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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