Addiction is a disease that changes the brain.
Here’s how.
When addiction takes hold, the brain is rewired to function as if drugs and/or alcohol are life-or-death essentials for survival. It’s a chronic disease like cancer, diabetes and arthritis. And just like other chronic diseases, addiction can be treated with evidence-based medical care. Addiction physically changes the brain, but with medication, counseling and ongoing support, the brain can heal.