Addiction, Treatment and Recovery

The disease of addiction has a target organ known as the mid brain. The cause is regulatory dysfunction of a neurotransmitter called dopamine.  The effect is a common group of symptoms seen in each and every alcoholic and addict known to have the disease of dependence:  loss of control, craving, and persistent use despite adverse consequences. Many alcoholics and addicts have been accused of selfishness, of choosing their behaviors for a reward or pleasure, since that portion of the brain targeted by alcohol has often been called the reward or pleasure center. This impression of hedonistic behavior on the part of the addict has for a long time caused inappropriate judgment, bringing shame to the one who suffers with this disease.

The family is very affected by the disease of addiction because the alcoholic or the addict will violate so many boundaries to get to his or her drug of choice.  Often they cast aside job, family, health, marriage and their notion of a Higher Power to get to the top of their survival pyramid––their drug of choice.

The disease of addiction, like other diseases, is chronic and organic. It sites the brain as its target organ. It relapses. It remits. It is cunning, baffling and powerful, but treated one day at a time, lasting recovery is the promise for each and every alcoholic or addict afflicted. All that is required is that they have the willingness to take the first steps.

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7 Responses to “The Disease of Addiction”

1. John C. says:

   October 23, 2010 at 7:32 pm

   hi there , every so often the Betty Ford Center comes back into to the attention of media , etc. over here in the UK …. years ago i was advised to stop drinking / drugging, yea yea i,d say like every other addict , i didnt want to hear all that , not realising that my life had started to go wrong long before , i cant really talk now my sons here . and lots of images are starting to surface , but if its ok i shall write again soon , i hope you are all as well as can be, take care … john xx
2. Pepe S. says:

   October 26, 2010 at 3:57 am

   Hola a todos los adictos del mundo, deseo para todos un despertar espiritual pleno. Gracias Betty Ford Center, por tus aportaciones a la recuperacion.
   Translation: Hello to all addicts in the world, I wish for everyone a full spiritual awakening. Thanks Betty Ford Center, for your contributions to the recovery.
3. Arturo says:

   December 15, 2010 at 2:45 am

   I was very pleased to read the article, “The Disease of Addiction.” I entered rehab 98 days ago. Rehab was the most precious life experience for me. I faced fear head on. My hardest part of recovery was stopping. Recovery is literally day to day. I went from obsessively thinking about alcohol and wanting it, to obsessively thinking about it, to then it just being a thought that briefly popped into my mind and leaving after I pushed it back out of my head.
   This article helped me understand a bit more about addiction. Thanks for sharing this article!
4. Betty Ford Center says:

   December 15, 2010 at 10:10 pm

   Thank you, Arturo. We feel that it is very important that people understand addiction is a disease. We wish you the best in your recovery.
5. Heather says:

   April 28, 2011 at 3:41 pm

   Hi, I just want to say my brother has a meth addiction and he has lost everything because of it … he knows he needs help and he wants help unfortunately the cost is so expensive that he hasn’t been able to get that help. He leaves tomorrow for 8 yrs in prison and it hurts so bad to know that i am losing 8 yrs with him because of his addiction. I really wish there was a program that could help him … prison time may or may not sober him up because we all know drugs in prison are very easy to get, and with an addiction it’s more then just sobering up. I understand addiction; a lot of people don’t, they just judge call them junkies or say the world would be better off without this person … well, maybe to them, but to me, I miss my brother and I love him. I will never turn my back on himl he is my brother and I love him, addiction or not. I just pray he finds peace in his heart and the help he needs before we lose him forever…
6. Bobbi says:

   October 24, 2011 at 2:12 am

   To Heather:
   My son is like your brother, but thankfully he has not been sent to prison; after reading your post, I feel very bad for him. Prison is not the place for addicts, but unfortunately because of our system, that is where a lot of them end up. We have battled with my son for almost 20 years from alcoholism and drug addiction. He is 40 years old, and it has taken a toll on our lives. But just like you said, we love him, he has a disease, and we will never abandon him. “I will never turn my back on him, I love him, addiction or not.” He is a good person and would give his shirt to anyone who needed it. We keep him in our home because the alternative would just be too hard to bear (if he had to go on the street to live, he wouldn’t make it. I guarantee that!) So don’t listen to the doctors who say, “Just throw him out!” He will learn when he hits rock bottom.” He’s hit rock bottom so many times, and they call us enablers! Just keep loving your brother and give him support in prison – its all you can do right now – bless you and your brother! Bobbi
7. Calvin says:

   October 29, 2011 at 6:31 pm

   As a physician with a history of addiction to opioids, I feel I’m caught between a rock and a hard place. Approximately 10 years ago I self reported to my medical board and was sent into a 30 day inpatient treatment program. I then entered into the medical board’s aftercare program for five years which included random drug testing and 12 step meetings. I remained clean and sober for nearly ten years until going through a very painful divorce. This was truly the low point of my life and I made the foolish decision to use again. I was cited for DUI and because the charges were dismissed I decided not to report it. I have remained clean and sober since but that one event which occurred over two years ago, I may be forced into long term treatment. I feel really good right now. I’ve been attending meetings regularly, getting counseling, and have had no relapses since. I just hope and pray that the medical board will see this as just an isolated event in the midst of what was essentially a nervous breakdown and will not force me into treatment. That would devastate my practice and my finances, not to mention my ability to earn a living…