Terminology & Charecterization of 'ADDICTION'

                                    Terminology and Characterization of “Addiction”

 Taken from the book Science of Addiction, Carlton K. Erickson, Ph.D. he states the word is unscientific. It is also referred to as “dependence syndrome” and is too broad, too vague, and too misunderstood. Much of the confusion regarding “addiction” is due to the umbrella-like nature of the term: it lumps all drug-use problems together. It does not acknowledge the critical differences between conscious drug abuse (“bad judgment” use of drugs, not a disease) and pathological chemical dependence (impaired control over drug use, a brain disease).

The term chemical dependence is preferred by many in the field, due to it being the closest in meaning to the term addiction as used by scientists. The term drug abuse (not a brain disease) and chemical dependence (the brain disease) are the preferred terms for scientific studies and clinical differentiation of people with drug problems. The same with the term alcohol dependence which is used more widely used than the term alcoholism in the alcohol scientific literature, whereas the term addiction is still more prevalent than drug dependence or chemical dependence in the “other drug” scientific literature. In most cases the term “addiction” over “dependence” is the case in order to avoid confusion with the term “physical dependence” which relates to withdrawal from drugs.

The public and media have used and will continue to use the word addiction to describe situations where drugs, gambling and other disorders are negatively affecting people’s lives, As long as this continues it will be hard for the public and policy makers to relate the word addiction to disease.

I am currently taking the Alcohol & Drug Counseling course here at PCC. I feel the topic of addiction is very broad, and has an affect/effect in just about every aspect of daily living in some form or other.

"The Science of Addiction 1st Edition." The Science of Addiction 1st Edition by Erickson. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.
"The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment (Norton Professional Books) [Hardcover]." The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment (Norton Professional Books): Carlton K. Erickson: 9780393704631: Amazon.com: Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.