Understanding Addiction

We accept the scientific consensus that drug or alcohol addiction is a disease that has biological and/or genetic roots and can have behavioral, social, psychological and spiritual consequences. We work to help people understand that, while decision-making has a lot to do with social patterns of use, one does not decide to become addicted. It is not about making choices or lack of will power.

While there are many elements of dependency that are common to alcohol and drugs, each has its own characteristics in terms of how the body and mind are affected, and how a person can move from "social use" to habit to addiction.

Addiction can get its hook into just about anyone, regardless of income, education, profession, race, family makeup or spirituality. Medical science tells us some people are genetically hard-wired to fall victim to the disease, regardless of their best efforts to resist. Not everyone with this predisposition is affected; but combined with the wrong environmental conditions and the introduction of the substance, it can lead to addiction.