The disease concept of addiction : a philosophical evaluation

Abstract

Addiction has always been a topic of discussion among the world’s general population. No matter when or where, it has always been an issue that society faced and thus, information about it had to be taught to the individuals in society to be able to learn about it. Addiction has often been thought to be a disease. An in-depth analysis of the disease concept of addiction is researched and evaluated in the second chapter of this dissertation. However, when taking into consideration only the disease concept of addiction it seems to raise other complications. In fact, Herbert Fingarette criticises the disease concept of addiction and every aspect that has to do with it and his analysis is presented in the third chapter of this dissertation. This dissertation aims to make aware that, when considering addiction to only be a disease, one is completely excluding any external or internal factors that might have an effect on the individual and why he/she arrived at that point in his/her life. It can also complicate the recovery process of such individual who has finally found the courage to get help because, if the individual believes that addiction is a disease, then he/she might well feel as if none of it his/her own responsibility and thus he/she cannot do anything in particular to make himself/herself better. Hence, the aim of this dissertation is to create awareness of how addiction is far more complex than just a disease because it is not only medical but also emotional, psychological, social and spiritual.