Is Addiction Really a Disease?
Alcoholism was defined as a disease by the American Medical Association in 1956, and addiction was added as a disease in 1987.
All diseases have a set of specific characteristics or symptoms, and substance use disorders are no different. According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), these are the criteria used to diagnose a substance use disorder:
- Using a substance in larger amounts or for a longer period of time than intended.
- Failed attempts to stop or cut back.
- Spending a lot of time getting, using or recovering from use.
- Cravings and urges to use.
- Not managing to do what you should at work, school or home because of use.
- Continued use even when it causes problems in relationships.
- Giving up important social, occupational or recreational activities because of use.
- Repeated use in spite of potential danger.
- Continued use in spite of physical or psychological problems.
- Needing more of a substance to get the effect that is wanted.
- Withdrawal symptoms that can be relieved by taking more of the substance.
How many criteria a person meets determines whether the disorder is considered mild, moderate or severe: two or three indicate mild, four or five moderate, and six or more severe.
The latest research shows that addiction is a brain disease, because the abuse of substances leads to changes in the structure and functioning of the brain, resulting in compulsive behaviors and distorted thinking.
Although addiction is a chronic disease with no cure, it is absolutely treatable. I can help.