Is addiction a disease?

[Berry Sweet]

What are your thoughts about this?

[Zetsu]

Physically I wouldn't say it is, but mentally yes, mental problems can be contagious.

[Bricktop]

Yup.

[Anonymous]

What are your thoughts about this?

I'll guess yes.

[Anonymous]

What are your thoughts about this?

Yes, in many cases.  I'm aware of a multiplicity of professional opinions among psychologists, psychiatrists, MDs, social workers, people who identify themselves as addicts, and I could drone on about all those opinions, but you didn't ask for that.



So, my own opinion is that while there is such a thing as a purely medical or pharmacological addiction that can be stripped of other trappings, addiction as a primary disease is more complicated, having emotional and spiritual components as well as neurochemical ones.



Addiction occurs in people who are dissatisfied with their own internal state and don't understand how to fix it, so they learn instead to manipulate their neurochemistry.



To an addict, everything becomes about behaviors that manipulate the four or five brain chemicals that cause one to experience happiness, elation, ecstasy, and so on.  Since the brain can make most of these chemicals without having to be chemically stimulated, the ingestion of drugs including alcohol isn't strictly necessary.  This neurochemistry can also be stimulated by many other behaviors such as eating disorders, codependency, compulsive gambling or debting, physical thrill seeking, sexual behaviors including porn, love seeking, and the list goes on.  



A "real addict" can and will move from one addictive behavior to another in order to mediate the discomfort of withdrawal from his primary addiction.

[@realAzhyaAryola]

"Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives."



https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/addiction-science">https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topic ... on-science">https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/addiction-science

[Anonymous]

I've had addictions to alcohol, caffeine, drugs, and tobacco since I was twelve. Addiction aint no disease.

[Anonymous]

I've had addictions to alcohol, caffeine, drugs, and tobacco since I was twelve. Addiction aint no disease.

I read addiction is a disease.

[Anonymous]

addiction as a primary disease is more complicated, having emotional and spiritual components as well as neurochemical ones.



Addiction occurs in people who are dissatisfied with their own internal state and don't understand how to fix it, so they learn instead to manipulate their neurochemistry.

in a nutshell, I would  agree.

[Anonymous]

Addiction isn't always a disease, but it can be. I was physically addicted to alcohol fifteen years ago.

[Anonymous]

Addiction isn't always a disease, but it can be. I was physically addicted to alcohol fifteen years ago.

Alcohol withdrawal is a very temporary thing. Not, that I would know. I do not try to quit. ac_drinks

[Anonymous]

Addiction isn't always a disease, but it can be. I was physically addicted to alcohol fifteen years ago.

That must have been terrible IHJ..



I'm glad you're healed now.

 

[Odinson]

Its a mental illness.. You are not able to live normally without the high..





But I hate it when these speedmonkeys have started to abuse the "illness" factor..



They deserve a very limited amount of sympathy.

[Anonymous]

What are your thoughts about this?

I voted yes.

[Bricktop]

Odd that people view "addiction" as a dependency on chemicals.



There are other forms of addiction that do not involve ingesting drugs and alcohol.