Podcasts Health Busting Addiction and Its Myths What We've Learned So Far

What We've Learned So Far

Published: Dec. 13, 2019, 8 a.m.

b'

It\\u2019s a disease, stupid!
Paraphrasing a famous political slogan from the US, this episode offers slam-dunk proof that addiction and alcoholism are disease states, and that the addict has lost his power of choice when the disease compels him to inflict harm on himself and others.

We cover these topics:

1.\\xa0 Addiction and alcoholism are recognised by the leading scientists in the US as chronic, relapsing diseases of the brain, causing compulsive using behaviour and loss of control over intake, despite harmful long-term consequences.

2.\\xa0 The main take-away is that addiction is compulsive so that when an addiction is activated, addicts lose the power of choice, that he will perform a harmful act over and over.

3.\\xa0 There go all the theories of it being a moral failing or the power of will. Just say no is false promise.

4.\\xa0 Saying that treatment or 12 \\u2013step programs don\\u2019t work is like blaming the gym if you\\u2019re out of shape. \\u201cYou have to make the commitment and do the work for you to have any chance of long-term success.\\u201d

5.\\xa0 Long term success in recovery is more about what the addict does AFTER he leaves treatment than the fact that he went into treatment. Recovery is a lifetime commitment.

'