Should Addiction Be Considered a Disease?
Should Addiction Be Considered A Disease?
XBCOM275
March 31, 2013
Should Addiction Be Considered A Disease?
In society, drugs have been the downfall for many people. There are many reasons that a person may use drugs such as: peer pressure, relief of stress, increased energy, to relax, to relieve pain, to escape reality, to feel more self esteem, and for recreation ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011). What is it that causes the obsession and compulsion to use drugs? Why can some people stop and others go on to become addicts? Addiction is often now defined by the continuing, compulsive nature of the drug use despite physical and/or psychological harm to the user and society ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011). MRI’s have shown evidence that the brain of an addict has specific abnormalities of tissue malfunction that non-addicts do not have (About.com 2004). Drug addiction is a disease that can be defined as a disordered condition resulting from the effect of deficiency or imbalance on the body. Drug addiction can be considered almost like a cancer or virus because it takes over one’s body and can cause detrimental physical and mental effect (Antiessays.com, 2012) s. Addiction is a disease that affects not only the person taking the drugs, but also their family, friends and the community around them.
Drug addiction is considered a disease by some but others view it as a lack of will power. Addiction to drugs was once viewed as a moral issue but as more research is done they are finding more evidence that supports it as a disease. A disease is any harmful, depraved or morbid condition that affects the mind or society. Drug addiction shares many features with other chronic illnesses ("The process addictions and the new ASAM definition of addiction," 2012). Like other chronic diseases, addiction involves cycles of relapse and remission. Many times a person will start out just experimenting with a drug, perhaps they intended to try it
XBCOM275
March 31, 2013
Should Addiction Be Considered A Disease?
In society, drugs have been the downfall for many people. There are many reasons that a person may use drugs such as: peer pressure, relief of stress, increased energy, to relax, to relieve pain, to escape reality, to feel more self esteem, and for recreation ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011). What is it that causes the obsession and compulsion to use drugs? Why can some people stop and others go on to become addicts? Addiction is often now defined by the continuing, compulsive nature of the drug use despite physical and/or psychological harm to the user and society ("Drug addiction and drug abuse," 2011). MRI’s have shown evidence that the brain of an addict has specific abnormalities of tissue malfunction that non-addicts do not have (About.com 2004). Drug addiction is a disease that can be defined as a disordered condition resulting from the effect of deficiency or imbalance on the body. Drug addiction can be considered almost like a cancer or virus because it takes over one’s body and can cause detrimental physical and mental effect (Antiessays.com, 2012) s. Addiction is a disease that affects not only the person taking the drugs, but also their family, friends and the community around them.
Drug addiction is considered a disease by some but others view it as a lack of will power. Addiction to drugs was once viewed as a moral issue but as more research is done they are finding more evidence that supports it as a disease. A disease is any harmful, depraved or morbid condition that affects the mind or society. Drug addiction shares many features with other chronic illnesses ("The process addictions and the new ASAM definition of addiction," 2012). Like other chronic diseases, addiction involves cycles of relapse and remission. Many times a person will start out just experimenting with a drug, perhaps they intended to try it
References: About.com. (2004, November30). Addiction is a brain disease. Retrieved from http://alcoholism.about.com/od/sa/a/binida041129.html Antiessays Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition. (2011, November 1). Drug addiction and drug abuse. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com Leshner, Ph.D, A National Institute of Drug Abuse. (2000). Drug abuse and addiction: one of america 's most challenging public health problems. Retrieved from http://archives.drugabuse.gov/about/welcome/aboutdrugabuse/chronicdisease National Institute of Drug Abuse Smith, D. E. (2012, March). The process of addiction and the new ASAM definition of addiction. Retrieved from doi:10.1080/0279102.2012.662105 About.com Antiessays. (2012 May19). Deadly drug addiction. Retrieved from http://antiessays.com/free-essays/26047.html Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition Leshner, Ph.D, A. I. (2001). Oops: how casual drug use leads to addiction. Retrieved from http://archives.drugabuse.gov/Published_Articles/Oops.html National Institute of Drug Abuse National Institute of Drug Abuse. (2009, April). Principles of drug addiction treatment: a research based guide 2nd edition. Retrieved from http://drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment Smith, D