Breaking the Stigma of the Disease of Addiction
The topic of addiction has long been attached to a negative stigma, which we believe is rooted in a lack of education. The truth is that addiction is a disease. Despite scientists and medical professionals providing evidence that addiction is, in fact, a chronic disease, many still view it as a moral failing. Hence, this has created the negative stigma that we’re faced with today.
While our organization operates each day to provide treatment for those with the disease of addiction and substance use disorders, we also want to help provide this education to help de-stigmatize these disorders.. By talking about the disease + treatment more, as well as by providing more research-backed resources on the matter, we can help to increase society’s awareness around this topic and hopefully help to break this stigma.
There are a few key pieces of information we think it’s helpful to start with when educating people on addiction and why it’s classified as a disease:
First, we think it’s important to understand the definition of addiction. The American Society Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines Addiction as “a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations.”
It’s also important to understand the role that genetic predisposition plays in the disease of addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that family studies suggest that as much as half of a person’s risk of becoming addicted to a substance depends on their genetic makeup.
As with any other chronic disease, research on substance use disorders show a clear list of symptoms and an ongoing progression of the disease. But, it’s also important to call out that unlike some diseases, addiction is one that is treatable.
There is so much more research + education on addiction, but these simple facts can help provide a foundation of understanding on why addiction is a disease and not simply a series of choices. In order to truly combat this disease, it’s imperative that we continue to open up the conversation about it – to provide facts rooted in research and to provide evidence-based treatment for those who are fighting addiction.
The more we talk about the disease of addiction, the more education spreads. Hopefully, greater education leads to less of a stigma, but also hopefully it leads to individuals seeking treatment sooner, as well. It’s our goal to continue to be a source of treatment, recovery, and education. We want to use our platforms as a means to elevate this topic + hopefully help more people on their path to recovery.