A Disease of Obsession

• Provide two examples of how symptoms of a co-occurring disorder may influence efforts to stop the abuse of a substance.
• Describe the symptoms and how substance abuse or an addictive behavior might temporarily counteract the symptoms of the co-occurring disorder.
• Explain how the development of a ritual around substance abuse or addictive behavior can be used to strengthen an addiction or be used to treat an addiction.
• Explain why the type of substance or other obsession is relevant when it comes to the disease of addiction itself.
• Describe three examples of how an individual’s addiction might impact others or society.

Addiction is a disease of the mind, a disease of obsession, and a disease of isolation. The role of a particular substance, whether it is alcohol, opiates, marijuana, gambling, food, or sex, is merely the symptom of the disease, not the disease itself. Any substance has the potential to be abused due to the addiction disease itself. Many naively believe that merely removing the substance from the addicted person will “cure them.” If the disease of addiction were that simple, this disease would not be a rampant social problem.

“The idea of addiction being a neurological disorder is critical to understanding its development and the recovery process” (Recovery Connection, n. d.). There are a variety of reasons and opportunities that support people with addiction seeking help. Whether from internal turmoil and conflict, outside interventions, or a combination of both, clients will seek to stop the addiction cycle. The goal is to develop a healthier lifestyle called recovery. It may take months, years, or decades before this process leads to the path of recovery (Recovery Connection n. d.).