[Stu Cohen]

I don't think you can use one to prove/disprove the other, or to equate the two. That being alcoholism (a disease) & homosexuality (physiology). Mind you, this is just my opinion.

I understand. My point is just that we hear that there is a "gene" for just about everything and this and that is "hereditary".

It would be easy to pick and choose what "genes" we believe in, but in my opinion, people are able make their own decisions. Maybe there is a "crack gene" and a "methamphetamine gene" too. Who knows. But you can either use it or not. A disease implies the lack of a substance would kill or hurt you (like insulin to a diabetic, or thyroxin to a thyroid patient). Drug use just doesn't meet that definition, since not using the drug in and of itself will not hurt you.

[Puppage]

Maybe there is a "crack gene" and a "methamphetamine gene" too. Who knows

That's a valid point

A disease implies the lack of a substance would kill or hurt you

Yes, but there's also mental disease is there not?

Lack of a substance in that case would not kill one because the disease is not for lack of a drug, ie crack, alcohol, etc. However, one could argue that the mental disease is due to a chemical imbalance yet those chemicals are not street drugs or alcohol.

[TKDietz]

"Drug use just doesn't meet that definition, since not using the drug in and of itself will not hurt you."

Stu, that isn't really true in all cases. Especially with opiates and certain other drugs, if a hardcore addict just quits cold turkey there is a real risk of death. That's why doctors tend to try to slowly reduce the doses when they have someone on heavy duty opiate type drugs for an extended period.