Question 1

is addiction a disease?

Accepted Answer

Yes.: Addiction is a family disease, affecting the person who is using and all of the people who are close to the one who is using.

Question 2

help please! is addiction a disease or a choice?

Accepted Answer

Both: I think of it both as a disease and a choice. The addict's first use of an addictive substance after a sustained period of abstinence is usually indicative of a careless choice, but once that choice is made, often the disease process kicks in, and it becomes extremely difficult to not choose the next, and the next and the next hit/drink/etc.

Question 3

i want to know what is the difference between addiction and disease?

Accepted Answer

Addiction = disease: See http://www.Asam.Org/for-the-public/definition-of-addiction for te short and long term answer. In a nutshell, addiction is a primary, chronic disease of the brain.

Question 4

is addiction a physical disease or a psychological one?

Accepted Answer

Both: Addiction to any substance implies that the body has not only become physically habituated to it, but a behavior change has also happened.  Rather than using the substance sporadically, now the person pursues the substance and continues using it despite overt harm to his/her own life, relationships, and career.  Tolerance has developed, and the person needs more for same effect.

Question 5

what are the diseases caused due to cell phone addiction?

Accepted Answer

None: There are no diseases caused by overuse of cell phones that we now know of. And, I am unclear as to what you mean by "addiction." the word addiction would refer to problems caused by overdoing certain behaviors, like drinking, taking drugs, eating too much, etc. If a person has tried to decrease such behaviors and is unsuccessful, he or she should seek help from a professional.

Question 6

i have had bulimia for 10 years and have tried everything possible for recovering. fail.  do you believe bulimia is an addiction or a disease?

Accepted Answer

Bulimia: Bulimia is a serious psychiatric illness, and requires ongoing psychiatric treatment including psychotherapy.   You especially need to learn your own individual triggers for relapse and set up contingency plans for those situations.  Medications can help when depression and anxiety are involved. Abusing other substances may co-occur and complicate recovery.  Healing is a journey, not an end.

Question 7

is addiction a disease of the brain?

Accepted Answer

YES: The addictive process involves changes in brain structures such as the nucleus accumbens (the reward center) & the locus ceruleus (the fight or flight center that causes some forms of withdrawal).  There are other areas involved as well.  We can see these changes on functional brain scans & when things improve, we can see those changes too.

Question 8

when is drug addiction considered a disease?

Accepted Answer

When it happens: We know that there are genetic susceptibilities to addiction as well as environment contributing factors.  So when addiction happens, it is a disease.

Question 9

why is drug addiction labeled a disease?

Accepted Answer

Impairment: Drug addiction or any other addiction becomes labeled as a disease when it causes impairment in function, for example not being able to take care of oneself or basic functions.  For example, when one uses alcohol to the degree that one stops eating a balanced diet or obtaining basic medical or dental care and puts oneself or others at risk.

Question 10

is addiction a brain disease?

Accepted Answer

Yes: There may be behavioral components, but addiction is fundamentally related to underlying brain function and the effects of the substance on the brain.

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Disease concept of addiction worksheet

A member asked:

Is addiction a disease?

A member asked:

Help please! is addiction a disease or a choice?

A member asked:

I want to know what is the difference between addiction and disease?

A member asked:

Is addiction a physical disease or a psychological one?

A member asked:

What are the diseases caused due to cell phone addiction?

A member asked:

I have had bulimia for 10 years and have tried everything possible for recovering. fail. do you believe bulimia is an addiction or a disease?

A member asked:

Is addiction a disease of the brain?

A member asked:

When is drug addiction considered a disease?

A member asked:

Why is drug addiction labeled a disease?

A member asked:

Is addiction a brain disease?

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