by J Robbins

Created on: April 10, 2009

NOW WE KNOW - ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS IS A DISEASE

Joseph A. Califano, Jr., chairman and president of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA*) at Columbia University and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, has led the effort to change the perception of addiction simply being a poor choice. In 2007 he, along with virtually all top government health agencies publicly recognized the need to stop funding psychosocial solutions for addiction, and direct all funding to biological ones instead.

EVERYONE EXPERIENCES SOME SORT OF ADDICTION
If you've ever told yourself you shouldn't be doing something that you know is harmful to your well-being, like smoking, over-eating or overindulging in any activity, and continue to do it while you're trying to convince yourself to stop, then you've experienced some form of addiction. For 65 years we've researched how to help people stop abusing their use of alcohol. 65 years ago the rate of success was 35%. Five years ago the rate of success was still only 35%, and during those 60 intervening years hundreds of thousands of loved ones drank or drugged themselves into early graves.

But why would people voluntary choose to kill themselves? Why won't they just stop using before it's too late? Understanding the biology behind their craving another cigarette, drink, or drug of choice leads us to the answers - and is finally leading us to permanent cures.

WHAT SCIENCE CAN TELL US SO FAR
Neuroscience (the study of the brain and nervous system) is providing key information to where in our brains addictions are located. We now know which area controls craving for cigarettes. Auricular acupuncture has had a better than average rate of success in eliminating cravings for cocaine. Implants into the brain containing tiny low level electrical impulses, which has had some success with Parkinson's Disease, is also being considered for eliminating addictive cravings. In Europe a drug is being developed that has already had success with eliminating cravings for alcohol altogether. Hopefully in the next five to 10 years addiction will be on the road to an historical footnote.

HOW ADDICTION STARTS
We now also know the disease is genetic, so in almost all cases addicts have family members (mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, and/or grandparents) who have addictive issues themselves. What confuses people who believe addiction is strictly a choice is this is a biological disease which affects people psychologically.

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