Whenever the discussion turns to alcoholism or drug addiction, the word disease is often included in the conversation. Addiction is a life-threatening illness that, left untreated, can lead to disability or death. The American Medical Association (AMA) endorses the proposition that drug dependencies – including alcoholism – are diseases and that their treatment is a legitimate part of medical practice.
There is, however, considerable controversy over whether alcoholism and drug addiction can actually be described as diseases, including one point of view that claims substance abuse is a choice, not a disease. Their research claims that applying the drug-as-disease concept to substance abuse strips the abuser of any responsibility for his or her actions.
These opponents claim a disease cannot be cured by willpower, and that by playing the disease card, the medical community is just transferring the responsibility from the abuser to others. They believe that drug addiction and alcoholism are simply the results of a lack of strength or character. In other words, they say, it is a moral disorder, not a brain disorder.
The National Institute on Drug Addiction (NIDA) is willing to admit that drug abuse, in its infancy, might be a voluntary action. But by the time addiction arrives on the scene, changes in the brain circuitry are already beginning to interfere with a person’s ability to make good decisions and perform appropriate actions. This, in turn, leads to compulsive cravings and bad behavior. In other words, addiction is a brain disease that develops over time as a result of what is initially a self-initiated behavior – that of picking up drugs in the first place and using them to excess.
The AMA says there are five criteria that must be met in order to consider drug abuse as a disease. These include a pattern of symptoms – which alcoholism and drug addiction certainly demonstrate. Other patterns are chronicity (it doesn’t go away, heal spontaneously or go into remission on its own), progression (over time it gets worse), relapse (most addicts can attest to this experience), and ability to be treated (pharmacology and lifestyle changes result in the ability to live without the abused substance).
Regarding alcoholism in particular, the medical association says it is a chronic, lifelong disease and in most cases, the patient is never able to regain the ability to drink in moderation. However, by not consuming alcohol – by means of addiction treatment, 12-step programs or even old-fashioned willpower – the patient can limit and even prevent further complications.
Joining the AMA in the substance abuse-as-a-disease club are the American Hospital Association, the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Social Workers and the American College of Physicians. In addition, the National Institutes of Health and its National Institute on Alcohol and Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) have declared alcoholism as a “chronic, life-long disease.”
What about the argument that alcoholics and drug addicts bring this predicament upon themselves and that substance abuse is no more a disease than train robbery? For one thing, we are all accountable for our actions and we are responsible for our own recovery.
Recognizing addiction as a disease of the brain doesn’t mean the addict is just a victim and is not at fault. On the contrary, substance abusers must participate in their own recovery and must take big-time responsibility for their actions if they are to maintain long-term sobriety.
Having a brain disease does not absolve them of the responsibility for their behavior. That doesn’t mean they are bad people or that they have no morals. Let’s face it, the majority of drug addicts and alcoholics didn’t have addiction in their original game plan. No one who uses cocaine or methamphetamine for the first time expects to become addicted to it. Just like nobody sets out to have a heart attack when they eat fast food. Or establishes a goal to contract lung cancer when they light up their first cigarette at the age of 11.
The outcome is not intentional. The original intent of smoking that first marijuana cigarette wasn’t expected to lead to a tragic full-blown addiction to drugs, but that’s what happened, so let’s move on beyond the disease/not a disease discussion and work on a solution.
And many find the solution is to enter to addiction treatment program, receiving professional counseling or begin attending 12-step meetings. Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach, California, recognizes alcoholism and drug addiction as diseases and has programs that are specific to the addiction you suffer. For more information, call <script type=”text/javascript”>// <![CDATA[
DisplayPhoneText("NNN.NNN.NNNN"); // ]]></script> <noscript>866.725.8565</noscript>.
