Is Drug Addiction and Alcoholism a Personal Flaw or a Medical Disease?
Friday, February 19th, 2010It’s a popular controversy and one that deeply affects those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and their families: is drug and alcohol addiction really a medical disease as proclaimed by drug treatment centers, 12 step programs and addicts around the world or is it really a personal flaw, a weakness and an inability to avoid temptation?

The Argument That Addiction is a Personal Flaw
This is the original argument of those on the outside of drug addiction. “You can stop drinking if you want to!” “You promised me you wouldn’t get loaded anymore. Why can’t you keep your word?”
Friends, family members and co-workers who are emotionally or financially invested in whether or not their loved one stops using drugs and alcohol often blame the alcoholic or addict for their continued addictive behavior. They believe that a little bit of willpower and personal, inner strength is all it takes to not only stop drinking and using drugs but to remain drug-free as well. They liken it to quitting smoking and point out that smoking is addicting as well and yet there are no long-term inpatient treatment centers for those addicted to cigarettes.
Still others don’t believe in the existence of drug and alcohol addiction at all. They don’t believe that some will find it impossible to stop after just one drink. They believe that, like over eating, overindulging in alcohol and other recreational drugs is a matter of moderation and not something that needs to be cut out entirely. Again, they believe that with a little bit of self control, there’s no reason why anyone should succumb to addiction.
The Argument that Addiction is a Medical Disease
The medical community and researchers around the world have done studies, both epidemiological and physiological that have concluded that drugs and alcohol actually change the chemical makeup of the brain. By triggering the pleasure pathway and certain chemicals in the brain regularly and repeatedly, your body begins to alter and adjust to account for the new substance, expecting you to continue providing the drug. When you try and quit, your mind and body rebels more so than if you were to eat a bag of Oreo cookies every day and then suddenly try and stop. The results of these chemical changes in your brain can mean intense psychological cravings and physical withdrawal symptoms, both of which can be next to impossible to overcome alone.
The other characteristic of drug addiction that makes it more than a matter of willpower is the fact that it is chronic. You may successfully detox off of your drug of choice, go through treatment and remain clean and sober for years only to relapse and end up on the bottom again. It can happen if you aren’t vigilant with treatment, or if you begin to follow the theory of moderation described above.
Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Addiction
If you or someone you love is dealing with an addiction to drugs and/ or alcohol, then treatment is a necessity. It is not recommended that you try to stop using any drug of addiction on your own if you experience withdrawal symptoms without it. Contact Michael’s House today for more information.




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