RANT: Why addiction is considered a disease

***first, the definition of "disease" is:  An abnormal condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, inflammation, environmental factors, or genetic defect, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs, symptoms, or both.

Fact: genetic factors account for about HALF of the likelihood of someone developing an addiction. Some people become addicted to a substance more easily than other people. FOR EXAMPLE: cocaine. Some people will do cocaine a handful of times and become addicted to it. Other people can do cocaine on a regular basis for years and NEVER develop an addiction or withdrawal symptoms upon quitting. 

YES, trying drugs is a choice. Putting a needle in your arm to shoot heroin is a CHOICE. But becoming addicted to the heroin is NOT a choice. THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT A DISEASE. 

Doing drugs = choice 

Becoming addicted to said drug = not a choice

When someone becomes addicted to a drug it changes the wiring and biochemistry of their brain even when not high. And with some drugs (like heroin) if you just quit heroin cold turkey, you can actually DIE. From not doing the drug. It changes your body to the point that your body now requires the drug in order to function. And this type of damage from addiction can take years and years to reverse. Now Scroll back up to the definition of disease and read it again 👍

You can be addicted to a drug/struggle with addiction even if you aren't currently using it. Even if you haven't used it in months or years. Curing addiction is not as simple as just quitting. BECAUSE ITS A DISEASE.