Addiction is a Disease

Addiction is a Disease

When we hear the words “drug addict” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Possibly criminal, dangerous, or even troubled. Though all of these can be true, there are many cases where addicts are normal people living with an illness that can, with the proper help, find healing and learn to lead normal, healthy lives.

Addiction is a disease of the brain that requires treatment and recovery. Jails are not set up to treat disease, yet many addicts are sent here to “get clean”. When they are released, many return to their previous way of life, repeating offenses, and find themselves back in court. Often times more than once. There is another option. Treatment centers are set up to help teach the addicts a new, healthy way of life and how to be contributing members of society. Therefore treatment centers should be a primary source for serving time for drug offenders.

Since addiction is considered a disease, treatment is the best option. It is said that “Addiction is a brain disease that affects multiple brain circuits, including those involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory, and inhibitory control over behavior.”(1). Once an addict consumes and uses, certain parts of the brain are awakened that cause pleasure or euphoria (the limbic system). Motivation to feel that way again causes one to want to repeat the act. Drugs mimic the brain’s natural chemicals and can “overstimulate the reward circuit” (6). Natural processes of the brain become disrupted and normal feelings are not enough for the addict. The chemical dopamine, the feel good chemical of the brain, is over abundant causing these feelings of euphoria and pleasure. The more an addict uses, the more they need to use to feel the affects of the drugs. This just reinforces the need for this artificial stimulation and the feelings it creates (8).

Though, initially it is a choice to use drugs or alcohol, the consequences are not. Prolonged use of drugs and other mind altering substances cause changes in the brain’s function causing damage that, in some cases cannot be undone. Sometimes an existing mental disorder may spur one to use drugs. Maybe it’s to feel better, to feel happier. In other cases the use of drugs may trigger an underlying mental disorder or exacerbate behaviors in an already unstable person (2). We are beginning to understand and link the commonalities and ties between mental disorders and drug use and addiction (6).

Drug abuse can also have lasting effects on a person’s physical health. For example, overuse of heroin can lead to miscarriages, heart infections and even overdose (all). Because it is an injected substance, they are also at risk of bacterial infections at the site of injection or even AIDS/HIV. Because heroin is made from morphine it can also lead to a tolerance for pain medications. This causes the need to use more and more to get the same effect. When this occurs, it can lead to overdosing and death.

Addicts are born susceptible due to certain genes coupled with influences of society, not limited to the types of drugs available, societal acceptance, religious beliefs, and personal choices. “Like other complex diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, and AIDS, addictions are strongly influenced by genetic background and also profoundly influenced by lifestyle and individual choices (5).” While we have a family history of certain diseases, there are things that we can do personally to help lower our risk. With obesity we can make healthier eating choices and be sure to do exercise to keep our bodies healthy. This is also true with heart disease. Of course this does not guarantee that these diseases won’t occur. They just help to lower the possibility of developing the problems. This is also true for the drug addict. While the conscious choice can be the catalyst to long term addiction, the genetic predisposition can lead a drug user to be a drug addict.

“In recent years, researchers have identified numerous genes as affecting risk for dependence on alcohol and other drugs.” (opening paragraph) It is said that alcohol abuse has a rate of 50-60% heritability (figure 1) and that illicit drugs is 45-79%. Once a person with these genetics consumes, it becomes harder and harder to abstain. Everyone responds differently to alcohol and drugs just as some are adversely affected by certain prescribed medications. It is also important to note that alcoholism and drug abuse can run in families as well. Not only by teaching, but also by genetic predisposition. “Stress resiliency and externalizing behaviors, characterized by disinhibition, aggression, and impulsivity, are both intermediate phenotypes thought to underlie the comorbidity between addictions and other psychiatric diseases, leading to the potential to track shared genetic factors (6).” Not only does drug addiction affect the individual’s health (1), possibly causing stroke, HIV, Hepatitis, and even mental disorders but it has other negative repercussions as well. Strained family relationships, loss of careers, and negative social standing, and even felony charges are possible unless a drug addict gets the help necessary to make changes and live in recovery.

“Although use of addictive agents is volitional, addiction leads to loss of volitional control (2).” When an addict uses, often times they lose control and do things that they would not do sober. This can lead to arrest, court and incarceration. However, stats have shown this avenue to be unsuccessful. Although in certain situations jail time is necessary, there is no proper program or treatment set up to address the underlying issues. “Most drug prisoners will return to the community after a couple of years away, and will then return to prison because we have not dealt with the complex set of core issues that led to them ending up incarcerated in the first place. Though the time behind bars spent is limited, the impact of a felony conviction may last a lifetime, and even a short period of incarceration has been shown to affect people’s earnings and ability to get a job, to be parents, and to become productive parts of their communities (pg. 3, P 3).” Jails don’t offer skills to prepare for reentry into society but proper treatment and rehabilitation does. Treatment centers need to be primary sources for serving time for drug offenders.

“Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives (2).” “Drug courts break the cycle by ensuring that offenders receive substance abuse treatment, which addresses the root cause of their crimes. Instead of sending offenders to jail or prison, judges send them to treatment. Close supervision, drug testing, and the use of sanctions and incentives help ensure that offenders stick with their treatment plan (4).” Studies have shown that individuals who successfully participate in these programs have lower reconviction rates. Of course there are criteria that must be met to qualify for this alternative to incarceration, but the success rate speaks for itself. “Research demonstrates that nationwide, 70% of the approximately 120,000 seriously addicted individuals who voluntarily enter Drug Court with the assistance of their defense attorney complete it a year or more later and 75% of them remain arrest-free (3).”

Addicts need to learn to live in society and be contributing members. Participation in effective treatment improves success in family life as well as employment. These programs should include but not be limited to counseling, medication and wholesome activity, just to name a few. It is important to focus on the individual and helping them learn to be successful in life, not just focus on detox and drug testing. They need to be taught how to cope with life’s challenges in different ways. The best way to learn these tools is by immersing themselves in a therapeutic community where they learn from fellow residents and are held accountable for behaviors through rewards and discipline. They learn to coexist with other people and reap the benefits of cohesive relationships. These types of treatment centers are set up with therapists and counselors who help them address the core issues, the resident who is ready for change, staff members who are role models, some having been addicts themselves and are living in recovery, and correct living. Learning in this environment, with other people, helps them to reintegrate themselves into their lives upon release.

In conclusion, drug addicts, or drug offenders are not their disease. They can be successful societal members if given the tools to help them lead successful lives. It is important to teach them the consequences of their behaviors and steer them to other means to satisfy their urges and cope with the realities of life that come to all of us. Drug courts and treatment centers are set up as a way to battle this ever growing disease we call addiction.