ADDICTION

Addiction is broadly defined as a persistent, compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful. For our discussion, the term chemical dependency includes alcoholism and drug addiction (mind-altering substances, i.e.: marijuana, cocaine, heroin, opiates, etc.). Medically speaking, chemical dependency is defined as a primary, chronic, progressive and fatal disease. Since it is a disease, no one is to blame. It is an involuntary disability, for which one is considered to be “powerless”. It will progress and worsen continually over time and often result in death, jail, insanity or institutions unless an intervention would occur that would “arrest” this disease at that moment. To arrest it one must stop drinking/using completely. Left untreated the disease with its consequences will only get worse.