As we entered into lockdown during 2020 amidst a pandemic, we found a common theme that occurred as a result of government-mandated social isolation—an increase in overdose deaths. While we can speculate on the many reasons why the two corresponded with one another, we will first aim our focus towards understanding what “addiction” actually is.
In online conversations, I see a lot of people really upset with the idea that addiction is a disease; they see it as a choice and maybe they are right about those first few times experimenting with substances is a choice. Becoming or developing an addiction, however, isn’t necessarily a choice. This is according to Harvard medicine, but I mean who is to say that they are a more prominent authority on the matter than an anonymous Internet voice? I’m joking, of course.
A disease is by definition an alteration in the way the body functions. A disease isn’t necessarily a virus or a bacterial infection that one would think. Diabetes is an alteration in how the body produces or responds to insulin and glucose levels. Clinical depression is an alteration in the level of certain neurotransmitters of the brain. An infected wound is an alteration in the function of the body’s immune system (a break in the skin and an immune reaction to whatever might be inside the wound)… The list continues. All of these are, by definition, a disease.
Much like those examples, substance misuse disorders develop an alteration the chemistry and neural pathways of the brain, effectively altering the function of the brain. When this misuse disorder becomes addiction, it is absolutely a disease.
I could talk about addiction for hours, even days. I thought starting off with demonstrating how it is an alteration in how the body functions might help us to realize that this is legitimately a disease. It is physical. As such, it has to be treated as a physical disease that requires a team of healthcare professionals and a support network in order to treat. Just like any other disease.
