Hi Trish....
This topic has been one of the great debates....is addiction a disease?
I've even questioned it myself when I first came here. I was actually very angry that they would even term it a disease and put it in the same category as cancer, diabetes, etc...... But after a while I realized it didn't matter. Calling it a disease opens doors for addicts to seek help when they need it or want it. What really mattered to me was my understanding of the complexities of addiction. This understanding helped me to understand (please don't mistake that for "tolerate") my now exhusbands habits, behaviors and drug abuse. Would calling it a disease or an inmoral act or self destruction or anything else you want to call it help you through the night when your addict is out on a run? It still is what it is. Gain knowledge so that you can help yourself through the hardtimes.