Amikolle

I was poking around teh intarweb this afternoon and found this site, all about drug addiction and the chemical effects, the disease model, and current theories about treatment.  I spent about 2 hours reading all the articles, and it left me feeling a little drained and not a little grumpy.

The disease model of addiction is recognized by most major health organizations, but it remains extremely controversial.  The disease model is summarized in wikipedia, AlcoholandDrugTreatment.net, and in a PBS Frontline article.  Personally, I subscribe to the belief that addiction is a disease which can be treated and kept in “remission” as long as certain behaviors are modified and a support network is developed.  One of the defining attributes of addiction is the physical and psychological obsession and compulsion to use.  From personal experience, I know that nothing, nothing, could stop me when I was in the grip of the drugs.  I believe that what is helping me to stay clean is the fact that I have been undergoing psychiatric counseling, and take my prescribed meds, I attend NA meetings daily, and I reach out to other addicts for support.  To me, this sounds very similar to someone with severe diabetes who seeks medical attention, takes required meds, and seeks help from others with diabetes for help with diet and lifestyle modification.

But what do I know.