[JonathanEdwardB]

Or just people wanting to be bad or what?

[Chill Out....]

I think that alcoholism is only a solution to a bigger problem that, once that problem becomes overwhelming, a person turns to material things to attempt to cope with the problem, once that problem is fixed, the alcoholism will go away.

Addiction, in a way, is a kind of disease, because your body, in a way become dependent on that substance to survive. Whereas alcoholism and porn and over eating are just your mind looking to get away, a true addiction is a disease because your body physically changes to become dependent on that thing. However it is not a disease like cancer or those likes because it is the persons fault that they develop this and it is easy to solve once the substance is let go of. Where with cancer, it may be caused by some substance but once that substance is gone, the cancer will remain.

[lucyblue_1999]

Disease, I don't think so.
But I do know that traits of it can be passed down in genetics, unless I'm wrong.

[resigned]

threes no doubt in my mind that alcoholism and addiction are deceases. I use to suffer with both, but have recently got "cleaned up." any doctor will say that they are diseases. A person becomes dependent on a substance, for many different reasons. People are not responsible for there disease, just there recovery!!

[littlerocks]

A chronic on going disorder that if left untreated can lead to serious health problems or death. Sounds like a disease. How a person gets it, is why some people think it is not. For example , they used so it?s their doing. Just like a smoker who gets cancer. It?s their doing, but they still end up with a disease. In the end who cares can't stop your life is falling apart . Get help who cares what they call it. In the end we all need to take care of ourselves and each other.

[CaptJack]

A disease often occurs when an organ of the body becomes dysfunctional. Often that dysfunction happens because of a natural disposition for the disease and from actions of the individual.

For example, skin cancer happens from skin with a natural disposition for skin cancer. Also, the skin needs to be exposed to sun light, which is the action of the individual. Skin cancer is also treatable if found early.

The same it is with an addiction. Some brains can have a disposition for the addiction. If the individual exposes the brain to substances, the brain can quickly become wired for an addiction. Using the substance as way to cope with life and confuse the addiction as a way of survival.

The brain becomes wired for an addiction. This wiring can be considered as a dysfunction of the brain. When the brain works through the addiction and the person recovers. The brain can be re-wired to before the addiction started. This can be considered the cure.