The SoberRecovery Glossary of Recovery Terms

Disease Concept

Although not without controversy, much of the treatment of addiction revolves in one-way or another around the theory that addiction is a disease, or, as many like to state it: dis-ease. In many ways, calling addiction a disease is simply another way of stating that addiction is, among other things, a serious medical problem. The American Medical Association declared alcoholism as a treatable illness in 1956 and the World Health Organization acknowledged alcoholism as a serious medical problem in 1951. Accepting the idea that addiction is a disease or dis-ease often makes it easier for the addict to accept help.

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