| Comment | This is an astute post, thank you.
I think the term abuse should be defined by whether or not it is having a detrimental affect on the individuals ability to meet their needs and the needs of any dependents they may have. I think alcohol is a huge problem; particularly binge-drinking - but, if binge-drinking isn't damaging the lives of those who participate in that lifestyle in a way where they cannot go to work, earn money, pay their bills etc.. then I fall on the side of thinking that's their choice. When it becomes endemic within the individuals life, when it is debilitating and causing them sever disruption to their ability to live a "normal" life, then that's when specialists should be made available.
I think "abuse" is when the pursuit of the chemical thrill outweighs the pursuit of a stable existence; and as such it falls into a currently ignored section of mental health awareness that we need to expand drastically. |
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