Is Addiction A Disease

The effect of addiction have consumed billions of individuals all over the world, not only consume but also killed. Individuals have relied on drugs to fill the void in their life that is missing. The addict is not only hurting themselves from the drug use but their families, friends, and their community. In this paper, it will give a description of a 21-year-old male named Anthony. Anthony started using marijuana at the age of 20, trying to hide the pain from the death of his sister. Eventually, marijuana was not enough to get Anthony the extra high he wanted which Anthony made the choice to try another drug and eventually it

Many people believe the misconception that an addiction is a moral problem and not a disease. To better understand the reasons why an additicition is in fact a disease; I will identify several types of addictions, and the problems associated with them. I will examine reasons why certain people are more susceptible for developing an addiction. Also, I will determine why many addicts deny their problems and many recovery methods addicts use to fight their illness. Researching these issues, will help aid my claim that addiction is a disease.

In society, drugs have been the downfall for many people. There are many reasons that a person may use drugs such as: peer pressure, relief of stress, increased energy, to relax, to relieve pain, to escape reality, to feel more self esteem, and for recreation ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011). What is it that causes the obsession and compulsion to use drugs? Why can some people stop and others go on to become addicts? Addiction is often now defined by the continuing, compulsive nature of the drug use despite physical and/or psychological harm to the user and society ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011).

The disease model of addiction rests on three primary assumptions predisposition to use a drug, loss of control over use, and progression (Krivanek, 1988, p.202). These physiological alterations cause an undeniable desire to take more drugs (McNeece & DiNitto, 2012). Addicts are viewed as individuals with an incurable disease with drug addiction as the symptom. The disease model argues users cannot be held accountable for their addictions (Kirvanek, 1988).

Over the years, there have been many discussions on whether addiction is a disease or if it is a choice. Addiction has been considered a disease for many years because it shows the same signs as a disease would. Many believe that addiction is a choice and not a disease. Two articles discuss the topic of whether addiction is a disease or a choice and the article that is saying it is a disease is "Addiction Is a Disease and Needs to Be Treated as Such" by David Sack and the other article is stating that it is a choice and this article is titled "Addiction is not a disease- and were treating addicts incorrectly" by Kyle Smith. Article one, "Addiction Is a Disease and Needs to Be Treated as Such" by David Sack is better than article two "Addiction

Is addiction a disease? This question has long been debated and not just among the medical community. It seems if you ask this question to any random people you can find varying opinions on the issue. Stanley Peele's wrote an article which argues that addiction is not a disease and the growing influence of addiction as a disease will create problems within our society. Stanley presents several arguments for his points, however these are not strong enough arguments for people to consider his point of view. Addiction is not a disease, because addiction is a choice, it's something a person does and not has, and it refers to a behavior. This essay will expand on Stanley Peele's arguments.

At the end of the course, it would only make sense that we turn to the question that we considered at the beginning of the course: What is addiction? Although the many decades of research on the topic have focused on many of the same topics, there are still disagreements on the answer to this question. Despite differences in opinion related to some of the most basics aspects in the field, there have been improvements in treatment and the way the topic is discussed. When I began this course, I was firmly ground in the belief that addiction is a disease, but there were some different parts of the course that have encouraged me to reexamine my initial understanding of addiction. This final paper will detail the process in which my beliefs at the

Addiction has turned into an open discussion in America. A huge number of Americans have been affected by compulsion somehow or another. Numerous individuals know somebody who has been affected by this horrible sickness whether it be a parent, accomplice, kin or companion or may have been influenced themselves. This scientist has seen direct what habit can do to a man. While these individuals remain on the sidelines viewing the individual they know and love transform into somebody totally unrecognizable. At the point when a dependence begins it might simply be utilizing on the ends of the week, all over, or as the specialist endorses. As time ticks on, it turns out to be twice the same number of as recommended and before they know it, it has

Addiction kills more than 300,000 people each year (NIDA 1). Addiction to a substance or multiple substances affect the brain and body's functioning's. Addiction is classified as a disease that affects both the brain and behavior (CDC).

With the 1950s coming to a close we see a transition and change in how addiction and treatments are seen. Drug culture had been hidden away from view during the 1950s, and only once again came into the view of the American people with the rise of the left counterculture which would seek out new experiences through the use of substances such as marijuana and LSD. Fortunately various doctors and psychologist had been honing their skills and learning new techniques for treatments. Great strides had been taken in reducing the number of addicts and treating those who are addicted through the use of treatments, such as medication and counseling, therapy and detox both at home and in state run institutions.

Substance abuse disorders is easily defined when an “individual continues to use the substance despite experiencing negative consequences from their use. These negative consequences can include health problems; difficulties in their family, work, and social life; and financial and legal problems. They are said to be dependent on the substance when,” in addition to theses negative consequences, they build tolerance and experience withdrawal if they stop using the drug” (Martin, 2007, p. 265). Substance abuse dates back to the early Americans colonies with beer that was brought over by the pilgrims and more popularly the ratification of the Constitution to prohibit the use of alcohol

Addiction is a disease that affects one’s behavior and brain to slowly lose control over drug use. The repeat high provided by drug abuse will overtime cause the brain to crave the drugs and the high that they provide. Opioid drugs that one can be addicted to include, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, tramadol and more. Some stronger prescription cough medicines will contain opioids. Opioids are often prescribed to relieve pain and are prescribed by doctors often for tooth pain, surgical recovery, injury, and chronic conditions. With the common prescription of drugs containing opioids addiction is becoming more and more common. The article provide speaks of a young man prescribed a narcotic pain reliever for the injury he

The omnipresence of the disease perception of addiction disguises the fact that it did not appear from the buildup of scientific discoveries. The meaning to addiction-as-disease has been continuously reformed, commonly in the path of conceptual flexibility, such that it now bears an embarrassment of riches: an increasing variety of growing range of supposedly addictive experiences which do not assist the intake of drugs. Doing something excessively does not solely represent addiction. Addiction is preoccupying your life around it, as well as, setting it as the prime and most important activity over everyone and everything else. Addiction can make the person become very obsessive over the activity as their day-to-day life revolves around it. On the other hand, abstinence is the very opposite, it is the form of ‘not doing '. It allows someone to act willingly to their own beliefs. However, this still causes triumph as people who do not ‘do ' are still noticed, as well as those who ‘do ' within their social circles as they are breaking norms which are required in today 's society. This makes the person become visible. You get two types of ‘not doing '. They are quitting something that was a habit of the person such as becoming an ex-smoker or an ex-drinker, and ‘never doings’ which are acts a person has never engaged in, for example, sex, smoking etc. Both types define one’s identity but their social significance differs as quitting is easier to manage than ‘never doing’.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is redefining addiction. Some experts from the ASAM got together to try to develop parameters to define addictions as a chronic brain disorder in ways the brain communicate. The new development shows that addiction is addiction, whether it’s gambling, food, or drugs. It also shows that addiction is not a disorder but a disease. Addictive behavior is the underlying disease which need to be treated, and if left untreated, it can cause the addiction to get worse and sometimes causes death. Dr. Miller, who was part of this study said “It is time to stop moralizing, blaming or smirking at the person with the disease of addiction”. The ASAM have been trying to remove the stigma or labeling from addiction,

The reason behind a person initially taking drugs can vary and while the action itself is voluntary: the eventual drug addiction is essentially involuntary. Drug addiction is a complex and chronic disease, a brain disease, which changes the way the brain functions. Drug addiction, much like chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes, disrupts healthy, normal functioning organs. This has harmful consequences that are both preventable and treatable (Branch, 2011, pp.263-265). Drug addiction is considered a brain disease as drugs change the brain structure and how the brain operates. These changes of the brain can be lifelong and can lead to the destructive behaviour seen in drug addicts (Perry, 2011, p.1). This essay will argue that addiction is in fact a disease rather than a behavioural disorder.