Accepting Addiction as a Disease and Not an Underlying Symptom
- Author Rj Hudson
- Published June 26, 2011
- Word count 592
Addiction as a disease isn't just a convenient treatment philosophy for substance abuse or alcoholism- it's a clinical diagnosis that left untreated is 100% fatal. If you've suffered through addiction yourself, then you know first-hand how severe this disease can be. And if someone you loved has struggled with addiction or alcoholism, then chances are you've seen how this disease can decimate even the strongest among us. However, some people have difficulty understanding why addiction truly is a disease and instead see it as an underlying symptom of some other cause, such as depression or bipolar disorder. But while this might be difficult to comprehend unless you've experienced it yourself, the fact of the matter is that addiction is indeed a clinical disease that has destroyed millions of lives, and there is empirical evidence abound to support this.
Addiction and alcoholism can be classified correctly as diseases (they are actually categorized together simply as "addiction") because they meet similar criteria as other serious diseases, including fatal illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. These characteristics include:
*Chronic: Without treatment, addiction will not decrease or improve
*Progressive: Without treatment, the condition will worsen, eventually resulting in death
*Similar Symptoms: Regardless of the substance, (alcohol, heroin, cocaine, etc.) the symptoms of addiction are very similar
*Recurrence: Symptoms of this condition occur again and again throughout a person's lifetime
*Treatable: Like other major diseases, addiction and alcoholism are treatable
Addicts and alcoholics are usually diagnosed via a serious of behaviors rather than clinical testing. However, there are serious physical signs of addiction that can include weight loss, signs of paranoia or severe anxiety, poor hygiene, tremors or shaking, lack of coordination, insomnia and lethargy, among other signs. However, the behaviors of addiction are even more noticeable and are usually categorized as follows:
*Loss of control: A person who has become addicted to drugs will generally lose control over the substance and overdose, not remember what or how much they took or when, or be unable to control their emotions and actions while under the influence of the drug.
*Obsession: An addict or alcoholic will constantly think about their drug of choice, create new ways to obtain or hoard it, glorify the act of using or regale in stories of past use, make great efforts to hide their addictions, and generally center their lives around using drugs or drinking.
*Continuation despite consequences: Even with the threat of losing a career, family, friends, loved ones, money and assets and even personal freedom, a person in active addiction will still continue to use. This is perhaps the most telling sign of an addict.
However, despite all of these side effects, symptoms and signs that demonstrate the serious, progressive and fatal nature of this condition, there is one specific physiological clue that tells us addiction is a disease. This clue lies in the form of neurological pathways in the brain. When addiction is active, specialized pathways are built in the brain that supplies addiction with the necessary elements for life. However, when a person stops using, these pathways remain, causing a powerful and perpetual desire in the sufferer to feed the pathways and therefore the disease by using drugs or drinking.
So just as a person should be able to get the best care possible for a disease like cancer or diabetes, a person should also expect the best care available for the diseases of drug addiction or alcoholism. For this reason, it is essential to educate as many people as possible about the true nature of this dangerous disease.
If you recognize these signs and need to get help for yourself or someone you care about, click here for one of the best inpatient treatment centers in the country.
To speak to someone confidentially right now, click here for our powerful Florida Drug Rehab center: We can help no matter where you are or how bad things are.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- “Glenn Ford: Hollywood’s Reluctant Heartthrob Who Played by His Own Rules.”
- “From Navy Tough Guy to Hollywood Everyman: The Life and Legacy of Ernest Borgnine.”
- Nancy Meyers-Inspired Kitchen: California Casual with Vintage Carved Door Charm
- Yellowstone-Inspired Ranch Farmhouse Style: Rugged Elegance with Rustic Antique Doors
- Used Master Prime Inspection: 5 Critical Checks to Avoid Refurbished Scams
- Staying Charged: A Guide to Electrolyte Balance for Health and Exercise
- Creating a Profitable Business with PLR Planners and Printables
- How to Spend 48 Hours in Cape Town: A Quick Itinerary
- “Wounds That Time Couldn’t Heal: Watching The Best Years of Our Lives Through the Lens of Memory and Mourning.”
- Understanding an ACL Tear
- Top 5 Funniest Gag Gifts for Your Best Friend
- Why Second Hand Pianos for Sale Are a Smart Investment
- Finding the Right Piano Shop Near Me: A Guide to Second Hand Pianos
- “Mira Sorvino: From Oscar Glory to Hollywood Silence.”
- Ireland Sino Institute Launches 2025 China Internship Program
- “Beyond the Spotlight: The Rise and Fall of Dorothy Dandridge.”
- “Through the Mist of Venice: Revisiting Don’t Look Now and Its Haunting Grip on Grief.”
- The Art of Coaching: Cultivating Growth and Inspiration
- Creating a Holistic Backyard Retreat: Old World Elegance Meets Nature
- Understanding T1 and T2 Transit Documents in EU: Your Complete Guide
- Cryptonews.money: Your Ultimate Guide to Understanding Cryptocurrency
- 15 Basketball Dribbling Games and Passing Drills for Better Ball Handling
- Transdermal Progesterone Cream: Benefits for Hot Flashes and Menopause Symptoms
- Tepezcohuite: The Ancient Skin Health Secret You Need to Know
- Quiet Cars and Busy Calendars: The Overlooked Role of Chauffeurs in Post-July Corporate Travel
- 1031 Exchange
- Breaking Karmic Cycles, Creating a Shiva Altar with Deity Carvings and Sculptures from Mogul Interior
- The Art of Whimsical Carved Wall Art & Eclectic Décor
- “Hellfire and Heresy: Ken Russell’s The Devils and the Fury of Sacred Cinema.”
- Transform Your Bedroom into a Productive Haven: Ultimate Guide to Bedroom Inspirations with Desk