responsible for not hurting yourself or others through fulfilling your desire. For example, you like the taste of alcohol because the taste is good and perhaps it gives you a little "buzz". But when the desire for alcohol becomes so great that it cause you to drink excessively and perhaps to do behaviors which endanger yourself and/or others. Then you might become aware that you cannot control your desire and addiction to alcohol. It is not your fault that you are an alcoholic however you are responsible for any negative behavior while you are under the influence of alcohol.
Journey
November 6th, 2014 1:27am
Is it your fault for being an addict? No, absolutely not. I am an alcoholic (sober for 12 years now), so I'm an addict myself. There I was, slowly destroying my life, and I was being driven insane by the guilt of thinking it was my fault, and therefore I was scum. I mean, why didn't I JUST STOP? But I couldn't make that choice to stop even though I was horrified by what I was doing. When I finally got to rehab and began to learn more about what addiction was, it was like a huge weight melting from my shoulders. I learned about the origins and causes of addiction, and you know what? There are observable and measurable differences between the brains of addicts and non-addicts. Addiction is not a moral failing, and it's not your fault... it is a medical condition that is treatable. :)
ent
November 3rd, 2014 2:36pm
well it's not your fault technically as the thing you abuse has a addicting capability in it. but you're at fault if you enable this habit and not to anything about it .
CanadaHelpsTheWorld
January 2nd, 2015 10:48am
It is often personal choices we make that lead us down the road to becoming an addict but it is counter productive to blame ones self for becoming an addict. In my mind it does not matter if it is personal fault or not, only that steps are taken in the right direction to make the problem better.
Anonymous
April 17th, 2015 8:03pm
Not at all. Addiction is never on purpose, and I can't recall a case when an individual went into something planning to come out an addict. Addiction happens to the best of us, and it can be one of the hardest things to overcome, but that is NOT your fault.
KACOSMIC
September 8th, 2020 12:32am
It is not your fault for being an addict. Addiction is not a choice. Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by the search for and use of drugs that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite the harmful consequences. Every addiction is an attempt to alleviate the pain of an existing hole in the soul, it is an attempt to fill the absence of something, something that hurts and that, many times, we are not even aware of this pain. Addiction is not a choice but a consequence or symptom of something previous, which we do not choose. Or have you ever seen someone wake up and say, "Today, I decided that I want to become addicted to something"? Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs have no moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to do so. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and giving up usually requires more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make giving up difficult, even for those who want to.
itsoktonotbeok1
April 18th, 2017 6:32pm
no it is not your fault. you only wanted to get away and that was the only way you knew how don't blame yourself for making a mistake we all do we just have to find a way to make it better even if it will be hard for us.
farawayforever
August 17th, 2015 11:16am
Addictions are often coping mechanisms which help the addict deal with certain things in their life. With minimal support, addicts are left behind and blamed for their addictions. With enough support and help available to the addict, the addiction will decrease
NoNeedToFearHayleyIsHere
October 30th, 2014 4:32am
No it is not. Most of the time being an addict comes from a string of addictive DNA. You can't pick what your DNA is, therefor; you can't control whether of not you're an addict.
Originalsky777
November 7th, 2017 11:12am
There's all types of reasons fall into addiction so it's not always your fault you become an addict as there's so many different types of addiction
FeelTheRainDontGetWet
November 11th, 2019 1:46am
as on everything on life, it is always a personal choice, but there is always reasons to do something, mostly started because of trying to call parents attention after them not acknowledging all the good stuff we do, as well just criticize things we do, this falls to be a lack of comprehension making us try to hurt them in a way ending up hurting ourself by abusing of substances that affect our mind, trying to escape reality because of not accepting the judgments of others when actually we are the only ones who really judge ourselves
Bobofromnl
June 16th, 2020 7:45am
Definitely not, not at all. No one becomes addicted because they want to its always you trying to change your brain chemistry so you can get through the days. Addiction is often seen as a form of self-medication allowing you to deal with whatever is going on in your life. That is not to say that this is a good way of dealing with things, its often super destructive and can do a lot of harm. I think the best way to think about it is that you are in pain and that you are trying to find a cure for that pain and addictive substances do that. Stopping with addiction can be very difficult but there are great programs and people who can help you not only stop the addiction but also deal with what made you reach out to that addiction in the first place. You are not alone
wonderousSunshine52
November 5th, 2014 5:56pm
no addiction is a disease that is curable. if you cure yourself and relapse then you must find better coping skills for your stress to become a stronger individual.
SeriousPanda
November 13th, 2014 9:32am
Of course it's not. Being an addict is the result of experiences and genetics, much like every psychological condition. The reasons that one can fall prey to drugs are endless and range from family problems and experiences to social acceptance and role. The drug user needs to feel accepted and supported in order to overcome his problem and after alot of effort, be back at his feet.
Extremeties
December 28th, 2014 4:48am
No, it is never your fault for being an addict, majority of the time addicts were pressured into doing drugs or simply taking alcohol.
Anonymous
November 2nd, 2014 7:40pm
Yes and no :) If you realise you have a problem( what ever kind) and avoid to solve than it is.,BUT if you are asking , googling and thinking about it than you are on the right track and it is NOT. Things happen intentionally or spontaneously please don't beat you self over the past, i was there and it serves you no good. All you have is present , if you think everything is fine than great. But when you realise you have any problem or any situation is not serving you than its up to you to figure it out and beat it . Does it really matter ? fix the problem or enjoy it . Much love & good luck :)
joyfulForest37
November 2nd, 2014 5:52am
definately not! various situtaions and experiences led to you being where you are today its what you do from here on in thats makes you
Anonymous
May 24th, 2015 1:21am
It could be fault of much reasons, most common one i guess is having problems with your family, you could say that peobably on one put a gun in our head a say start being a addict but people use it to try and forget problems, a bad idea in my opinion, is better to try and keep going without using any kind of drugs, but not everyone thinks the same
Anonymous
May 30th, 2015 6:39am
No. it's not your fault for being an addict, you are never to blame for your actions to feel good by a substance or any bad behavior to addiction. makes you feel good, and feeling good isn't a bad thing, you're not responsible for having a good feeling while using these substances. If you like the taste and "Buzz" that's alright, if the feeling becomes to powerful where it's occurring in you life, and you can't control that and you desire to drink is okay. Its not your fault your'e an addict, but you are responsible for any illegal behavior under the sides of alcohol.
mandamn30
October 29th, 2014 8:42am
I don't think so. Surely someone influenced to get into all this so no it is not your fault....