Is Addiction a Brain Disease? Essay

dependance, it is completely around us, affecting mickle from all walks of life, it is non limited to certain social classes or lifestyles. It is found in every ethnic group, regardless of gender or age. It affects our neighbors, our friends, and our family either instantly or indirectly. Although signifi standces such as alcohol and illegal drugs ar 2 of the most common colonys we hear almost, there is a wide footslog of substances and even activities such as gambling and shopping. There is some believe whether dependency is a mentality indisposition or a choice. This literary argument has been going on for years and a conclusion whether or not habituation is a point disorder has yet to be reached. harmonize to a publication Is habituation a maven Disease? (1998) , by two psychiatrists, Sally Satel, M.D., and Frederick K. Goodwin, M.D., some(prenominal) argue the virtues of thinking about colony as a primary, though modifiable, behavioral phenomenon, rather than simply as a adept illness.That is, habituation is a do work of a soulfulness, rather than simply a physical accede (Satel, Goodwin, 1998, p. 3). According to a publication by the interior(a) Institution of medicate Ab workout (NIDA, 2007), habituation is a chronic, relapsing affection characterized by imperative drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences as well as neurochemical and molecular(a) changes in the brilliance (NIDA, 2007). For the purpose of this paper the focus allow foring be on the substance of drugs of ill-usage when discussing colony, just before get into the two controersial sides an naked(prenominal) definition we buns look at outside of these two opinions is commencen from textbook, Psychology 10th Ed, by David G. Myers colony is a compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences (Myers, 113). pro Drug Addiction is a foreland Disease.The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that habituation is a earn ing disease. The initial decision to take drugs is a mortals voluntary choice. However, once a someone takes that drug of abuse it deal effect the pleasurable area of the humour (NIDA, 2007), in which, colony takes over the persons capability of self-importance control, which can result in harmful actions. Thus, when a person uses drugs over a tenacious detail of time the virtuoso structure and the office it operates changes resulting in harmful effects and actions. Addiction is tied to changes in brain structure and function, basically making it a brain disease. Further to a greater extent, all drugs of abuse take over common affects one expressive style or another at bottom the brain, which activates the pleasurable area of the brain (NIDA, 2007).Drugs of abuse reward our normal actions, therefore, if the brain gets a lot of stimulation it produces pleasant feelings, which drives a person to continually use drugs over and over. NIDA as well as points out that from sci ence question brain-imaging studies from dependant individuals have shown physical changes in areas of the brain that are critical for judgment, decision making, learning and memory, and behavior control (NIDA, 2007) which indicates that once those areas of the brain are unbalanced so is a persons capability of freely choosing not to take drugs, leading to negative actions.Additionally, science search shows that these changes alter the substance the brain functions, which may explain the uncontrollable and negative actions of a person. Furthermore, consort to NIDA dependence can be treated and managed prosperedly since it is a chronic disease and research has shown that combining behavioral therapy with medications is the best way to mark off success for most patients with this chronic disease indicating that it is a treatable and manageable mistakable to other brain diseases.CON Addiction is not a Brain Disease.According to a publication retrieved from Ethics and Public Po licy subject matter (EPPC) Is Addiction a Brain Disease? two psychiatrists, Sally Satel, M.D., and Frederick K. Goodwin, M.D., they do not agree with NIDAs take away that addiction means compulsive drug-taking driven by drug-induced brain changes. They believe addiction is a function of a person rather than simply a physical state and a person is in voluntary control of their decision and actions (Satel, Goodwin 3). If a person can make the choice to take drugs then they can also make the choice to law of closure taking drugs, especially during those multiplication in betwixt when they are not taking drugs. For a person to voluntarily continue taking drugs of their own accord then they should be held accountable for their addictive behavior and not use brain disease as an excuse.Further, circumstances such as economical, health, or personal issues resulting in a persons choice to take drugs ironically can be the same reasons for them to either change their pattern, stop taking d rugs, or get help versus the unavoidable, willing effect of a diseased brain. Additionally, those that pick out to continue being inclined over a long head of time illustrates that by making that choice they are not mixed-up compared to a person who has a chronic disease. Rather than being the inevitable, involuntary product of a diseased brain, these actions represent the essence of voluntariness. The addicts behavior can be modified by knowledge of the consequences. nonvoluntary behavior cannot (Satel, Goodwin, 1998, pg. 5). As a result of that knowledge the prone person is in control and can take be in safekeeping of their actions to change the cycle and make a deliberate effort to change.My castMy position is optimistic on the subject Is Addiction a Brain Disease? Addiction is a primary, progressive, and chronic disease of the brain, which creates physical, emotional, and spiritual impairments. I have seen this disease affect people close to me and can simply have hope that someday there will be a treatment. First hand, I have seen three families, with different backgrounds, modify by addiction. Two lost a loved one to the overdose of drugs and the other is struggling along with their loved one, who is addicted, to defeat it. One mother cherished to know how this could have happened to her son, how he could lose control of his life and eventually lost the battle of addiction. I do not believe that a person voluntarily WANTS to be addicted, or that they even realize what addiction truly is prior to becoming addicted. However, I do agree with both sides that a person does voluntarily make the choice to take a drug of abuse. But have given more thought into it about wherefore a person cant just stop taking the drug when they know it is harmful and changes their behavior.My conclusion is that addiction is ca apply by drugs that are induced with one or more certain types of chemicals that get going through with(predicate) the brain and have an ef fect on the area of the brain where we feel pleasure and joyful feelings. Also, some people are more susceptible than others to becoming addicted to drugs of abuse than others because their brain reacts differently to the chemical(s) in a drug. Furthermore, addiction has signs and symptoms and a predictable progression and it is apparent that the characteristics of the disease and the approaches to treatment is not any different from other chronic brain diseases. Addiction is a brain disease since its causes are complex but its results are clear. Im in agreement with NIDA that an 6 addicting substance changes the way the brain works over a long period of time, which leads to the activities of what we recognize as addiction and like most other brain diseases, addiction can be treated. Although treatment can be long and difficult and there are often relapses, it can be successful if people acknowledge it as such and treat it accordingly.Multicultural actionAddiction affects, if not t o all, most countries and cultures. According to the annual report of the UN inter guinea pigistic Narcotics Control placard (INCB), the estimated number of drug abusers foundationwide in 2009 was between 172 million and 250 million people. Varying by different narcotics, the 2007 report national rates range from 0.8% to 11% overall with the highest rates in Italy, Spain, and the unify Kingdom and the lowest rates recorded in Romania, Malta, followed by Bulgaria, Greece and Sweden (INCB, 2007, pg. 98). Although we bang from different cultures, most of the world shares common diseases and since most countries are affected by addiction the sharing of awareness, knowledge, and research information between cultures could have a huge positive impact on the world.Critical LiteracyNIDAs position of Yes, Addiction is a brain disease is based on their commitment of continued studies and research into drugs of abuse, addiction, backing up their argument that addiction is at bottom the b rain not the individual. Satel and Goodwoods position of No, Addiction is not a Brain Disease is based on their conclusion, according to their research into others researches and their knowledge in the positions they hold as psychiatrists that addiction is an individuals choice not a disease in spite of appearance the brain. Both are able to support their claims by information provided through research.Civic LiteracyBesides the known fact that millions of people around the world are directly or indirectly affected by addiction, it has a huge impact on our society. Not only with the economical be involved for medical and healthcare, there is the cost of crime as a result of consequences from addiction, loss of productivity in the workforce, and many deaths that result from complications of addiction and overdose. By being aware and informed of addiction, citizens can be appurtenant and helpful to those battling addiction and help prevent others from getting the disease. They can a lso help by being understanding and supportive to those who are addicted and elevate them get the treatment they indigence to battle it.Another way to lend a hand is citizens can get involved within their community and promote physical and social activities for all age groups. Citizens can make a difference just by starting someplace instead of doing nothing and thinking oh thats their problem or it will never affect me or worse it is their fault they are addicted. It is happening, it can happen to anyone directly or indirectly, and it isnt anyones fault. We need stricter laws on drug making and trafficking to help our society, otherwise we will contract an addictive society. Our leaders can invest in continued and sophisticated scientific research for prevention and treatment.Values LiteracyClearly with as untold research as there has been on this topic there is a huge interest and concern of what is happening in our society. By upholding good values we can consider others opi nions with an open mind on topics such as this knowing that while we carry our own values, we must encourage those values as a society to help combat addiction and by being open to the opinions of others we can all come unneurotic to battle this disease. With NIDAs investment into research and treatment it shows they have a special interest and concern on the value of life andour society. It appears the opposing side would rather dispute the issue and disregard it as a disease, but rather the behavior of a person.Scientific LiteracyNIDA is known as being one of the largest supporters of the worlds research on drug abuse and addiction. Government funds are used for scientific research by tracking emerging drug use trends, understanding how drugs work in the brain and body, developing and testing new drug treatment and prevention approaches, and disseminating findings to the general public and special populations (NIDA, 2007). They claim that the Science of Addiction has evidence ba cking up their argument that addiction is a disease of the brain.Psychiatrists Satel and Goodwin, claim that based off biological studies and scientific findings there are not sufficient facts to back up NIDAs claim that addiction is a brain disease, supporting their argument that addiction is not a brain disease.ConclusionAfter completing my research, it was not a surprise to find there are differences of opinion on this topic and understandably so. This research and my experience of having observed the affects of addiction number one hand have not only driven my passion to understand addiction and the brain, but strengthen my position that addiction is a brain disease. By keeping an open mind allows me to learn and recognize the views of others. Addiction is a common disease we all share directly or indirectly, it is an International problem. The more people know and understand addiction the chances they will be open to looking at it differently. Knowledge and understanding are t wo biggest parts of moving forward in taking this disease more severely.It does no good to blame the abuser My hope is that people will look at addiction and take it more seriously if it is considered a brain disease and put more time and property into further research to find out what is actually causing the addiction in the brain and why some people are more susceptible than others. One may lean more toward the idea of addicts choosing to be addicts and that they have complete control over their actions however, if the addict learns a class to moderation, they face medical complications associated with withdrawal.The physical effects of withdrawal can release severe enough to cause death and require medical treatment, thusly suggesting addiction is a form of disease. No matter what side you choose on this debate, you should expect to run across supportive evidence of the exchange side while arguing your point. It is a choice to try a substance, but it is not a choice to bec ome addicted. Although this brain disease does not remove an addict from their responsibility for their behavior it does explain why many addicts cannot stop using drugs by strength alone.References1. Satel, S., & Goodwin, F.K. (1998). Is Drug Addiction a Brain Disease?, (9th edition). Upper Saddle River, N.J. Pearson Prentice Hall. Retrieved from http//www.eppc.org/publications/bookID.19,filterID./book_detail.asp 2. National Institute of Drug Abuse. (2007). Is Drug Addiction a Disease? Unknown. Retrieved from http//www.drugabuse.gov/publications/topics-in-brief/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction3. Myers, D.G. (2011).Psychology. (10th edition). late York Worth Publishers4. International Narcotics Control Boars (2011). Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2011 Unknown. Retrieved from http//www.incb.org/incb/en/publications/annual-reports/annual-report-2011.html