When you come down with a cold or flu, you don’t think you’re a bad person, right? If you break your leg, do you look at the sky and curse your “weak” bones? Probably not. However, that perspective was once common. People once thought alcoholism or drug addiction was a sign of bad character, not realizing the role that social and environmental elements and unlucky genetics play.
Thankfully, those days are now largely gone. Professionals now treat addiction as a disease. But why was addiction ever viewed as a moral failing? And why does it matter for treatment today?
The History of Addiction
There was once a time when addiction was viewed as a weakness that a person could overcome if they tried hard enough. This perspective was ill-informed, ineffective, and even dangerous.
In many cultures, people regarded alcoholism as a moral failing. In some religious traditions, many people regarded alcoholism as a sin, partly because it caused sinful actions. Right and wrong behavior was ultimately under each individual’s control, and if someone failed to behave appropriately, it was their choice. This belief was a tragic misunderstanding, derived from the erroneous idea that people could always control their behavior without outside assistance.
Such a perspective had major ramifications for treatment. First, individuals were often considered undeserving of compassionate help for addiction — after all, addiction was a moral failure and, therefore, “their fault.” Second, because alcoholism was considered the drinker’s fault, individuals were reluctant to seek treatment due to the shame that came with admitting their “weakness.” Finally, addiction treatment was not research- or evidence-based. Instead, it focused on prayer, jail time, institutionalization, and other unhelpful experiments.
Genetics, Trauma, and Psychology
Today, we know better. No personality trait causes a person to become addicted to certain substances. People with substance use disorders are not inherently good or bad. Instead, they have been dealt a bad hand, like any other physical or emotional disease.
Consider the evidence which proves this point.
First, take a look at addiction from the perspective of genetics and biology. Genetics accounts for half of the risk of becoming addicted to certain substances. Although a specific gene for addiction hasn’t been identified, numerous studies have shown a strong genetic component between close family members and addiction.
Environmental and individual factors — such as upbringing and traumatic experiences — also play a key role. A clear connection exists between addiction and personal or environmental factors, including mental and emotional health conditions, childhood trauma, and early learning.
Finally, exposure to substances and the timing of initial drug or alcohol use can also increase the odds of developing an addiction. Early drug or alcohol use positively correlates with the risk of becoming addicted to certain substances. This risk factor is often connected to other factors, such as family history and genetics. However, this raises a broader point: A variety of interlocking factors can increase the odds of developing a substance use disorder, and none of these factors include any sort of moral failing or weakness.
Treating Addiction as a Disease
As time passed, the scientific consensus began to shift, with more people inclined to treat addiction as a disease. Various treatment modalities have since emerged that can comprehensively address substance use disorders. These treatments are much more comprehensive than simply prayer or reflection on one’s poor choices or sins.
Why does this matter? There are many reasons.
First, treating addiction as a disease gives people hope. Moral failings are subjective and mercurial in their definition. They change based on societal standards. However, treatment can potentially address any illness, and additional scientific advances can improve currently available treatments.
Second, diseases are based on scientific evidence and reasoning, not subjective opinion. This perspective allows scientists and doctors to study diseases and create formal diagnostic criteria to help develop treatments and tests. It can give people with substance use disorder hope and encourage them to get the help they need.
Finally, treating addiction as a disease removes the moral judgment from addiction. Let’s go back to the earlier example: You wouldn’t shame someone for catching the flu or breaking a leg. Most people understand that everyone gets sick or suffers an injury and deserves treatment. By treating addiction as a disease, we can encourage people to get the help they need and reduce the stigma surrounding addiction. It also encourages people to talk to others with a substance use disorder, thus building community support and camaraderie.
Get the Help You Deserve
At Transformations Treatment Center, we know that addiction isn’t your fault — but it is your responsibility. We strive to help individuals regain power over their lives by surrounding them with a supportive treatment environment that can help them get the help they need. We offer a wide range of treatment programs and plans customized around your needs and pathway to recovery.
Transformations Treatment Center understands the pain caused by addiction, and we are 100% dedicated to helping you or your loved one get your life back on track. Ready to take the next steps? Contact us today by visiting our website or calling (800) 270-4315.
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