Some of us are surprised and confused to learn that what we have is a primary disease of addiction when we first come into recovery. In fact, some people are upset to have this condition characterised as a disease. However, make no mistake about it, the overwhelming evidence is that addiction is an illness within our brains that has all the charateristics of a traditional disease. Yet, some people stubbornly refuse to accept this and either claim it is a deficiency of willpower or merely a symptom of something going on deeper in our psyche. We must not be confused by this.
What is a disease? It can be defined as a condition within the human body in which the normal structure or function of any body part, organ, or system is changed, and that is seen by a characteristic set of typical problems and signs whose start, presentation, and estimate of its future course is known or unknown. This condition can be chronic (occuring regularly for years), incurable and deadly. Sound familiar? If it does, you are seeing addiction for what it is: A condition in which the normal functioning of the brain is changed and that a set of typical problems and signs arise that we do not know the cause for, how it will present in individuals or its future course. It is chronic, incurable and deadly if untreated. It can, like the diseases of the heart or diabetes, be arrested, stopped for a while, so long as daily and consistently treatment takes place.
Notice that we can distinguish between addiction and abuse of all drugs. A person abuses drugs when there are some consequences from their use - some problems that arise in their life - that are directly tied to the using. A DUI from driving when intoxicated, divorce when a spouse leaves due to the drinking, a fatty liver (a precursor to chirrosis), loss of a job, increased depression, etc., are all examples of the kinds of problems that can arise when people abuse a substance.
Addiction (dependence) is different. A person can be said to be addicted to a drug when there is tolerance - it takes more of the drug to get the same effect - or, when there is withdrawal - when the drug is discontinued for a while - or, when the person's life is preoccupied by getting and using the drug that effects major aspects of their life, PLUS the fact that there are problems that come from the using. If a person expriences these things as a result of using, they are said to be addicted.
My own definition for addiction is that a person uses a substance, person, place, thing or situation despite any threat or consequence. This takes in a lot if you think about it. Addiction can be so powerful that it changes the way we think, which is, after all, the fundamental purpose of the brain. It can make us think that drinking or drugging is natural, healthy and necessary for our survival. It can make us use it because of the biological necessity of having it in our system even though there are tremendous consequences.
People who do not know about the disease of addiction can sometimes make the mistake that it is the person themselves who makes the choice to use drugs. This is far from the truth and why many treatments that just focus on the thinking about addiction fail to make lasting changes. In fact, the person who is abusing has choice, but the dependent (addicted) person can no more choose not to drink than they can change their eye color or height. Addiction has become engrained in their brain and willpower has been hijacked, rendered impotent, and ineffecutal in the face of enormous consequences.
So, the next time you see someone who may be addicted as defined above, consider that they need treatment that will help them stop the disease in its tracks and restore willpower to its rightful place within the brain to regulate the person's life.
All the best, Roger W.
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