Is Addiction a Disease?
By Emenet Sime
Imagine, consistently feeling like a failure, isolated…worthless…unhappy and unsatisfied with life. Then imagine suddenly you feel amazing…confident, motivated, happy, and ALIVE. It could be food, drugs, alcohol, sex, anything really… you just have finally found something that makes you feel good. A pleasure that is so intense that you would be willing to give up or risk everything and anything just to experience it. This is often how people become addicts. The question is, is battling with addiction as simple as not being able to “say no”? How much of our brain and biology are involved?
There are many misconceptions when it comes to addiction. One of the most common misconceptions is that addiction is a choice that people make. This is false. While the initial decision to misuse a substance may be voluntary, the way a person’s brain reacts to that substance is not. Data show that the brains of addicted individuals tend to display diminished activity in regions linked to inhibitory control, such as the orbitofrontal cortex and cingulate gyrus. (Lilienfeld & Satel, 2019) This means that the user progressively loses control over their initial voluntary behavior to the point that further use becomes acts of compulsion, not choice. Usually addicts know the consequences that come along with facing an addiction. I don’t think that anyone would willing go through the battling with an addiction if it were truly up to them.
Another misconception is that addicts can quit if they really wanted to. It is proven by experts that willpower alone is not enough to overcome an addiction. An addict who is actively drinking or using drugs is not able to make choices about whether or not they will use their drug of choice. Their addiction is in control of the situation. Most addictions include both a physical and emotional dependence. Recovery is nearly impossible unless the individual learns the skills to cope with daily stress and triggers. This is achieved through medically supervised detoxification followed by a long-term rehabilitation program. An example of one of these programs would be Amethyst Recovery Center. On their website you can find a 24/7 hotline phone number, long term residential programs near you, and more details on what they have to offer all guaranteed 100% confidential and private.
Finally, there is the misconception that since addiction is a chronic disease there is no point in seeking help and getting treatment and they cannot be helped. This is far from the truth. However, many addicts believe they have their habit under control. They are in denial about the extent of the problem and fail to seek help before it’s too late. Making sure that we are educated on this topic and do not form judgments can be crucial identifying it and helping those around us get the help they need. It is also believed by many healthcare professionals and researchers that getting an overall better understanding of addiction and educating people (in schools and in health care facilities) about the brain’s role in addiction could help break the stigma surrounding the illness – and encourage individuals to seek help and that’s what is most important after all.
References
Lilienfeld, S. O., & Satel, S. (2019). Casting Light on the Dark Side of Brain Imaging. Is Addiction a Brain Disease?, 13–17. doi: 10.1016/c2017-0-03496-1
Your Journey Starts Here & Now. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://gethelp.amethystrecovery.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwg6b0BRBMEiwANd1_SGvmJqcQmWa5zNLEK2MrSgKgbjXuxiHjNvW9y4-z2Nan2f3Y3XDhMxoC1DkQAvD_BwE
Hardee, J. (2017, May 19). Science Says: Addiction Is a Chronic Disease, Not a Moral Failing. Retrieved from https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/brain-health/science-says-addiction-a-chronic-disease-not-a-moral-failing.
Redmond, J. (2018, August 24). Why Addicts Can't "Just Stop". Retrieved from https://greatoaksrecovery.com/addicts-cant-just-stop/