09-02-2019, 02:16 PM
I am of the opinion that addiction is a disease. Let's look at the definition provided:
A disorder is "an abnormal physical or mental condition." Addiction is most certainly a disorder as it is an alteration of the normal function of the brain. Addiction changes the brain and body in ways that create the dependence on the substance, often dopamine but other neurotransmitters are also involved. The desensitization to these transmitters is what creates the dependence as there is the constant "chase" for that feeling, which requires more and more of a substance to initiate.
So a disease is a disorder of structure of function that produces signs and symptoms, not the result of an injury, and addiction is absolutely a disorder that has signs and symptoms and is not the result of an injury, but rather a combination of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors.
You can also have genetic predispositions to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. You can genetically be more likely to have a disease, but that doesn't make it less of a disease.
(08-30-2019, 05:26 PM)jj22 Wrote: Disease by definition:
a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.
A disorder is "an abnormal physical or mental condition." Addiction is most certainly a disorder as it is an alteration of the normal function of the brain. Addiction changes the brain and body in ways that create the dependence on the substance, often dopamine but other neurotransmitters are also involved. The desensitization to these transmitters is what creates the dependence as there is the constant "chase" for that feeling, which requires more and more of a substance to initiate.
So a disease is a disorder of structure of function that produces signs and symptoms, not the result of an injury, and addiction is absolutely a disorder that has signs and symptoms and is not the result of an injury, but rather a combination of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors.
(09-02-2019, 01:52 PM)Beaker Wrote: I think it has to do with genetics more than disease. You are genetically predisposed to have an addictive personality type.
You can also have genetic predispositions to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. You can genetically be more likely to have a disease, but that doesn't make it less of a disease.
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