Addiction: Character Defect or Chronic Disease
Posted on March-18-2014 under Articles Category

Addiction: Character Defect or Chronic Disease?

Recently, numerous media sources have implied that addicts ought to make better choices; addiction science cautions that is not always possible. Describing addiction as a reflection of moral character and choice takes us back to an earlier, more ignorant time. Science now shows that addiction, including alcoholism, is not a simple phenomenon. It stems from multiple causes rather than character flaws.

Many of us as medical professionals use a medical model to understand addiction. Drugs, alcohol, and illicit substances activate reward systems in the brain, which cause people to feel pleasure and create memories. Each individual has a unique tolerance to drugs and alcohol; the effects of drugs and/or alcohol are individually specific. Individuals may have genetic predispositions and different brain inhibitory circuits. Addiction is a disease, just like asthma, diabetes and heart disease...........

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