Defending the Truth

Reading me wrong...I do believe that chemical addiction is a disability, so I don't discount that it could be used as such.

On the other hand though, I also believe that there are those individuals who are chemically dependant, that use it to their benefit to continue their addictions while letting tax payers pick up their bills.

In otherwords, they're not claiming it in order to seek help to stop their addictions, but claiming it to continue their addictions.

I read online yesterday (AOL or Yahoo) that scientists have developed a vaccine intended to prevent addictions to illicit drugs. Did anybody read that?

No, but I for one would be interested in reading it. Then I could pass the information on to my ex-father-in-law and he could mention it in passing to my son?

I think chemical addiction is a disability. But it's a disability by choice. No one forces anyone to do drugs in the first place. I don't see claiming it as a long term reason for assistance.

Vaccine for drug addiction could offer hope to users - Yahoo! News

Ah, here it is.

I believe that we need to extend compassion to the addict, and even in the demonstration of provisions for any other disability. BUT these have to also have some kind of probation office. And a fair number of times for failure but if they surpass that number, after getting assistance, they need to be discontinued on assistance.

I mean, it is the same as enabling after a certain point, is it not?

OhDear

I will grant you that. But that is part of the disease -- the not wanting to be cured.

It takes great strength of character to look at something in your life that makes you feel great and say, "This thing is destroying my life." And that is true be it alcohol, meth, cheeseburgers or credit cards.

This reminds me of something that occurred between myself and a friend who suffers from depression. (moderate)

I persuaded her to try St. John's Wort for her depression because she was resisting going to the doctor for medication and I thought she might be more open to a natural approach.

She quit taking it after only a couple of weeks but at first would not tell me what she did not like about it.

Her sister and I ganged up on her one day and got her to tell us what she didn't like about it.

She finally said that it made her "feel giddy."

Her sister and I simultaneously and without consulting ahead of time said, "That's called happiness!"

This really doesn't contribute much to the conversation here. I just like telling the story because I find it amusing and because it illustrates how people with emotional disorders often resist any treatment that makes them feel different from what they are used to.

I am also happy to say that she has since gotten a prescription for Wellbutrin from her doctor -- after trying a couple of other drugs that actually made her worse rather than better. The Wellbutrin has made her a much happier person and more capable of coping with life's ups and downs.

Good for her. And what we're talking here, is functional vs non-fuctional alcoholics/drug addicts...In this case, functional addicts choosing to not cure themselves, while also choosing to pose as non-fuctional addicts, so their habits can become full-time obsession...

Illinois was found out to be one of the states that had the highest number of individuals receiving funds for this disability. In otherwords, the largest number of those cashing in under this clause, were abusing the system to gain funds so they didn't have to work.

While people that really needed it, and could have benefited from the help, were being denied because the system was drowing in fraudualant addiction cases.

Take the people I mentioned I knew first hand, who were/are using this reason to not work...There were no underlining physical/mental problems to warrent disability. They were fully capable of working, just didn't/don't want to work.

Because of this loop-hole though, they could use their addiction to their advantage to gain free housing, food, medical, etc. And the worse part was...They were proud of the fact that they were able to use this loop-hole to their advantage? When you watch such a type actually sit there and toast the state with their beer for allowing them to use that to continue their lifestyle, then you get an idea of the mentality I'm trying to explain...

Luckily, Illinois is trying to stamp out this type of abuse. But it's a slow progress and some still slip through the cracks. Now their only problem to trying to get this benefit, is to try and prove another type of disability, making their addiction a secondary contributing factor instead...

Has anybody read the article I posted a link for?