Addiction: The disease that lies

If you knew something would harm you, would you still do it? Those who suffer from addiction may not have a choice. The disease impacts the part of your brain that rewards or reinforces your actions, or the reward center, which ultimately prioritizes the addiction as most important for survival. Dr. Marvin D. Seppala, the chief medical officer of Hazeldon, an alcohol and drug addiction treatment organization, and the author of “Clinician’s Guide to the Twelve Step Principles,” provides the example of a mother addicted to methamphetamine who left her children home alone for days. She may have left to buy groceries, but started using drugs instead. This doesn’t mean that she doesn’t love her kids, just that her reward center reprogrammed itself to make drugs her number one priority. As Dr. Seppala says, “When we witness the incomprehensible behaviors associated with addiction we need to remember these people have a disease, one that alters their brains and their behaviors. We tend to believe we all have free will, so it is difficult to understand how the addicts’ perception has been so altered as to drive them to destruction.” Addicts have a tough road to recovery, but there is hope with treatment. The problem is that many people don’t recognize they are struggling from addiction, so they don’t seek help. “All of us are responsible for learning the truth about addiction, raising awareness and intervening for those who have this disease, knowing they are unlikely to be able to do so for themselves,” Dr. Seppala reminds us.

CNN, 7/16/13