Many people would argue alcohol and drug addiction is not a disease. Many see it as a choice, something that takes will power to change. Some even see it as a character flaw. However alcohol and drug addiction is a disease because of the way it changes the brain function. It affects the brain, and a person's behavior. By treating it like a disease through prevention, treatment and recovery it can be managed just like other diseases. In order to understand why alcohol and drug addiction is a disease, we need to understand what an addiction is. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as “..a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.”
When a person becomes …show more content…
Drug and Alcohol addiction goes hand in hand. If you think about HIV/AIDS you know that this is a disease. To prevent from getting this disease you might use protection during intercourse, or if you get a tattoo make sure that the artist is using clean and sterile needles. Although you may take these preventives you may end up being exposed to this disease.The treatment includes taking different medication, you may take the medication but it is not going to cure the disease. Your recovery maybe that you seek counseling to learn to live with this disease along with taking medication. Just like with drugs and alcohol you may stay away from drugs or never drink but that does not always stop you. Before some people know it they are exposed to the disease. Treatment for alcohol and drug addiction may be different. The people that are exposed may go to rehab. Take medications to rewire their brain so they can stay away from these drugs. Although there is no cure they will learn to live with this disease. Their recovery can include counseling, having support from their families and taking the proper medication. If drug and alcohol addiction is treated like the disease it is many can be helped.Drug and alcohol addiction have been shown to take effects to your brain and to your behavior. Much like the disease HIV/AIDS, this too has an effect to your brain.
When a person becomes …show more content…
Drug and Alcohol addiction goes hand in hand. If you think about HIV/AIDS you know that this is a disease. To prevent from getting this disease you might use protection during intercourse, or if you get a tattoo make sure that the artist is using clean and sterile needles. Although you may take these preventives you may end up being exposed to this disease.The treatment includes taking different medication, you may take the medication but it is not going to cure the disease. Your recovery maybe that you seek counseling to learn to live with this disease along with taking medication. Just like with drugs and alcohol you may stay away from drugs or never drink but that does not always stop you. Before some people know it they are exposed to the disease. Treatment for alcohol and drug addiction may be different. The people that are exposed may go to rehab. Take medications to rewire their brain so they can stay away from these drugs. Although there is no cure they will learn to live with this disease. Their recovery can include counseling, having support from their families and taking the proper medication. If drug and alcohol addiction is treated like the disease it is many can be helped.Drug and alcohol addiction have been shown to take effects to your brain and to your behavior. Much like the disease HIV/AIDS, this too has an effect to your brain.