Addiction–Disease or Behavior?
I thought this article was really interesting. If you had your mind made up about this topic, it really makes you think twice. What do you think?
Many people think they know what addiction is, but despite non-experts’ willingness to opine on its treatment and whether Britney or Lindsay’s rehab was tough enough, the term is still a battleground. Is addiction a disease? A moral weakness? A disorder caused by drug or alcohol use, or a compulsive behavior that can also occur in relation to sex, food and maybe even video games?
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September 4th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Why must it be either/or? There are many aspects of alcoholism that support the disease model: its progressive nature, the genetic predisposition factor, the predictable response to a known cure. And although physiological dependence and tolerance are often present with substance addictions, psychological dependence and tolerance are nearly always present, just as they are with the process addictions. At the same time, there are many habit chains that are part of the practics of alcoholism, that must change in order to remain free of the addiction. The habit part of the addiction is summed up by the AA saying, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got!”
September 7th, 2007 at 11:39 am
I dont really understand why people to continue to not believe in the outcome studies related to addiction treatment?? With decades of documented facts around success of treating addiction, there are still those who don’t validate this.
For this reason I see the real goal is pushing “substance abuse treatment education” to the general public. This would increase awareness of what is really going on and build a movement of understanding.
Until we provide a solution, we are going to continue to get what we are getting!
October 17th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
When I was able to force down my first 3 Schlitz Malt Liquours, I found heaven. The whole in my soul was filled. I didn’t learn this. It was instantaneous!
From a scientific perspective I see alcoholism as a quantitative trait - a number of variables are at play including genetics and environment. I’m not sure the question can ever be answered as it would be unethical to perform the necessary experiments on humans to come to some meaningful conclusions.
It goes back to Dr. Silkworth’s insightful observations that we are dealing with a physical allergy coupled with an obsession of the mind and it usually takes an act of Providence to assist us in getting sober and a complete psychic change for us to stay sober.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Everyone has an opinion so every answer is possible. When addiction is taken away it seems like a disease because of the sickness you go through. The learning part of it is everywhere. That is when I can use any word in the serenity prayer to be strong.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
It is my belief that addiction is infact a disease. A disease which progresses with time, a person addicted never gets cured, however can recovery through total abstinance.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
In my opinion I would say that addiction is a learned behavior. Alcoholism is a disease. The reason that I say addiction is a learned behavior is because the addiction process is as follows. It starts with one’s thoughts, this then turns into one’s feelings, which continues to turn into one’s actions, which then becomes one’s habit’s. Eventually overtime the habits that one acquires will rapidly become full blown alcoholism. There are so many things that people can be addicted to and it all starts with our thoughts. I know for me that becoming addicted to drugs was learned from other people. That is not to place blame on anyone for my behaviors. I am simply saying that once I used I wanted more and I would perform whatever necessary tasks to get them. This is why I say that addiction is a learned behavior.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
In my opinion I would say that addiction is a learned behavior. Alcoholism is a disease. The reason that I say addiction is a learned behavior is because the addiction process is as follows. It starts with one’s thoughts, this then turns into one’s feelings, which continues to turn into one’s actions, which then becomes one’s habit’s. Eventually overtime the habits that one acquires will rapidly become full blown alcoholism. There are so many things that people can be addicted to and it all starts with our thoughts. I know for me that becoming addicted to drugs was learned from other people. That is not to place blame on anyone for my behaviors. I am simply saying that once I used I wanted more and I would perform whatever necessary tasks to get them. This is why I say that addiction is a learned behavior.
December 12th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I do not think drug addiction and alcoholism can be looked at in such a black and white manner. There are many gray areas. Both the disease aspect and learned behavior aspect can play a role. There are many things that factor into drug addiction and alcoholism such as; genetics, environment, drug of choice, family, friends, and much more. Therefore, it is almost always a combination of these that end in addiction. To remove the concept of it being a disease removes the power of the problem, to remove the learned side is to say one doesn’t need to change their environment.
December 13th, 2007 at 10:00 am
I think that alcoholism is a disease but addictive behaviors that go along with alcoholism are learned. I found somethings i liked and continued to do it until it just became how i had to live, I learned to deal with certain things by using alcohol or drugs. It became the only way I knew, but I have now learned other healthy ways to deal with the same things.
December 13th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
There is not a doubt in my mind that I was born with this disease. I come from two parents who are also recovered alcoholics and from as far back as I can remember my behavior shows repeated examples of alcoholism. This behavior wasn’t taught, it came natural to me. Drinking is only a symptom, I can have an obsession over anything and act out if I am not spiritually fit.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Having been raised in alcoholic home, there were many examples of why not to drink. I have stopped asking myself the question of how or why I am an alcoholic. The reality is there is a cure and for me and it is the 12 Steps, and just like any other remedy for an ailment it requires following direction.