Substance Abuse/addiction: Choice or Disease?

Substance Abuse/Addiction: Choice or Disease?

        Addiction, meaning “the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing or activity,” forming from an initial personal habit should not be considered a disease of the brain because it does not cause immediate detriment to the body. Many people argue whether drug addiction is a disease or choice and in this research essay I will be discussing this argument in hopes to have a better understanding as to why this topic is so controversial. Throughout my research, I easily found information on this topic and I believe I have come across some answers.

        The biggest argument I have come across is that addiction is a choice, and not a disease. For those on the other side of the argument claim just the opposite. According to a source on the internet entitled “Alcohol and Drug Treatment: The Disease Concept of Substance Abuse and Addiction,” the idea of drugs and other substances being a disease is a “very controversial and debated topic.”

        For the purposes of this essay, I must agree that substance abuse and/or addiction is a choice. People get drunk and high because they want to, and because of their own personal choice, they are at risk of becoming addicted. The research I found on this topic seemed to have the most support and facts to dismiss the idea that addiction is a disease. I also believe if there were enough evidence to support the idea of addiction being a disease it would not be such a controversial topic.