Is Drug Addiction a Choice? Understanding the Debate

Just like with other hereditary diseases, genetic links account for about half of the likelihood of developing an addiction. Early exposure to substances can normalize drug use and increase the likelihood of addiction later in life. Additionally, traumatic experiences like abuse or neglect in childhood can make a person more vulnerable to substance use disorders. As we move forward, let’s carry with us the understanding that addiction is not a choice or a moral failing, but a complex brain disease that requires comprehensive, compassionate care.

How to Stay Motivated Throughout the Recovery Journey

• As social media has become a staple in modern society, many people have become hooked on this growing trend.
• Addiction is a complicated subject filled with debate between researchers and scientists from a variety of backgrounds, and these debates have only grown as the years progress.
• Understanding the brain’s role in addiction can help reduce negative perceptions and attitudes of those struggling with substance use disorders.
• In the healthy brain, dopamine is released in response to natural rewards, such as food or exercise, as a way of saying, “that was good.” But drugs hijack dopamine pathways, teaching the brain that drugs are good, too.
• But when drugs enter the picture, they flood these pathways with an overwhelming surge of feel-good chemicals.
• The Vietnam experience highlights the significant role that factors other than human biology and the nature of the addictive agent play in addiction.

Panelist Amy Melcher began her career as a trial lawyer for the public defender’s office, but later the ASU Law graduate found her true calling in the recovery courts. ” asked Richard Sharp during the second panel, which focused on the treatments and technology being considered for substance use disorder. ASU Professor Jonathan Gewirtz also touched on the biological factors that make some people more vulnerable to addiction.

How to Address Chronic Pain Without Resorting to Substance Use

Sustainable recovery is possible and the best version of youself awaits at our Norcross addiction recovery center. We’ll give you skills to discover your self-worth and show you the tools for a life of hope and promise. For more insights on managing addiction and related challenges, visit our articles on how to decide whether you need inpatient vs. outpatient addiction treatment and what to do after alcohol detox treatment. The debate over whether addiction is a disease has gained traction in recent years.

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This widespread issue imposes a substantial public health burden, costing the U.S. over $700 billion annually due to crime, lost work productivity, and healthcare expenses. Medication-based treatments have become integral in managing addiction, particularly for opioid use disorders. Research indicates that a combination of medication and counseling is crucial for effectively treating addiction, similar to how other medical conditions like depression or diabetes are addressed. Risk factors for addiction in adolescents prominently highlight the role of environmental influences. The presence of supportive family structures, positive peer interactions, and access to resources can mitigate some of these risks. Conversely, exposure to high-stress environments, familial substance use, and lack of emotional support can lead to increased vulnerability to addiction.

Hunt-Garcia, who is now a community activist with Dream.Org., shared her story of becoming an addict and the legal obstacles to her recovery during the final panel of the day. Jason Walker, with the Maricopa County Adult Probation Office, explained the department’s strategies around substance use intervention. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Lauren Guyton talked about the importance of a more personalized relationship with people on probation. “I often ask about the reliability of the science when I am making decisions (in court).” Research suggests these alterations may engage in negative reinforcement, leading to compulsive habits and impulsivity. Politics and pontification aside, am I really so sure that addiction is NOT a disease?

The Importance of Employment Support During Recovery

Recognizing that addiction is a habit in the scientific sense of the word makes clear that recovery is possible with deliberate action to change, which reverses the changes to the brain. But https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview turning addicts into patients keeps them from doing what is essential for recovery—discovering a personal goal deeply, individually meaningful and rewarding enough to satisfy the neural circuitry of desire. Once seen as a moral failure, addiction has more recently been viewed strictly as a medical problem.

The passage of the Harrison Act in 1914 marks a pivotal point in the public response to drug use and abuse. That act applies to the tax code, and since that time the Federal response to drug abuse has been the purview of the Treasury Department, rather than the Department of Justice. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the successor to the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD), is an arm of the Treasury Department. The activities of that organization and the criminal-justice system help to establish the current situation in which societally imposed penalties are applied to those said to be suffering from a disease. The fact is that the brain changes that are the hallmark of addiction are set in motion by the behaviors of substance-seeking coalescing into near-automatic habit.

In the end, understanding addiction as a disease isn’t just about changing how we treat those struggling with substance use disorders. It’s about changing how we view human vulnerability, resilience, and the intricate dance between our brains, our experiences, and our choices. It’s a reminder of our shared humanity and the power of compassion in the face of suffering. It opens doors for new treatments, reduces stigma, and paves the way for more compassionate, effective policies. Commonly, relapse rates may exceed 50% within 6 months of completion of initially successful treatment (McClellan, McKay, Forman, Cacciola, & Kemp, 2005).

The Root Causes: A Perfect Storm of Factors

Understanding this classification requires a grasp of the definition of addiction and its impact on behavior. A personalized treatment plan empowers you to identify and address what’s driving your addictive behavior, and to create lasting life change. Certain cultures may normalize heavy drinking9 or social drug use, creating an environment where experimentation seems acceptable. This can be especially risky for teens, who are more susceptible to peer pressure and may underestimate the potential for addiction.

The science of addiction

The primary figures on this side are behavioral scientists, and their belief is based on the idea that any activity capable of stimulating a person for pleasure or stress release holds a risk for addiction. This means that almost anything can potentially lead to an addiction, be it taking drugs, eating, or simply spending time on the internet. One of their most common arguments shines light on social media addiction.