Answer by Collene Helps

While it may be true that many people did make a choice to use drugs, drink, gamble etc. the last stage in which dependency occurs involves no free will. Addiction is not a choice. Compulsive behaviour is called compulsive because it is uncontrollable and even though people may want to stop they often are not able to.

The disease concept allows the addicted person to realise that they are not bad or weak willed and by getting into a process of recovery – in which the addiction is arrested - they have an opportunity to learn about themselves and their behaviours. The only responsibility is for to them make amends for the harm they have caused and to stay in a process of recovery.

Once in recovery the addicted person is faced with a choice: either stay in a process of recovery or return to active addiction. Responsibility and accountability come with recovery. If the person returns to active addiction they usually blame others, make excuses for their behaviour and use their circumstances as a reason to use. In recovery people realise that they need to understand their disease and the ways in which it can manifest. They then have to make healthy and appropriate choices. There is no one and no circumstance that is excuse enough to use.