The disease model of addiction embraces the belief that addiction is a brain disease, characterized by brain abnormalities that cause people with these abnormalities to become addicted upon being exposed to a substance. Some critics, however, object to the classification of addiction as a “disease,” as it may encourage an individual to adopt a victim mentality and absolve him/her of taking responsibility for his/her behavior.
Do you agree with the disease model of addiction—namely, that addiction is a disease like any other (e.g. cancer, diabetes), or do you think of addiction as more of a moral failing/character flaw? Do you think that the way addiction is conceptualized (disease or moral failing) has implications for how addiction is treated?
