Is Drug Addiction a Disease?

Sadly, there is a modern stigma that addiction is a choice. But science and top-ranked medical professionals agree that addiction is not simply a matter of poor willpower and self-control, but rather a disease itself. Drug addiction makes changes to your brain, which causes the body to need more and more of the substance on which it has become dependent. However, there is hope in sobriety and treatment options if you’re facing a drug or alcohol addiction. Magnolia Farm is a women’s sober living home offering a safe, temptation-free environment outside of Charleston, SC to work through the 12-steps. Contact us to learn more. 

What is Addiction?

An addiction to drugs is a dependence that goes far beyond just “wanting to use” the substance. Rather, it is characterized by the body requiring the substance—and over time, more and more of it—just to feel normal and function. Some addictions begin out of social pressures, and many take root in emotional traumas or mental health struggles. Genetics also play a role. 

Many who don’t understand what addiction is view it in terms of choice and willpower. There is a large misconception that those who are addicted to substances can and should simply make the decision to not use the drug anymore. However, addiction is really not that simple.  

Addiction is, in fact, a disease, and it is labeled as such by the American Medical Association. Addiction involves dramatic chemical changes to the brain along with physical symptoms that make it far beyond a mere issue of willpower or choice.

How Addiction Affects the Brain

Addiction is not just using a substance over and over again—it goes far beyond that. Your brain demands more and more dopamine as it grows accustomed to the large amounts of dopamine released during drug use, causing your brain’s chemistry to be altered. Dopamine comes from the pleasure centers of the brain, and its release causes a sensation of pleasure in a number of activities.  

Many addictive substances often release high levels of dopamine—some drugs produce such huge rushes of dopamine they are addictive after just a single use. The more the substance is used, the more the brain and body get accustomed to high levels of dopamine being released in short spurts. The brain and body essentially become numb to smaller releases of dopamine and require more.

Eventually, the drug is needed by the brain to function normally because it has been altered to depend on those heavy dopamine hits. This is why so many addicts abandon healthy habits, activities, and things they used to love in order to use—the brain is literally starving for dopamine, so drug use becomes a priority. Drug use then becomes compulsory, not voluntary. This explains why simply having more willpower is no match for the strong pull of a brain that requires high levels of dopamine to feel normal.

Treating Addiction

Just because addiction is a daunting illness, that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope! Treatment can include various methods for easing withdrawal symptoms and addressing the root causes of the addiction. Recovery often includes mental health treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy, which exposes triggers and traumas that pose a risk for relapse.

Find Help at Magnolia Farm

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, Magnolia Farm can provide a calm, tranquil environment in which to pursue sobriety. Join like-minded women searching for a peaceful, sober life, and work through the 12 Step program surrounded by a supportive community. Our community makes a difference and can be the key to your recovery. Contact us today to learn more.