Addiction or Illness?

Question

Whats the difference between an illness and an addiction? I believe they are totaly different things.Illness has becaome a blanket term that includes mental as well as physical illness. But many would classify addiction as an illness. How are they different? (I believe they are different. Help my arguement. :) Thanks!)

To answer Parachute's question:
I think that addiction is not an illness because addiction starts with a choice. Illness is not a choice, you do not CHOOSE to catch a cold or to get cancer. I think its sad to lable addiction as an illness b/c it is not justified for thoes who are actualy ill with somthing like cancer.
I'm looking for more info to back up my opinion.
Thanks!! :)

Answer 1

An addiction starts as a choice - like smoking, drinking, gambling, etc. It then progresses to the point where it is less of a choice and becomes a physical dependency.

An illness does not start as a choice, but as (usually) an infectious agent. One does not choose to have the flu or cancer.

Also, the treatments for both are different. There is more behavioral modification associated with addiction treatment than with illness treatment. Illness treatment may have no behavioral aspect at all, or it could involve diet or exercise choices.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Sorry to not help you out here, but an addiction is a type of illness. Illness is a very broad term that describes a bersons health. Someone can be mentally ill in a number of ways, including compulsive behavior. Most addictions root from compulsive desires, in most cases, chemical dependency takes over after that. Chemical dependency is a physical illness where your body is physically imbalanced due to the long term damage one has done to the body. So Addiction and Illness ARE different. Addiction is a lay word that describes, compulsive and dependent behavior. Illness is a word that describes mental and physical health. In many Addiction cases, there is a very Ill person.

Answer 3

What Are Substance Abuse and Addiction?
The difference between substance abuse and addiction is very slight. Addiction begins as abuse, or using a substance like marijuana or cocaine. You can abuse a drug (or alcohol) without having an addiction. For example, just because Sara smoked weed a few times doesn't mean that she has an addiction, but it does mean that she's abusing a drug — and that could lead to an addiction.

People can get addicted to all sorts of substances. When we think of addiction, we usually think of alcohol or illegal drugs. But people become addicted to medications, cigarettes, even glue! And some substances are more addictive than others: Drugs like crack or heroin are so addictive that they may only be used once or twice before the user loses control.

Addiction means a person has no control over whether he or she uses a drug or drinks. A person who's addicted to cocaine has grown so used to the drug that he or she has to have it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both.

Physical addiction is when a person's body actually becomes dependent on a particular substance (even smoking is physically addictive). It also means that a person builds tolerance to that substance, so that person needs a larger dose than ever before to get the same effects. When a person who is physically addicted stops using a substance like drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, he or she may experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can be like having the flu — common symptoms are diarrhea, shaking, and generally feeling awful.

Psychological addiction happens when the cravings for a drug are psychological or emotional. People who are psychologically addicted feel overcome by the desire to have a drug. They may lie or steal to get it.

A person crosses the line between abuse and addiction when he or she is no longer trying the drug to have fun or get high, but because he or she has come to depend on it. His or her whole life centers around the need for the drug. An addicted person — whether it's a physical or psychological addiction or both — no longer has a choice in taking a substance.

Answer 4

Addictions might technically be illnesses, but illnesses cover a wider range of problems. While an addiction centers around specific substances, and the reactions come when the 'patient' is deprived of them.

I hope this helps!

Answer 5

If you have an addiction you get very ill, therefore making it an illness

Answer 6

Addiction is: Mental obsession combined with an allergy to (alcohol, pills, other drugs).

It's a disease that has to be treated or it kills just like diabetes, cancer, heart disease.

Answer 7

This is an interesting questions. Why do you think addiction is not an illness? Please explain further.

Answer 8

eh?