Addiction

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of other so called "diseases". A major example is homosexuality. Until the 1960's, homosexuality was said to be a disease and then was changed to be classified as an illness in 1973. Today homosexuality is a non-disease unless that person is unhappy with being homosexual. Addiction could soon take these same steps into becoming a non-disease unless the addict is unhappy with the addiction (Schaler, 239).
To better support this opposing view, clarifying "disease" is a major step. A major reason to why addiction is labeled as a disease is for the simple fact that addicts turn to doctors in helping overcome their addiction (Schaler, 240). These people who rely on doctors for the recovery process solely believe that addiction is a disease and if they do not follow this belief they will not recover from their addiction. In this opposing view it is also said that addiction starts off with the action of consuming that of which is addicted. This action itself is not a disease. Although ...

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as a mental disorder or disease. Concluding that it is hard to define addiction as a mental or physical disease (Schaler, 242).
From the other point of view, addictive drugs have many incredibly harmful effects on the brain and the actions we perform in our everyday lives. The main problem to why the usage of drugs occurs is by our natural response to repeat behaviors that have positive rewards (according to psychologists). Humans over time have come to establish natural rewards such as food, water, and sex and artificial rewards such as money, goods, and drugs. Both of these rewards share the same brain circuits and while engaging in these circuits addictive drugs have ...

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