America and Drug Addiction

While drug addiction can affect behavior in such a way that a person may at times be slightly forced to commit crimes or act in an irresponsible manner, it must be understood that this is still a medical condition relating to actual physical changes in the brain and it is no different, in that sense, from any other chronic medical condition. Telling an addict that they should simply shape up and snap out of it and start living a normal life would be like telling someone with post-polio syndrome to drop their crutches and walk faster to keep up. It is both disrespectful and, sort of, offensive. That being said, the word, addict, has some negative meanings. The majority of society, who does not have personal experience and understanding of what it means to suffer from this  illness, typically has a deep misunderstanding of the subject. There is sometimes a lack of respect for the person suffering from the  disease commonly known as addiction. The addict is often treated as either a bad child or a dangerous criminal. Or both. There needs to be a change in the way society views addiction. There is no moral failing. Addiction is simply a treatable chronic illness