Addiction As A Brain Disease: The Disease Model of Addiction
- Article
- Scientifically Informed
This resource provides information about why addiction is defined as a disease, like diabetes or cancer, by most medical associations; it describes how the use of drugs or alcohol impacts how the brain functions, and answers the common question “why is willpower often not enough?”
Use this as one of your resources to learn the basics about addiction and understand its course and impact on brain and social development. If you think your child is using drugs or alcohol, you may want to review the resource, “I Think My Child Is Using”.
How to Use
Read the overview about addiction as a brain disease then scroll down to the bottom of the page to check out the related material, including the “addiction is a disease video.”
Who Should Use
Anyone who is interested in learning the basics about addiction as a brain disease should read this overview including: parents of young adolescents (12-16); parents of older teens/young adults (17-25); parents of adult children; adolescents/young adults; and teachers/community support personnel.
Scientific Background
The information in this resource was adapted from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse’s report, Addiction Medicine: Closing the Gap Between Science and Practice. The Center is a national organization focused on assessing the impact of all addictive substances in all sectors of society.
The full report and a detailed citation list can be found here.
