Addiction = Disease

[EvianBaby]

I realise this won't be a popular point of view but I'd like to know when we started labelling addictions to alcohol, drugs, etc as diseases. And Why.

To be honest, in my mind it's just a label that excuses the behaviour because it's easier than tackling the problem.

Addictions tear entire families apart because someone continually chooses to take a substance, which is something a cancer sufferer would not have the luxury of. I'm certainly not saying it's an easy choice, I've seen with my own eyes how hard it can be but I really feel like this disease label panders to people who could control it with the right attitude and help.

Just interested to see other peoples views on it really?

[anneasquith]

addiction/disease,,,,,,,,,,,,,, whatever, its a desperate life for the addict and the family/friends.

[flump1]

I think some addictions can be pre-disposed by childhood/ teenage years. Sometimes I read about a case and it seems a tad easier to understand how and why this or that person succumbed. I used to drink a great deal, wine every night , a bottle at least. I managed to stop before the absolute dependancy grabbed me but I must have been pretty close. I don't think addictions should be labelled as disease, more condition.

[Sqad]

;-) ............I agree with you completely.

Disease to me has either 1) abnormality present at birth,2) an infection,3) a malignancy,4) a biochemical disorder 5) an age related problem 6) a genetic predisposition.

To me alcoholism and or drug abuse, doesn't fit into any of my categories as above on present day medical research and hence an addiction is just that..an addiction.....not a disease.

[Zacs-Master]

Addiction is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain—in structure and in function. It's true that for most people, the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary. Over time, however, drug abuse can cause changes to the brain that erode a person's self control and ability to make sound decisions, while sending intense impulses to take drugs

[sunny-dave]

What about other mental health problems then sqad?

Depression, Anxiety, Psychosis are they diseases or not?

To my mind I don't care what the label is, as long as there is treatment available.

[Sqad]

sunny...difficult...although there are biochemical abnormalities in many of the "so called" Mental disorders which would fit into my no4 category.

[Sharingan]

I tend to agree that addictions are an initial choice made by the person, but quickly becomes out of control when the person finds it easier to deal with life with the help of their preferred drug than without it. I don't think it's a disease in the truest sense of the word but I do think that it should be treated with sympathy rather than just labelling the person as a wate of time who makes a conscious decision to behave destructively because for most people it appears to be a coping mechanism.

[daffy654]

I agree with all of your op Evian.

[sunny-dave]

A very interesting topic I think.

I do have some sympathy with EB too (despite my previous post) - I suppose I was just musing on where we draw the line.

What about Obesity? What about Smoking?

[daisya]

I agree too that it should be labelled as a disease but more of a condition. I saw somewhere that they have said some people have an addictive nature (guess that's genetic or built in from birth?) which can kick in at anytime. Maybe it also applies to addiction to shopping, collecting and so on too, you have that sort of nature or not.

[daisya]

@ dave, IMO I don't think obesity can be called addiction but smoking can of course by the nature of the chemicals in cigarettes apparently causing the addiction. I think some people have a tendency towards obesity because of something in their bodies. I have known a family who are extremely lean and skinny who eat much more than average but don't put on an ounce of weight. I feel sure body/genetics can play a part in whether someone gets fat on what they eat or stay slim too. Just an opinion of mine.

[EvianBaby]

SD, in my opinion they are not diseases either.

I'm a smoker. I'm addicted to it. But my addiction is not a disease. Although it could cause a disease.

To call it a disease would to me suggest it's not my fault. I smoke because there's something wrong with me, rather than just making little to no effort to put a stop to it. It's an excuse.

[Old_Geezer]

It's a mental issue isn't it ? Or are only physical issues to be considered diseases ? Perhaps we should bring back Bedlam and it's ilk.

[daisya]

* I meant shouldn't be labelled as a disease.... sorry typo there

[flump1]

Sunny D, I consider smoking and over eating to be an addiction, not a disease. The others you mentioned ...I don't know , disease or condition ??

[daisya]

@ OG I think more towards being born with an addictive nature so I suppose that does concern the brain of course. Trying to go against that condition must be hell when it comes down to will power to help you do it.

[EvianBaby]

It would be interesting to hear from an addict, recovered or otherwise for their opinion on this.

[flump1]

Good question EB I shall follow this one !!

[FredPuli43]

Alcoholism does have a genetic base and so fits sqad's definition of 'disease'. There's been research which has demonstrated the link.

It was previously thought that it ran in families because alcohol dependent parents brought their children up to think that such consumption was normal and so it was a case of nurture, rather than nature, when their child became an alcoholic. I am an alcoholic. Neither of my parents drank to excess; I never saw my father drink more than a couple of drinks, and that rarely, and my mother was virtually teetotal. My grandfather, who died before I was born, died of drink,as I was to discover from my mother, his daughter, who had kept that a secret until she blurted it out when she saw the way I was going. It turns out, from attending AA,from lectures during counselling and from reading up, that I am not unusual in that because the tendency passed down through the generations.

I think of it as like diabetes. Once established it requires constant attention to stop it causing harm. But whatever you call it, it is still fatal if unchecked.

[EvianBaby]

Well, I certainly believe that nurture is a cause. Although of course, not in all cases. As you say, there are plenty of addicts who were raised in near sober homes. However, to suggest that it may be predisposed in your genes, that's something I would need to see some serious evidence to back up.

I do believe that's some people are more susceptible to addiction than others. And of course, once you're sucked in it's hard to get back out but that's not a disease in my eyes.