The Disease Model of Addiction

The Disease Model of Addiction views addiction as a chronic medical condition that affects the brain's structure and function. It suggests that individuals with addiction have an altered neurobiology that impairs their ability to control substance use despite negative consequences. This model emphasizes that addiction is not a moral failing or lack of willpower but a diagnosable health condition requiring treatment. Like other diseases, it involves factors such as genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental influences, and often requires ongoing management rather than a one-time fix.