{"id":35889,"date":"2021-03-20T19:01:25","date_gmt":"2021-03-21T03:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastlinerehabcenters.com\/?p=35889"},"modified":"2021-10-17T05:59:17","modified_gmt":"2021-10-17T05:59:17","slug":"addiction-disease-or-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastlinerehabcenters.com\/addiction\/addiction-disease-or-choice","title":{"rendered":"Is Addiction A Disease Or A Choice?"},"content":{"rendered":"
People dispute whether addiction is a choice or a disease. Each of the parties that support each option poses strong arguments. However, choice and disease both describe addiction. Addiction is a disease. However, it is a disease that usually develops from a series of choices. It starts as a small engagement, and it gets to a point where your brain gets used to it. <\/span><\/p>\n Some people only look at the choice part and victimize their loved ones for their inability to stop their addictive behavior and actions. It is crucial to <\/span>get addiction help<\/span><\/a> for your loved ones rather than criticize them for their choices. <\/span><\/p>\n Addiction is a consequence of various choices. Therefore, on its own, it is a disease. People confuse initial abuse with addiction. It is important to stop abuse before it develops into an addiction. Why is addiction a disease? Here are a few reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n It is important to get addiction treatment before you get to experience any severe consequences. <\/span><\/p>\n The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions like delaying reward, delaying reward, and more. <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> shows that drugs hijack your brain\u2019s reward system and decrease your motivation towards rewards that are not drug-related. <\/span><\/p>\n Drugs and alcohol trigger the release of dopamine and other chemicals in the brain. The brain usually releases these chemicals to satisfy important needs like hunger, thirst, and sex. Abuse of drugs and alcohol causes the brain to release high amounts of dopamine and other chemicals. <\/span><\/p>\n Once you abuse drugs and alcohol often, it will interfere with the brain parts responsible for memory, reward, and motivation. However, your brain will try to counter the effect of drugs and the chemicals it releases. Therefore, you will find that you need to use more substances to experience the desired effects. <\/span><\/p>\n Once addiction sets in, your brain reacts differently when stressed and when you deprive it of drugs and alcohol. You will experience withdrawal symptoms such as intense cravings. Addicted people will cave into these cravings a lot. <\/span><\/p>\n Furthermore, they lose interest in their previous hobbies because they do not offer the same sense of reward. Moreover, addicts find excuses to use drugs and more excuses to avoid getting help. <\/span><\/p>\n People often describe addiction as a choice because they confuse initial abuse and addiction. When an individual starts abusing drugs, that is a choice. The next few times will also be due to choices depending on how addictive a drug is. <\/span><\/p>\n However, addiction takes over how your brain functions and influences your choices in various ways, such as withdrawal symptoms<\/a>. Therefore, addiction is a disease that arises from choices. <\/span><\/p>\n Many other diseases come from the choices we make. Examples include cancers, heart disease, and diabetes. You must get help if you are addicted or suspect a loved one is. <\/span><\/p>\n There are various treatment programs for addiction. However, treatment providers should customize treatment depending on an individual\u2019s level of addiction, support system, and other factors. Moreover, treatment\u2019s level and intensity should adjust according to a patient\u2019s addiction severity and progress. <\/span><\/p>\n The addiction treatment programs include:<\/span><\/p>\nAddiction Is a Disease, Not Someone\u2019s Choice.<\/b><\/h2>\n
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How Addiction Affects Your Brain<\/b><\/h2>\n
Why Some People Consider Addiction as a Choice<\/b><\/h2>\n
How To Treat Addiction Effectively<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Do You Need Addiction Treatment in California?<\/b><\/h2>\n