Addiction now defined as brain disorder, not behavior issue
Decades of research convinced American Society of Addiction Medicine to change definition
Addiction is a chronic brain disorder and not simply a behavior problem involving alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex, experts contend in a new definition of addiction, one that is not solely related to problematic substance abuse.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) just released this new definition of addiction after a four-year process involving more than 80 experts.
"At its core, addiction isn't just a social problem or a moral problem or a criminal problem. It's a brain problem whose behaviors manifest in all these other areas," said Dr. Michael Miller, past president of ASAM who oversaw the development of the new definition. "Many behaviors driven by addiction are real problems and sometimes criminal acts. But the disease is about brains, not drugs. It's about underlying neurology, not outward actions."
The new definition also describes addiction as a primary disease, meaning that it's not the result of other causes, such as emotional or psychiatric problems. And like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, addiction is recognized as a chronic disease; so it must be treated, managed and monitored over a person's lifetime, the researchers say.
Two decades of advancements in neuroscience convinced ASAM officials that addiction should be redefined by what's going on in the brain. For instance, research has shown that addiction affects the brain's reward circuitry, such that memories of previous experiences with food, sex, alcohol and other drugs trigger cravings and more addictive behaviors. Brain circuitry that governs impulse control and judgment is also altered in the brains of addicts, resulting in the nonsensical pursuit of "rewards," such as alcohol and other drugs.
A long-standing debate has roiled over whether addicts have a choice over their behaviors, said Dr. Raju Hajela, former president of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine and chair of the ASAM committee on addiction's new definition.
"The disease creates distortions in thinking, feelings and perceptions, which drive people to behave in ways that are not understandable to others around them," Hajela said in a statement. "Simply put, addiction is not a choice. Addictive behaviors are a manifestation of the disease, not a cause."
Even so, Hajela pointed out, choice does play a role in getting help.
"Because there is no pill which alone can cure addiction, choosing recovery over unhealthy behaviors is necessary," Hajela said.
This "choosing recovery" is akin to people with heart disease who may not choose the underlying genetic causes of their heart problems but do need to choose to eat healthier or begin exercising, in addition to medical or surgical interventions, the researchers said.
"So, we have to stop moralizing, blaming, controlling or smirking at the person with the disease of addiction, and start creating opportunities for individuals and families to get help and providing assistance in choosing proper treatment," Miller said.
Source:
NBCNEWS Article Here
hi songangel :) I made it here. I don't know how any of this works yet, so will be reading around a bit :) just wanted to let you know I found it
hello I have no other way to get in touch with you. I can not find the post I left for mom nor can I find anything from mom to me. I don't understand how this works! sorry!
So was it the "disease" that made someone who is currently an addict, choose to smoke or inject?
Would an addict be an addict if he or she had not chosen to try drugs in the first place?
Would an addict be an addict if he or she had not chosen to try drugs in the first place?
There are workaholics, sex addicts, gamblers, porn etc.
Many alcoholics/users switch to non-substance addictions when trying to get clean
Many alcoholics/users switch to non-substance addictions when trying to get clean
I just did a little more reading on this subject and they're considering it a brain disease because...
"It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to many harmful, often self-destructive, behaviors."
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publicatio...ddiction-basics
so from what I read, the drugs come first and that's what causes the brain disease. In short, the drugs give them a high by acting on dopamine receptors and they continue searching for that high which in turn may lead them to risky behaviors... Then throw physical addiction on top of that where they need the drugs to keep from going into withdrawals and that also contributes to risky behavior.
"It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to many harmful, often self-destructive, behaviors."
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publicatio...ddiction-basics
so from what I read, the drugs come first and that's what causes the brain disease. In short, the drugs give them a high by acting on dopamine receptors and they continue searching for that high which in turn may lead them to risky behaviors... Then throw physical addiction on top of that where they need the drugs to keep from going into withdrawals and that also contributes to risky behavior.
"so from what I read, the drugs come first and that's what causes the brain disease"
But doesn't choosing to do the drugs come first? And isn't that a moral issue?
I guess I just don't see how it can become a disease until there's that first step :-)
But doesn't choosing to do the drugs come first? And isn't that a moral issue?
I guess I just don't see how it can become a disease until there's that first step :-)
...and isn't this sort of like blaming the lung cancer for the behavioral choices of the chain smoker?
I get your point Rich. I'm not sure I get the point of the whole study and what they were trying to accomplish though.
Maybe we're looking at the study from the wrong perspective.
Maybe they were trying to prove or disprove that the choice/need to do drugs on a regular basis is not as simple a decision as to whether or not to have one cookie or two, and that since drugs alter the brain chemistry that it's not a simple matter for the addict to say.. Okay, I'm not doing any more drugs and then quit and be cured immediately. That's where the brain disease comes in. The addicts brain is rewired by drugs to need that high.
I don't know.
and then they claim that doing drugs isn't a moral or behavioral issue.. but isn't that the way it starts out?
Maybe we're looking at the study from the wrong perspective.
Maybe they were trying to prove or disprove that the choice/need to do drugs on a regular basis is not as simple a decision as to whether or not to have one cookie or two, and that since drugs alter the brain chemistry that it's not a simple matter for the addict to say.. Okay, I'm not doing any more drugs and then quit and be cured immediately. That's where the brain disease comes in. The addicts brain is rewired by drugs to need that high.
I don't know.
and then they claim that doing drugs isn't a moral or behavioral issue.. but isn't that the way it starts out?
