addiction and disability

[debra]

Is addiction a disability? It was something that my uncle said

Personally, I don't think addiction is a disability. I think it can result from a disability though. What I mean is that there are a lot of people that use substances to cope with certain disabilities that they have. For example, some people drink to feel better when they are feeling really depressed. It's an escape. But, no, the actual addiction isn't a disability.

But, I think there are going to be people who are going to say differently. I don't know if there is a 'right' or 'wrong' answer to this.

[NeuroBeautiful]

Addiction can worsen a pre-existing psychiatric condition. It can be debilitating physically and cognitively t if you are dependent on substances for instance(as an example but any addiction can impact you in several ways). However like Jenna said, I don't think addiction is a disability in itself but rather a problematic way to cope. Think of a child at school who gas a learning disorder. If overlooked, it can seem that the secondary problems such as procrastination on homework is the main issue when really there can be a hidden learning disability and the procrastination emerged from the emotional difficulties of struggling with school work and not knowing why.
I think addiction works that way too (it is my personal observation that there are parallels between procrastination and addictive tendencies as both are about running away from an underlying emotional problem. In fact procrastination is like an avoidance habit and can simoltaneously lead to addiction of activities like gambling and gaming)

In other words the addiction and disability are related but not one in the same. You can have one without the other. Disability seems like it is the more of a root cause than the addiction or rather the emotional pain and sometimes trauma that come with a disability. It is possible to cope with a disability in a positive healthy way. However addictions and any other harmful coping mechanism can probably have long term impact on your brain and rest of the body so much so that the addiction leads to a disability or a disabling condition, including physical, medical, mental, emotional or cognitive etc

[obelus]

I agree with the above posters in that addiction in itself is not a disability. Some people consider self-injury (such as cutting or burning) an addiction. It can be considered an addiction due to the chemicals released in the brain when a person self-injures. Self-injury itself is not a disability, but the reason a person self-injures may be. For example, some people have depression or anxiety to the extent that it severely disables them. It could therefore be considered a disability in some cases.

Addiction is also not considered a disability in most US states in the sense that they will not give a person disability benefits or some others if they only suffer from addiction or if their primary disability is worsened by addiction. Although, most insurances do cover certain treatments for addiction.

[contaigous-misery]

i do not believe addiction is a dissability,i see it as a health issue, and although it differs from others health issues as people are seen to have choice, but really addiction is a compulsion or need to use no matter the harm, but like most health issues you can only recover if you accept treatment, i do believe a pre-disposition to addiction exist and although i wouldnt consider it a disabilty in such terms it can be seen as one due to the fact it is already there and up to the person to be extra careful around substances and always keeping in mind the earlie they start to use the more likely addiction will resultso not esactly a disability but more a health issue that can be managed or terminal depending on treatment

[Philomath]

I agree with the other responses you have received.
There is some debate as to whether or not addiction can be considered a disability because it causes debilitating life circumstances for some people if severe enough however, medically and federally (in the US), it is not a disability.
There is treatment for addiction becasue healthcare professionals realize that addiction is a symptom of a deeper rooted problem and they know that both the root problem leading to the addictive behavior(s) and the addiction itself need to be treated.

[WhisperingSilence]

addiction isn't a dissability but people with dissabilites might be more prone to certain addcitions like for example people with autisim and usually more prone to self harm in one way or another. but addiction itself is not dissability. if someone is an alcoholic and drinks alot yes it does stop them functioning the way they like usually would but its not a dissability.