Challenging the chronic brain disease model of addiction

Taylor & Francis GroupJul 1 2024

Until the eighteenth century, addiction was considered to be moral issue that could only be 'treated' by punishing the individual. This idea changed over the years and, since the 1990s, addiction has been described as a chronic brain disease, particularly in the biomedical and neuroscience literature.

Another brain process involved in addiction involves tolerance and withdrawal. The brain adapts to the drug, preparing the body with a counter-reaction which diminishes the euphoric affects and easily leads to escalation – meaning that more of the substance is required to create the anticipated effect.

Estimates vary by substance, but for the common addictions of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, less than 10% of people are treated for their addiction. Brain disease and stigma One motivation for moving away from the chronic brain disease model, Wiers suggests, is stigma.

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