Is Addiction a Disease?

[Htownnofrown]

I've seen a lot of debate on this topic recently and was just wondering how many people had opinions on this. There are a lot of percieved positives and negatives to accepting addiction as a disease, and vice-versa. No one likes to think they are bodily or mentally different from others, and considering addiction a 'chronic disease' carries certain stigma. I remember thinking when I first got clean, "even if I never use drugs again I'll still be an addict?" It didn't make much sense to me.

I've sense got a little perspective on the concept with the help of one of the top addictionologists in Tx, who also happens to be director of the Memorial Hermann Prevention and Recovery Center. This is what he told me: In the human brain there are pleasure centers that are affected by the use of alcohol and drugs. Once a person crosses the threshold of addiction, the pleasure centers are irreversibly changed. They go from looking (on a brain scan) like closed rose buds into looking like open flowers. He told me that currently, science has not been able to achieve a medical "cure" for this, and this is why no matter how long we are sober, the moment we take another drink or drug, we are right back where we left off. There is no more "normal drinking" to be had. All of this has been proven, he told me, in many studies and medical journals and such.

TO ME, I feel like because I can admit and accept that I have a 'chronic disease' is liberating, not condeming. Had it not been a disease that kept me out for so long, it would mean that my addiction was just "me doing what I want". But at some point I wanted to stop, but couldn't. So I know it had to be something deeper.

So what do you think? Is it a disease that can be arrested? or is it cureable?

[gentletumbleweed]

Amen ... I made the choice to use and I made the choice to stop ..... street drugs .... Addiction is a habit ...not a disease ...

[Htownnofrown]

And what I mean by pre-disposition is that, my brain, was not set up like normal people's, to begin with. From the very first time I used drugs and alcohol, my brain reacted differently than the average non-addict. I wanted more. Despite even feeling somewhat uncomfortable and out of control, my brain told me I needed another one. Take another couple of shots, another couple of hits. That was my pre-disposition. Normal drinkers have a few and then stop, they are not compelled to go untill they black out or pass out.

Either way, the important thing is that you dont give up on recovery.

[Htownnofrown]

I can understand what you mean about inflicting it on ourselves, but addiction is not the only disease that works that way. A large portion of Americans are genetically pre-disposed to develope heart disease, and if they do not eat right, they may get full blown heart disease. It is the same way with addiction. Some are more likely to develope addiction if they abuse drugs. It is cause and effect. If I eat poorly, I might develope a heart disease. If I smoke, I might get cancer. If I abuse drugs, I might become addicted. It doesn't take away my accountability, because it was my actions that allowed for the pre-disposition to become active.

My biggest point I wanted to make to you though, was that giving up is not the answer. You said you have to accept that you will want them till the day you die, that is most certainly not the case. I have been sober right at 13 months, and I have not had the urge to use or a craving for a very long time, thanks to my AA/NA aftercare and other support systems. A lot of people in those meetings like to say something like "don't give up right before the miracle happens". This is so very true. I had almost resigned myself to the life I was living untill I got help and it changed my life entirely. We can do this, myself and many others in the forum are living proof.

[my_mayberry]

i can't believe it's a disease because, for example, if i'd never taken my drug of choice i would never have become an addict to begin with. i believe anyone who takes my drug of choice enough would become addicted....this is why i believe it's damage rather than disease. for me, the term 'disease' removes accountability.

substance abuse in one form or another is far more common than most people know. many people aren't even aware they are abusing substances. alcohol is by far the most abused without people knowing they're abusing it. i had a conversation with an 18 year old boy one time about substance abuse...i asked him what the most commonly abused drug is and his response was 'i don't know....i don't do drugs...'

i said 'alcohol is the most commonly abused drug'...........he didn't have anything to say. he drinks almost every day but doesn't consider it a drug. it's painful just to think about....the delusion that certain abuse is ok because everyone else is doing it.

anyway....i'm not trying to impose my beliefs on anyone. the topic was here and i was talking more to myself than anyone else. i've never given it much thought until i read this post. if perhpas there is a gene that's discovered to cause addiction, i would have a hard time buying into it simply because i don't believe anyone could avoid becoming an addict to heroin or oxy or seconal or nembutal just based on their genes.

i don't believe there is any gene that could tell me to go out and buy heroin and shoot up knowing full well of the dangers. it's a personal choice to do that...and because of that i can't see it as a disease. the mind then undergoes major changes after it becomes addicted...this much is certainly true......and it THEN might be thought of as a disease, but still i would prefer to think of it as damage since it was the result of informed personal choice.

i can not believe anyone is born an alcoholic or heroin addict just based on genes...i think they become it by personal choices....or sometimes just by taking medication for legit purposes. taking meds for pain or anxiety or insomnia are legit reasons, but it doesn't mean you can't become intensely addicted to them.

anyway, these are just my rambling thoughts. i honestly don't think there is a right or wrong view. perhaps the truth is its somewhere inbetween.

[Htownnofrown]

I am a drug addict and an alcoholic who fully believes in the disease concept and I believe that this will not ever change. I can tell you from personal experience that I do not want pills now, do not crave them, I want nothing to do with them. The thought of doing to myself what I used to do over a year ago makes me sick to my stomach now. If we addicts get into recovery, we dont have to feel the pain of addiction. I haven't felt that "need" or "want" for a drug for over 11 months now. I wouldn't trade my recovery for anything in the world, and as a lot of people in AA say in meetings, "Don't give up 5 minutes before the miracle happens."

[Upboutdowns]

I believe alcoholism is a disease. I have seen it passed through generations even when the parent gets sober and isnt drinking when raising the child that becomes. I saw a family with 6 children none became alcoholics except the adopted one and we later found that her mother was a alcoholic.  I have seen people totally addicted to porn. Is that a dis   ease?