Treating Addiction as a Chronic Disease

"Treatment doesn't work!" "The addict has to hit bottom for treatment to work."

Two of the most common myths held as "gospel" by a majority of the population. While it would seem to be true, nothing could be further from the truth. Imagine any other chronic disease...diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease. Now imagine the response if we said the same things about the disease of your choice.

"The diabetic has to hit bottom before they will seek treatment. Besides, treatment doesn't work."

Well, if we waited until the diabetic was in a coma with a leg infected and gangrenous, we would definitely think treatment doesn't work.

"The person with coronary artery disease has to hit bottom before they seek treatment. Besides, treatment doesn't really work."

If we wait until the person has a massive heart attack or stroke, we would think treatment was a joke.

This is exactly what most folks do when it comes to addiction. They wait until they can't ignore the "problem" anymore and then wonder why treatment "doesn't work". If there is to be any significant success in treating the disease of addiction, then we need to approach it in the same way we approach other chronic, progressive, potentially fatal diseases...increased education about the disease, early recognition, intervention, treatment, and long term follow up.

In other words...treat it scientifically, not emotionally.