Addiction is a primary, progressive, chronic and potentially fatal disease caused by chemical changes in the brain. It changes the way a person thinks, feels, acts and remembers making recreational use impossible. The disease of addiction impacts the entire family.
Addiction: A Progressive And Fatal Disease
Find inpatient and outpatient treatment for addiction or substance abuse at Virginia Hospital Center. Our Recovery & Wellness Programs were among the first to recognize addiction as a chronic, progressive disease that needs professional care and education. That means you can trust us for well-established tools to manage your illness and take responsibility for your health.
The disease of addiction is Chronic. As with other chronic diseases like diabetes, the disease of addiction cannot be cured. However, it can be arrested and successfully treated. A return to substance use will eventually result in progressively worse problems.
The disease of addiction is potentially fatal. Eventually, every aspect of their lives are negatively affected including health, relationships, finances, employment and spirituality. The life expectancy of addicted people is 12-15 years less than non-addicted people.
To establish a more precise use of the term alcoholism, a 23-member multidisciplinary committee of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine conducted a 2-year study of the definition of alcoholism in the light of current concepts. The goals of the committee were to create by consensus a revised definition that is (1) scientifically valid, (2) clinically useful, and (3) understandable by the general public. Therefore, the committee agreed to define alcoholism as a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic.
In 1956 the American Medical Association deemed addiction as a primary, progressive, chronic, and fatal disease with identifiable symptoms. In the face of this evidence many people tend to believe the myths and misconceptions about addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
Alcoholism, like other drug addictions, is medically defined as a chronic, progressive, and potentially fatal disease. Those suffering from alcoholism experience an incessant craving for, increased tolerance of and physical dependence on alcohol. They continue to abuse alcohol despite the many negative consequences their destructive habits have on their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define chronic disease as a health condition that lasts a year or longer. With lifestyle changes, medications, and other therapies, chronic disease can typically be managed, but not cured. Without intervention, chronic diseases tend to worsen over time and are often fatal.
Progressive supranuclear palsy can be difficult to diagnose because signs and symptoms are similar to those of Parkinson's disease. Your doctor may suspect that you have progressive supranuclear palsy rather than Parkinson's disease if you:
Addiction is a disease. It is a primary illness, not caused by some outside circumstance. It is progressive, incurable and fatal. Addiction is a problem of brain-chemistry; it is a medical issue, not a moral problem. Because of it, alcoholics and addicts have lost the power of choice in the matter. Addiction is a progressive, fatal, incurable disease characterized by compulsive use, loss of control over use, and continued use despite negative consequences.
Since 1952, alcoholism has been classified as a disease by the American Medical Association. Alcoholism and addiction are defined as a chronic, progressive, incurable illness. ASAM (the American Society of Addiction Medicine) defines addiction as the following:
This understanding of alcoholism and addiction is widely known and either entirely agreed upon by experts or entirely disagreed upon. Typically, there is no middle ground. People see alcoholism and addiction as either a disease or a choice. Addicts and alcoholics are either sick or they are weak and morally corrupt. Although there are heaps of medical and scientific evidence supporting addiction and alcoholism as a chronic, progressive, ultimately fatal disease if left untreated, there are scores of people who still disagree with the disease concept. Perhaps you are one of them. If so, here are some startling facts regarding alcoholism and addiction and a bit of history that may help you look at these illnesses in a different light or a different context.
As possibility of tuberculosis was ruled out by repeated negative sputum acid-fast bacilli results and progression of disease despite two courses of ATD, other possible diagnosis were (1) silicosis with progressive massive fibrosis and (2) cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. Keeping this in mind, we again thoroughly enquired and found that he had worked in a stone crushing factory in a poorly ventilated confined space without any protective appliances for 8 years, but left the job 15 years back. There was history of many of his colleagues developing similar respiratory difficulties and few even succumbing to death within few years. We performed fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) to rule out other possible disease. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cellular pattern was normal and yielded no fungal or pyogenic organisms. Mycobacterial culture from BAL fluid yielded no growth. For histological confirmation, we performed a CT-guided trucut biopsy from parenchymal consolidation, which showed interstitial fibrosis composed of fibrocollagenous tissue with focal areas of hyalinization, fibroblastic proliferation, and densely infiltration by pigment containing macrophages. The histological features [Figure 6] were suggestive of diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD).
People with FTD can fall under one of the three common symptom groups. Two of these are subtypes of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). PPA is a degenerative brain disease. Despite its name, it's very different from the condition/symptom aphasia from conditions like stroke, which affects your ability to speak or understand spoken language. The three common symptom groups are:
Addiction is a disease. It is a chronic, progressive, fatal disease. It is no less dangerous than cancer, leukemia or many other diseases. If left untreated the prognosis may be death. Many in recovery from addiction confess that they were on the road to incarceration, ill health and likely dying from the disease of addiction. Whether their substance of choice was alcohol, opiate, or cocaine, the outcome is likely the same.
Charleston Center recognizes that addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a chronic, progressive disease that can be fatal if left untreated. Charleston Center provides the following programs and services, which have received Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Three-Year accreditation:
Severe alcohol use disorder is progressive and its effects can be fatal. Characteristics of those with AUD include preoccupation with alcohol, the inability to control drinking and tendency to over drink, continuing to use alcohol despite negative consequences, and denial or lack of awareness of the extent of problems associated with continued alcohol consumption. Symptoms of AUD may be continuous and/or periodic.
We, at Realization Center, believe that problematic eating is addictive, progressive, and a potentially fatal disease that requires a comprehensive approach. Clients realize after years of failed attempts, that diets and/or starvation do not work, and that professional help is needed.
Health Risks of Alcohol and/or Substance Use and Abuse:
SUNY Maritime is committed to supporting an environment which fosters academic success and continual learning as well as the health and well-being of the members of its community. The use and/or abuse of illegal drugs, tobacco, and alcohol carries possible health risks to the individual user as well as the campus community and community at large. Health risks associated with use and abuse may include damage to major organs such as the brain, heart, lungs and liver as well as medical problems such as high blood pressure, cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted sexual activity, poor academic performance or failure, and physical and mental dependence are also possible health risks associated with use and abuse. The use of alcohol during pregnancy may cause injury to the fetus or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Users of needles for the use of drugs such as heroin or crack carry the risk of spreading HIV and Hepatitis from the sharing of those needles. Additional health risks exist for driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances (including those prescribed by a provider) and may result in criminal charges, driving related injuries, and fatalities. Addiction is another very serious health risk associated with the use of alcohol or other substances. Addiction is a primary, progressive, chronic and potentially fatal disease.
Signs and symptoms of addiction may include:
- Drinking or using substances for the relief of withdrawal symptoms
- Increased tolerance or reverse tolerance (drug sensitization)
- Feeling guilt, shame or remorse (as a result of behavior while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs)
- Anxiety, depression, or other mental health diagnosis
- Concern from family and/or friends about drinking or drug use
- Decline in work performance or loss of interest in hobbies and daily activities
- Inability to remember what happened when drinking (blackouts)
- Financial difficulties including making sacrifices for the purchase of drugs
- Having problems with the law through increasingly risky behaviors and impaired judgment
- Denial or not being aware that a problem exists
- Much time dedicated to the use of a substance (obsession)
- Use that continues despite known health problems that have developed from use
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