Addiction can be defined as “the state of being enslaved to or dependent on something habitually or compulsively.” Some people argue that addiction is not an illness because it can be influenced by personal choice. However, addiction has many similarities to illnesses. Such as bipolar disorder and depression, which are considered diseases. Whether substance abuse should be classified as a disease depends on how you define what constitutes a disease.
Is Addiction a Disease Or an Illness?
Addiction is a disease that causes illness because it is a condition that results in abnormal functioning of the body. Addiction is a disease because it alters the brain’s circuitry. It is an illness because it has negative consequences for the addict’s physical, mental, and social health.
Substance abuse is a disease of the brain because the addiction process involves changes in the way that nerve cells communicate with each other. These changes can persist long after an addict has stopped using drugs, and they may contribute to relapse.
Is Drug Addiction a Disease?
Drug addiction is a chronic and relapsing disorder characterized by drug seeking and use. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), addiction is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Addiction belongs in the addiction and related disorders section of the manual.
A recent study found that addiction develops from three core behaviors: binge drinking, drug addiction, and eating disorders. These risky behaviors are referred to as “gateway” behaviors because they lead to other addictive behaviors. It is estimated that it takes several years for addiction to progress from an occasional recreational behavior into a substance dependency.
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder that leads to significant impairment in social and occupational functioning. Drug addiction is a brain disease because addiction hijacks the brain’s reward system. Which makes drugs more important than anything else in the addict’s life. The addict will continue using drugs even when faced with negative consequences.
Why is Addiction Considered a Disease?
Addiction is considered to be a disease because it meets two of the three key criteria for disease. It causes harm to the individual and it results in dysfunction. Substance abuse often causes a great deal of harm to the addict, both physically and psychologically. Leading to a wide range of dysfunctional behaviors.
Why is Addiction a Disease of the Brain?
The addiction process involves changes in the way that nerve cells communicate with each other. These changes can persist long after an addict has stopped using drugs, and they may contribute to relapse. Addiction is a disease because it alters the brain’s circuitry. It is an illness because it has negative consequences for the addict’s physical, mental, and social health.
If you would like to find out more information about addictions, its signs & symptoms visit our blog on What is Addiction: Types, Signs and Symptoms and Effective Treatment
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