Alcoholism or addiction to other drugs, and some compulsive behaviors coexist, have been and remain one of the most important concerns in our country. Not only are a public health problem but also family, social, economic, labor and legal: addiction not only affects the sufferer, but to all people around.
Concept of Disease
Despite many years of addiction as a disease has been defined by the World Health Organization, many people still believe it is due to a habit or vice. For this reason remains stigmatized and, unfortunately, both the addict and the people around her have avoided the problem for fear of the judgments of others and because they think it really has no solution.
It is paradoxical to think that other chronic diseases are treated with less widely used and accepted while addiction affects more people each day still considered a marginal issue and focus with so much despair and shame.
The addiction to drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, designer drugs, prescription medications or any psychoactive drug that has taken a clear priority in self-destructive life of a person, not a single source. It is a multi-causal phenomenon that can occur in anyone, without regard to race, religion, sex or economic status, family or social.
This disease is primary, chronic and progressive. Primary means it is a disease in itself, not a symptom of other emotional or psychological disorders. As a disease, is an involuntary condition that prevents the person addicted to exercise self-control, unlike those who do not suffer, for this reason it is a cruel mistake to insist that the person is “willpower” to stop intoxicated.
Addiction is a disease characterized by loss of control in the consumption of one or more addictive drugs (alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, tranquilizers, etc.).. This loss of control makes the addict, but he wishes, do not get permanently stop using its own.
We must be aware that neither the patient’s wishes or family pressure will solve the problem. Only appropriate professional treatment can address the situation and achieve the patient’s recovery.
