When individuals observe compulsive and harmful behaviors in friends or family members, or public figures such as celebrities or politicians, they usually focus just on the substance use or behaviors as the issue. However, these types of outward behaviors are in fact manifestations associated with the underlying disease that consists of several regions of the brain, in accordance with the new definition of addiction.
New Definition of Addiction Says it’s a Chronic Brain Disease
“At its core, addiction isn’t just a social problem or a moral problem or a criminal problem. It’s a brain problem whose behaviors manifest in all these other areas,” said Dr. Michael Miller. “Many behaviors driven by addiction are real problems and sometimes criminal acts. But the disease is about brains, not drugs. It’s about underlying neurology, not outward actions.”
The new definition of addiction resulted from an extensive, 4-year process using more than eighty authorities actively working on it, including top addiction experts, addiction medicine clinicians as well as top neuroscience investigators throughout the country.
Twenty years of development in neurosciences convinced ASAM that the definition of addiction should be redefined by what’s happening within the brain. Studies show how the disease of addiction impacts neurotransmission and also interactions in reward circuitry of the brain, resulting in addictive behaviors which replace healthy behaviors, while memories of earlier experiences with food, sex, alcohol along with drugs induce craving and renewal of addictive behaviors. In the mean time, brain circuitry which controls impulse control and judgment can also be altered with this disease, resulting in the dysfunctional quest for rewards like alcohol as well as other drugs. This area of the brain is still developing throughout teenage years, which might be the reason why early exposure to alcohol and drugs is related to increased probability of addiction later in life.
There’s longstanding controversy over whether individuals with addiction have choice over anti-social and also risky behaviors. The disease creates distortions in thinking, feelings and perceptions, which drive people to behave in ways that are not understandable to others around them. Simply put, addiction is not a choice. Addictive behaviors are a manifestation of the disease, not a cause.
We have to stop moralizing, blaming, controlling or smirking at the person with the disease of addiction, and start creating opportunities for individuals and families to get help and providing assistance in choosing proper treatment,” said Dr. Miller.
The new definition of addiction also identifies addiction as being a primary disease, which means that it isn’t caused by other causes like emotional or psychiatric issues. Addiction can also be acknowledged as a chronic disease, similar to cardiovascular disease or diabetes, therefore it should be treated, managed and watched for a life-time.
Beachway Therapy Center is a South Florida Drug Rehab that specializes in individual care while treating the physical addiction as well as the mental element. For over 10 years they have helped 100′s of clients overcome their addiction to drugs and alcohol. Call today 877-284-0353 for help. Beachway is listed in SAMSHA as an addiction professional and has also been featured in Recovery Month.
Reference for: New Definition of Addiction Says it’s a Chronic Brain Disease
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