Addiction as a Brain Disorder – a Flawed ModelAddiction is the result of a progressive accumulation of neurological tendencies based on the ingestion of a particular substance or the realization of a particular action. It is cumulative, builds over time and varies in strength from one individual to another depending on their own capacity to exercise will over themselves and their actions. Some people become addicted more easily than others. Ultimately, addiction is the result of a series of choices made by the individual. These choices usually have a significant impact on the person's life, changing their friendships, family life, professional life, and psychological/spiritual well-being. The cumulative aspect of addiction is built by an individual who deliberately chooses to either not see the direction in which they are heading, or not to act even if they feel themselves following the path of an addict. Some sort of deterioration in their lives is inevitable, and willful ignorance is all that would keep someone from noticing it. Likewise, addiction can be helped and cured by an individual choosing to do something different, to adjust their habitual dependence on a specific substance or action for pleasure, escape, or any other desired quality. Only the individual can make this choice, but once they have made this choice, other people and institutions can help them. The rate of use and dependence on most illegal drugs has not increased recently and, in many cases, has decreased. The exception to this rule is marijuana, which is the only illegal drug whose use has increased over the years. Marijuana use has, in fact, skewed the results of use surveys, making it appear that overall use... middle of paper...... "You have a neurological disease ". and we have medications that can help you! This is very destructive to the psychology of the individual and could make them completely irresponsible for their own feelings and behavior. The connotations of accepting such dogma within the scientific community are mind-blowing and terrifying. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011). National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Results [data file]. Available at http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2k11Results/NSDUHresults2011.htmKuhn, Thomas (1961). The function of dogma in scientific research. Retrieved from http://strangebeautiful.com/other-texts/kuhn-function-dogma.pdf2. Reinarman, Craig (2004). Dependence as achievement: the discursive construction of illness. Addiction Research and Study, August, 2005, 13(4): 307–320