Is Addiction A Disease?

stressed out woman resting elbows on table while holding temples and wondering is addiction a disease

We understand that many who suffer from substance abuse disorders receive a lot of blame on their part. Your family members, friends, and even mental health professionals may have pointed to you as the only problem and cause. Is addiction a disease? Yes, and compassion, treatment, and motivational encouragement are the only answers to putting this deadly disease behind you. Put a stop to self-blame, and receive treatment that could save your life. Is drug addiction a disease? Your tendency for dependency means it is.

Life is a journey. You may run into obstacles and make mistakes. It is something that happens to us all along the way. At Liberty Bay Recovery Center, we understand bad choices and encourage our patients to look within themselves to find the right solution. We also understand that there are obstacles we cannot control in life. Don’t let the disease model of addiction overpower you.

Is Drug Addiction A Disease? Why Many Say “No”

We judge people every day, and some bad judgments in life are okay and understandable. It’s impossible to go through life without judging people. However, some people do have a large amount of control over their actions and are a danger to society. The vast majority of drug abusers do not have control, but are not dangerous.

So why do people judge drug abusers? We link judgment to the amount of control we think that people have over their actions. You may know people who judge without agreeing that the person has control over their actions. People who tend to have this perception have less compassionate traits.

Loved ones judge for neither of these reasons. They are highly concerned for you and want it all to stop. Sometimes in desperation for a problem to end, we begin to lack understanding. This becomes especially true when the problem is negatively affecting us. Our hurt can get in the way of looking at that person’s pain.

The Disease Model of Addiction

If you are suffering from a substance abuse problem, understand that addiction is not a choice. At Liberty Bay Recovery Center, you can choose to be a part of residential treatment because the urge to use is so overpowering that complete separation is often necessary. To understand this, let’s look at the disease model of addiction.

Addiction works with the brain in three ways. We experience cravings for the substance, lose control over its consumption, and continue involvement regardless of the consequences. The cause of addiction is directly related to the way our brains process pleasure. When we feel pleasure, our brains release the neurotransmitter dopamine. All drugs cause a powerful surge of this chemical. As time goes on, the speed at which this reaction happens becomes slower and less severe. This causes us to take more and more of the drug. Neurotransmitters begin to expect and demand the substance.

Our Approach To Treating Addiction

We offer several approaches that can help you get over this serious disease and go back to living your life. Our Portland, ME, drug rehab center offers constructive skills that will allow you to find ways to increase dopamine production without the use of drugs. Some coping skills you will learn at our Liberty Bay Treatment Center include yoga, meditation, holistic, mindful exercises, and positive thinking.

Get Help At Liberty Bay Recovery Center

Find help with your addiction at our Portland, ME, drug rehab center. We’ll help you understand why you are using and the science behind the disease model of addiction. We can help you treat your substance abuse problem. Let our expert staff of therapists help you along the way. Other patients will act as a supportive community helping you on the path to sobriety, as well.

Need help? Call Liberty Bay Recovery at (855) 607-8758 today. We can start you on the road to recovery.

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Joining Forces

Liberty Bay Recovery Center is proud to announce that we are now part of Gloucester Massachusetts drug recovery initiative program