Addiction is often connected with the idea of powerlessness, compulsion, or having one’s agency ‘hijacked’. That idea shows up, for example, in the first of Alcoholics Anonymous’s 12 steps:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
AA is an incredibly popular organization. Organizations that take the same approach to addiction, but focus on different objects of addiction – e.g. narcotics, food, sex – are also globally successful. So, the idea that addiction involves powerlessness has resonated with a vast number of people who have first-hand experience of addiction. It deserves to be taken seriously. Should we also take it literally? Well, that depends on working out what it would mean to take it literally. And that turns out not to be obvious.
It might help to focus on this question to have an example in view. Susan is an alcoholic who is having some early success in being abstinent and is slowly putting her life back together. She has constructed a daily routine designed to minimize stressors and triggers for her drinking. Now along comes something to trip her up, the delayed fall-out of her unmanageable past – e.g. a debt or an affair that has just been discovered. The thought of drinking, which has perhaps been a regular unwelcome but fleeting visitor, now impresses itself on her with incredible tenacity. She runs through the script she has developed for this kind of scenario. She takes some deep breaths. She rehearses her reasons not to drink. She contemplates ringing her sponsor, knowing that they will likely offer to come round and escort her to a meeting. At a certain point, she nevertheless succumbs. She drinks. In what sense, if any, was she powerless over alcohol?
Here is a first suggestion. Alcoholics like Susan are powerless over alcohol in the sense that they can’t cause themselves to stop desiring alcohol, simply by deciding that they would be better off not having that desire. If they had that power, staying sober would be much easier than it actually is. This though doesn’t distinguish an alcoholic’s desire for alcohol from anyone’s desire for anything. I might have a mild craving for eating meat this evening. I can’t get rid of that craving, simply by deciding that I’d be better off without it. If I could, making healthy and environmentally sound eating decisions would be much easier than it actually as.
Are Addicts Truly Powerless?
Habits don't reflect desires.
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Arnold Shcwain 24 April 2022
Very useful post about addiction. What you think about game addiction? I think that it exists but in childs. Adults can more control theirselves. If u are gamer and play game because of fun and relax i do recommend you the rndplace to get all the games you want for cheap price. I got gta 5 acc and still happy <3
killer smile 2 September 2021
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coca mary 26 August 2021
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Brown Bee 12 July 2021
Sorry to bother. but i found this game too good so i wanted to share. friday night funkin
Steve Carnes 28 June 2018
For an alternative understanding of "addiction" I would direct you to Stanton Peele's "Recover!"
As he says, and then goes on to scientifically and philosophically support, "For decades you've been told that addiction is an irreversible disease over which you have no control. That defeatist message is not only without scientific foundation, but actually prevents your overcoming addiction."
Alain Savard 15 April 2018
With 5 to 10% sucess rate for AA, this is greatly controversial but interesting read.
BOOKS
The Interview: Does AA fail addicts?
http://www.macleans.ca/society/health/does-alcoholics-anonymous-fail-addicts/
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