Addiction: A Choice or A Disease?

Addiction: A Choice or A Disease?

Drug & Alcohol Addiction Rehab Treatment Center California

•For years people in Portland, OR have debated on whether or not addiction is a moral defect or a disease. Many of us initially saw addicts as individuals lacking free will, but new scientific theories have helped to create a better understanding of addiction in recent times.

•The truth is, addiction is a disease, not a choice.

•Many people who disagree with this notion often argue that the addicts made the decision to use the substance in the first place, but while this is true, it’s of little importance. Many people try drugs socially without ever becoming addicts. Others however, may have an illness or a biological predisposition to addiction. Drugs can affect the brain physically, creating an urge or need for the user to continue abusing the substance. When addiction steps in, it’s

A Look at Addiction •The National Institute on drug abuse defines addiction as a “chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences”. They go on to say that “it is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain—they change its structure and how it works.”

•The main point here is that, once addicted to a drug, a person may feel the need to continue usage despite the harm it’s doing to them and everyone around them. It’s not that they want to be labelled as “crack heads” or that they do not know that it’s bad for them, they’re simply unable to stop.

Addiction as A Disease •In many ways addiction is similar to life changing diseases such as diabetes and asthma affecting people in Portland, OR . For starters, like asthmatic patients in remission who experience shortness of breath and other symptoms at odd moments, addicts typically tend to have several relapses before recovering. Secondly, like these diseases addiction can be managed and treated.

•However, more importantly, addiction is considered to be a disease because it alters the natural state of the brain. It not only creates a compulsive drive for the addict to continue use of the substance but it also pushes them to make irrational or unreasonable choices and blame others for their addiction.

•Without getting too sciencey, let’s take a closer look at how addiction changes the brain.

How Addiction Alters The Brain •“Feel good drugs” as they are more commonly called changes the reward circuit in the brain. With continuous use the brain's ability to function on its own is severely weakened, specifically the regions involved with making decisions, learning new information and controlling one’s behaviour.

•According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse “nearly all addictive drugs directly or indirectly target the brain’s reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine.” If you’re not familiar with Dopamine, think of it as the part of the brain that regulate your desires, emotions, feelings and motivates you.

•With dopamine in the mix, it’s no wonder addicts find it so hard to quit using drugs on their own. Drugs help to stimulate the release of dopamine to produce a feeling of euphoria that the user will continuously desire to revisit. For someone to be able to resist taking the drugs, the area of their brain that regulates their behaviour will need to be functioning properly.

But, Why Does It Matter How We View Addiction •For those of you who have never had to deal with an addict Portland, OR this may all be irrelevant. However, for those of you who may have an addict in the family or a friend who is an addict, it’s important for you to understand that addiction is a disease and not a choice. The way you view the condition will have a great impact on how you interact with the addict whether you shun them or try to be of help.

•Once you understand that addiction is a disease, you’ll learn that:

Firstly, It Has Little To Do With Self Control •“They made their bed and must lie in.” That’s the response many people in Portland, OR tend to give when they hear of someone dying from an overdose or another drug related condition. They believe addicts are able to make conscious choices and therefore deserve what happen to them. This belief is not only wrong, but it doesn’t help anyone either.

•While it’s arguable that they have a choice, many addicts find it difficult to make the right decisions even if it’s for their own good. Remember, the vast majority are not addicts by choice, instead they feel they can’t live without the substance. And in majority of the cases, their bodies becomes so reliant on the substance that they begin to experience serious withdrawal symptoms if they stop usage.

Secondly, Treatment Is Important For Recovery •Due to their dependency on the substance it’s almost impossible for some addicts in Portland, OR to recover on their own. As mentioned before addiction has little to do with willpower. Even so, going cold turkey or utilizing home detox kits have been proven to be both ineffective and dangerous. This is why rehabilitation centers are •important Drug treatment centers in Portland, OR are equipped to to recovery. provide professional care, from administering medications to providing counselling. They allow help addicts to get engage in activities that can help them to regain their normal lives.

Thirdly, It’s Okay If They Fail At Their First Attempt •Since addiction is a disease, you shouldn’t always consider relapse as a failure of the Portland, OR treatment facility . Recovering addicts can relapse for a variety of reasons. When this happens it simply means that they need to continue treatment or take a different approach.

Recovery Is Possible •At the Boulevard Treatment Center in Portland, OR we are devoted to helping addicts reclaim their lives from addiction. We guide our patients through every step of recovery, from the moment they enter our facility to the moment they begin their new lives and beyond. Read about the rehab treatment options we offer at our Portland, OR center and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

CONTACT US • Phone: • (855) 277-5363 • Email: • info@blvdcenters.com • • • • •

Mailing Address: BLVD Treatment Centers 448 South Hill Street Suite 303 Los Angeles, CA 90013