> You can't solve a biological problem with moral judgments and shame.
Sure you can. Addiction is a problem in my family. When it has been overcome is was not by throwing in the towel and saying: "This isn't my fault, I can't help it, I was born this way." But by doing just the opposite: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." ... By taking command of oneself and digging deep for the willpower to overcome.
> There's an FDA-approved drug
No doubt. Perhaps you look forward to the day when people are passive sacks of biochemistry and whenever you want to change what's going on in that sack you do it with chemistry. AstraZeneca to the rescue. As with mandatory vaccines we can look forward to the day when your weekly mandatory injection will include chemical solutions to whatever it is that the government doesn't like about you.
> Some people are born more vulnerable than others.
True. So they have to work harder. I'm dyslexic, I have to work harder when it comes to spelling. I'm left handed, using a drillpress is harder for me. Life is not fair, never has been, never will be.
> Because the science is clear – addiction isn't about moral failure.
Science has nothing to say about moral questions.
> For decades, we've been fed the same tired narrative: addiction is about bad choices, weak willpower, and moral failure.
Actually for the last many decades the older, sterner view has been unfashionable and your 'modern' view has been the orthodoxy: Nobody is responsible for anything. Not addicts for their addiction, not criminals for their crime, not the obese for their weight, not pedophiles for molesting the kids. Ask nothing from anybody, just understand that whatever they do is not their fault. We are all helpless infants held in the tender, loving arms of the government. So don't blame me for disagreeing with you, my brain made me do it ;-)
Hi Ray, thank you for sharing your perspective—it's clear this is an issue you feel deeply about, and I respect the personal experiences that shape your views.
You’re absolutely right that personal responsibility and effort are crucial in overcoming challenges, including addiction. No one is suggesting that we should “throw in the towel” or that willpower has no role in recovery. Rather, the point of the article is that biology and brain structure provide critical context for understanding why addiction is so challenging for some people. Acknowledging these biological factors doesn’t negate personal agency; it enhances our understanding of the tools and strategies individuals might need to succeed.
For example, knowing that hormonal changes or structural differences in the brain can heighten cravings helps us develop more targeted treatments, whether behavioral or medical. This isn't about turning people into "passive sacks of biochemistry," as you put it, but about giving them every possible advantage to reclaim their lives. The science doesn't replace personal effort—it complements it.
I also want to address your concerns about accountability. Recognizing the role of biology in addiction doesn’t mean absolving people of responsibility. It simply shifts the focus from blame to understanding and effective solutions. After all, no one would expect someone with diabetes to overcome their condition through willpower alone, yet they still must take responsibility for managing it with the right tools and support.
Finally, your point about the danger of overreliance on pharmaceuticals is valid—ethical considerations must guide how we use science to help people. But science and compassion aren’t mutually exclusive. They work best when combined.
Thanks again for engaging in this important conversation.
> it's clear this is an issue you feel deeply about
Yes. I've read a few SiFi novels that predict the sort of thing I was ranting about -- we end up as helpless, drugged zombies.
> Rather, the point of the article is that biology and brain structure provide critical context for understanding why addiction is so challenging for some people.
True enough. Perhaps I'm too suspicious, but often there is an agenda attached to such observations. I saw a documentary once that claimed that criminals aren't to blame, their brains are, thus all law enforcement is unfair and all punishment should cease -- not a very good idea.
Anyway you soothe my ruffled mind with your reasonable response, thanks for being more calm than I was ;-)
> You can't solve a biological problem with moral judgments and shame.
Sure you can. Addiction is a problem in my family. When it has been overcome is was not by throwing in the towel and saying: "This isn't my fault, I can't help it, I was born this way." But by doing just the opposite: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." ... By taking command of oneself and digging deep for the willpower to overcome.
> There's an FDA-approved drug
No doubt. Perhaps you look forward to the day when people are passive sacks of biochemistry and whenever you want to change what's going on in that sack you do it with chemistry. AstraZeneca to the rescue. As with mandatory vaccines we can look forward to the day when your weekly mandatory injection will include chemical solutions to whatever it is that the government doesn't like about you.
> Some people are born more vulnerable than others.
True. So they have to work harder. I'm dyslexic, I have to work harder when it comes to spelling. I'm left handed, using a drillpress is harder for me. Life is not fair, never has been, never will be.
> Because the science is clear – addiction isn't about moral failure.
Science has nothing to say about moral questions.
> For decades, we've been fed the same tired narrative: addiction is about bad choices, weak willpower, and moral failure.
Actually for the last many decades the older, sterner view has been unfashionable and your 'modern' view has been the orthodoxy: Nobody is responsible for anything. Not addicts for their addiction, not criminals for their crime, not the obese for their weight, not pedophiles for molesting the kids. Ask nothing from anybody, just understand that whatever they do is not their fault. We are all helpless infants held in the tender, loving arms of the government. So don't blame me for disagreeing with you, my brain made me do it ;-)
Hi Ray, thank you for sharing your perspective—it's clear this is an issue you feel deeply about, and I respect the personal experiences that shape your views.
You’re absolutely right that personal responsibility and effort are crucial in overcoming challenges, including addiction. No one is suggesting that we should “throw in the towel” or that willpower has no role in recovery. Rather, the point of the article is that biology and brain structure provide critical context for understanding why addiction is so challenging for some people. Acknowledging these biological factors doesn’t negate personal agency; it enhances our understanding of the tools and strategies individuals might need to succeed.
For example, knowing that hormonal changes or structural differences in the brain can heighten cravings helps us develop more targeted treatments, whether behavioral or medical. This isn't about turning people into "passive sacks of biochemistry," as you put it, but about giving them every possible advantage to reclaim their lives. The science doesn't replace personal effort—it complements it.
I also want to address your concerns about accountability. Recognizing the role of biology in addiction doesn’t mean absolving people of responsibility. It simply shifts the focus from blame to understanding and effective solutions. After all, no one would expect someone with diabetes to overcome their condition through willpower alone, yet they still must take responsibility for managing it with the right tools and support.
Finally, your point about the danger of overreliance on pharmaceuticals is valid—ethical considerations must guide how we use science to help people. But science and compassion aren’t mutually exclusive. They work best when combined.
Thanks again for engaging in this important conversation.
> it's clear this is an issue you feel deeply about
Yes. I've read a few SiFi novels that predict the sort of thing I was ranting about -- we end up as helpless, drugged zombies.
> Rather, the point of the article is that biology and brain structure provide critical context for understanding why addiction is so challenging for some people.
True enough. Perhaps I'm too suspicious, but often there is an agenda attached to such observations. I saw a documentary once that claimed that criminals aren't to blame, their brains are, thus all law enforcement is unfair and all punishment should cease -- not a very good idea.
Anyway you soothe my ruffled mind with your reasonable response, thanks for being more calm than I was ;-)