Addictions are diseases

Although addiction has been recognized as a disease for several decades now, much of the general public still views it as a problem of moral weakness. Even those who are more "enlightened" continue to struggle with identifying addiction as a primary, progressive disease that significantly impairs a person's ability to quit using alcohol or drugs and remain abstinent.

If we were to accept that addiction is a disease:

• We would provide treatment for the lifetime of the addict because addiction is a chronic disease and has no cure. A diabetic, for example, does not suddenly cease needing to see his doctor or receive medication.
• Health insurance coverage for addiction would be the same as for other diseases. Yet today most insurers provide no addiction treatment coverage. How would we react if our insurance company balked at paying for insulin or chemotherapy?
• We would know that relapse is often a part of the disease and recovery process. We don't deny patients continued treatment if their cancer recurs, nor do we put a time limit on the treatment of diabetes.
• We would not make alcoholics or addicts the butt of jokes. Heard any good jokes about cancer patients lately?
• There would be no shame associated with addiction. Families would not view addiction as an embarrassing secret.
• Recovering alcoholics and addicts would not be fearful of disclosing their disease. Currently, recovering people experience discrimination in employment, housing, adoption, medical insurance eligibility and many other areas.
• We would not send addicts to jail or prison solely because of their disease. Many are incarcerated not because they have committed a new crime, but because they have been unable to stay clean and sober, of which the vast majority have received little or no treatment.

Recognizing and treating addiction as a disease allows sufferers to obtain help much earlier in the diseases progression. Imagine what could be accomplished if we could totally rid addiction of its remaining stigmas. But that would be a perfect world.