The term “disease,” particularly when applied to addiction, carries complex historical baggage and shifting meanings. Over the decades, the definition and application of the disease model in addiction have changed significantly, reflecting evolving scientific discoveries, changing cultural attitudes, and clinical practices. From Marty Mann’s pioneering efforts in the 1940s to the contemporary Brain Disease Model championed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the term “disease” in the context of addiction has consistently shaped, and been shaped by, public and scientific discourse. This short essay traces that evolution, analyzing how the concept has been refined and critiqued, ultimately illuminating what “disease” is intended to convey today.
Click HERE, or click the graphic below, to access the short essay.
