Researchers do not know what causes substance use but most think of it as a type of disease. This “disease model of addiction” is the most popular of many ways of describing substance use. According to the disease model, difficulty with social functioning, low life satisfaction, and problems with employment (among other things) are symptoms of the substance abuse. Stopping or even deceasing the substance use should decrease or stop these and other symptoms. Critics argue that simply stopping the substance use may not improve these aspects of the person’s life. In fact, these difficulties with life may be contributing causes, not symptoms. Critics also object to calling substance use a disease when some people see it as a lifestyle choice,
