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Research points to addiction being a disease

When we think about drug abuse, we rarely consider it as a disease.  However, more and more research is being produced that states that addiction is a disease (Chandler, Fletcher, & Volkow, 2009), and that if we are able to discover more about the pathways from initial drug use to addiction, it will give us an invaluable tool in tackling drub misuse, and could help in the future create more effective drug abuse programs to help treat suffers.

Drug addiction programs are often focused around the principles of abstinence, and counselling to understand better why people decided to turn to drugs in the future.  However, the research by Chandler, Fletcher, and Volkow, (2009) suggests that by investigating the neurological aspects related to drug addiction, there could be a much greater success rate in any given rehab program.

It is likely still a long way off before research reaches a point when we are able to utilise this current information in rehab programs.  But the discovery that neurological factors may play such an important part in addiction will be reassuring to those who suffer, as it may help them to realise that they are not to blame and that if they are determined, they can stop misusing drugs.

However, despite the scientific assurance that addiction is a disease, it does not imply that this knowledge will make it easier to tackle.  Those who suffer from the affliction will still need to make the conscious decision to halt their drug use, and it will still require a huge amount of determination and will power to ultimately stop using drugs.  But the fact that science is regularly making new discoveries in the field of addiction suggests that in the future, more advanced help may be available to aid those who are truly determined.

Chandler, R., Fletcher, B. W.,  &Volkow, N. D.  (2009).  Treating drug abuse and addiction in the criminal justice system: Improving public health and safety.  JAMA, 301, 183-190.  doi: 10.1001/jama.2008.976

Published by on 02/02/2012.

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