Is Addiction A Disease?
This question has been a topic of debate within the field of addiction.
Addiction has been defined and largely accepted as a disease for many years amongst 12 step recovery communities, and more recently became accepted as a disease in scientific terms due to the physical abnormalities in the brains of addicts that are evident in brain scans and appear to fit the medical definition of disease regarding the change in structure and function of an organ.
Neuroplasticity
The changes that are noted in the brain of an active drug addict may appear to show an obvious problem, but it may also show the function of a perfectly healthy brain working exactly as a brain should.
Neuroplasticity, in simple terms, is the brains ability to restructure itself by developing in the areas that are stimulated frequently and diminishing the areas that are not.
After sustained abstinence from addiction the brain can build and rebuild into a state indistinguishable in scans from that of an initially ordinary brain.
Is Addiction Passed On Genetically?
It seems there is evidence to suggest that genetic inheritance has a role in determining susceptibility toward addiction.
Studies done with mice point to how inherited differences in chemical receptors of the brain might cause one of the mice to enjoy a particular drug, where it would have little affect on, or even cause an adverse reaction in the others.
The reward receptors of mice correlate with humans, however, the fact that one mouse enjoyed the affects of vodka but felt paranoid and uneasy the time he smoked a joint, while another likes the way she feels after a bong, and another does not care for any mind altering substance, does not indicate addiction itself as a genetic predisposition and nor does it indicate addiction as a disease.
Many mice live normal happy lives despite their potential to enjoy drugs.
We Need To Move Away From The Disease Model Of Addiction
The factors that are involved in a person becoming addicted to a substance or activity are complex, we may have social factors, traumas, biological factors, psychological factors, genetics and more.
However complex the issues surrounding addiction are, perhaps the one fundamental driving force is a deep routed belief held by the addict that will always echo the statement "there is something wrong with me"
Certain recovery circles are continuing to premote the disease model of addiction and encouraging people to believe they have a disease, sometimes it is reworded as a dis-ease but the recovery model still insinuates an incurable life long ailment and perpetuates the notion that "there is something wrong with me"
I would never wish to dissuade anyone struggling with addictions from attending recovery groups, far from it, I completely advocate mutual support.
I do think it's time to raise awareness about addiction and open the doors to ways of recovery that steer away from strict view points and dogma.
Disease Of Society
As complex as addictions are they are simply a movement away from feeling what ever feelings are currently arising and reaching out towards a substance or activity in order to try and feel better.
Western society does not help much in bringing people to peaceful acceptance of life, themselves and others.
The news bombards us with shocking images and stories of crimes, war and terror, and leaves our nervous system jacked up with fear, anger, sadness.
The media pushes images of air brushed anatomically edited women onto the public and conditions their minds with impossible to achieve ideals of physical human attractiveness.
The education system tries to force children to fill their heads with largely useless information,where if a child refuses to conform they are deemed problematic, not normal or unintelligent.
Waking Up
Freedom from addiction will ultimately be found in waking up from conditioning.
Many of us grow up being told what feelings we should not have or how we should feel or even encouraged to suppress emotions.
Waking up to the movements of energy of the mind and body, learning how to feel and how to own our feelings without projecting them onto the world or the people around us, or seeking ways to avoid them, holds the key to freedom.
image links 1.http://www.amirzuhdi.com/?p=1346), 2.https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.life.gen.mouseparty/mouse-party/#.WZke2L0RXqA
3. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8qQEZPBdWE5QVmlC7HyAWcPjt7U2piwph21I0Ma1yYm4jLvwSmx4OBiU_4w