The April 12, 2011 policy statement by the American Society for Addiction Medicine known as ASAM proposed a new definition of addiction. Long version: Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry.
Studies have been quite clear about the effects of alcohol and other drugs on brain function. Special attention is focused on how dysfunctions of the brain, as it relates to motivation, memory and brain reward centers, appear abnormal. This helps to explain addiction behaviors.
Stigma
There have been periods of time when the stigma of addiction has been quite profound. This new definition of addiction helps in making the connection between brain research and the common experience people go through with addiction. There is no need to stigmatize an individual who is addicted anymore than a person who has a chronic disease such as diabetes.
What it means
This new definition will take time to filter through the professional community. Immediate treatment will not be impacted. Research should be one area influenced by this definition. There has always been hope for possible biochemical interventions. With this new understanding of addiction, categorized as a brain disorder there may be new or expanded efforts in the future to find new ways to treat or prevent addition.
Over the years there have been suggestions of someday finding the magic pill to cure addiction. This pill doesn't exist. It may be decades off. It is much more promising today.
ASAM reports genetic factors account for half of all addictions and environmental factors account for the balance of the individual's biology. Another factor is the resilience a person toward addiction. It is clear two people given the same exposure to characteristics of addiction respond differently. This is personal resiliency.
The characteristics of Addiction according to ASAM are:
Inability to abstainImpaired behavioral controlIncreased cravings for rewarding experiencesRecognition of significant problems with behavior is diminishedDysfunctional emotional response
The recommendation from ASAM in representing the new definition of addiction suggests recovery is achieved best achieved through:
Mutual SupportSelf ManagementProfessional Care
The future is very encouraging because of this new understanding of addiction. I believe it is a remarkable step in removing the stigma brought on by labeling it a moral issue and accepting addiction as physical issue changes everything...in time. This new definition is likely to open up many doors for those who are addicted and those who treat them.
Nearly 30 years working with those who are addicted and their families. Owner of Great Divide Technologies, LLC the home of http://www.freemyaddict.com/, http://www.addictionrecoverysupports.com/ and other websites.
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