Addiction. It’s something will touch most of us at some point in our lives, be it personally or through someone we know or love. It’s an awful disease that so many people struggle to overcome, but after years of research and study we’ve at least come to understand it better.
So why are there people who insist on calling addiction a ‘choice’ rather than a disease?
In a recent appearance on the British show ‘Newsnight’, former ‘Friends’ star Mathew Perry went head to head with journalist Peter Hitchens over this issue. Hitchens, who is an anti-drug campaigner and is about to release a book on the subject, described addiction as a ‘fantasy’.
However, former addict Perry, who checked himself into rehab twice while playing Chandler Bing on Friends, spoke openly of his struggles and wouldn’t have a bar of it, telling Hitchens: “You’re making a point as ludicrous as saying Peter Pan was real”.
Nailed it, Matthew Perry. Nailed it.
Top Comments
Everyone should be accountable for their choices. I agree that willpower is the key! Furthermore if people are too scared to try drugs (due to legal implications) then maybe they would never have the chance to become addicted!
I can understand why Perry was being purile but he definitely did not nail it. What Hitchens was saying is tripe and is akin to saying mental illness does not exist. Like with eating disorders, anxiety and depression to engage in cognitive therapy you have to be willing to keep persisting and try and change thought patterns or behaviours, but no one makes an active choice to do what is going to hurt them. There is research investigating the link between OCD and gambling addiction and that's not even a chemical substance which affects your body thus leading to addiction. Though someone who has suffered drug addiction needs to be represented on a panel such is this, Perry could not argue objectively (and though I understand why), vehemence and name calling doesn't prove your point, even if it is correct. It's good to raise awareness on these issues but Perey should not be being hailed as a hero because of it.