Is Addiction a Disease? New Insights in 2025

July 8, 2025 PCI Centers

Over 19 million Americans continue to struggle with substance addiction, and as of 2025, addiction-related costs have surpassed $7.3 billion annually in prevention efforts, treatment services, and criminal justice responses (SAMHSA, 2025). The evolving science behind addiction compels researchers, clinicians, and advocates to revisit long-held beliefs about the nature of addiction—and how best to help those who suffer.

Is Addiction a Disease?

Addiction is still widely understood through the medical model, identifying it as a chronic disease with genetic, neurological, and behavioral components. Recent advances in neuroimaging and genomic analysis have further confirmed that addiction alters brain structure and function, particularly in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, which control impulse regulation and reward processing.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM, 2025) now defines addiction as a chronic brain disease influenced by both genetic vulnerability and repeated exposure to substances. Research shows that changes in dopamine signaling and impaired neural plasticity play a significant role in driving compulsive behavior.

To illustrate, ADH1B and ALDH2 gene variants remain central to the study of alcohol addiction. The genetic contribution to addiction is estimated to be between 40 to 60% (NIH, 2025). Treatments, such as medication-assisted therapy (MAT) and neuromodulation techniques like TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), are increasingly being adopted as medically grounded strategies for managing addiction.

Limitations of the Disease Model of Addiction

• Reduces complex behavioral patterns to biomedical explanations
• Can inadvertently remove personal agency from individuals
• Emphasizes pharmacological over psychosocial interventions
• May stigmatize people with addiction as biologically “defective”
• Neglects how community, trauma, and inequity contribute to addiction development

Is Addiction a Disorder?

Classifying addiction as a disorder allows a broader understanding of the psychological and behavioral disruptions caused by substance use. The DSM-5-TR (2022) continues to define substance use disorders based on symptom severity across cognitive, behavioral, and emotional domains.

In 2025, the psychological model of addiction emphasizes the interplay between trauma, mental illness, and emotional regulation difficulties. Trauma-informed care and integrated dual-diagnosis treatment are now regarded as best practices for addressing addiction as a behavioral disorder rooted in unmet emotional needs and adverse life experiences.

Limitations of the Disorder Model of Addiction

• Underemphasizes the neurobiological and genetic contributions
• Risks framing addiction as solely an emotional or mental failing
• May inadequately account for structural inequities (e.g., systemic racism, poverty)
• Reinforces stigmas around “abnormality”
• Insufficiently addresses relapse as a common symptom of chronicity

Is Addiction a Choice?

Though widely criticized, the choice model still influences public and political perspectives on addiction. It argues that individuals voluntarily engage in substance use and can opt to stop. While the first use may be voluntary, research in 2025 confirms that repeated use leads to neuroadaptive changes that impair self-regulation, decision-making, and risk evaluation.

Substance use may initially be motivated by pleasure, relief from distress, or social belonging, but chronic use restructures cognitive circuits, making abstinence difficult without external help.

Updated findings from NIDA (2025) show that environmental triggers, trauma history, and social networks powerfully influence behavior. Neuroethical discussions in 2025 now challenge the notion of free will in addiction, advocating instead for compassionate, harm-reduction approaches.

Limitations of the Choice Model of Addiction:

• Minimizes biological and psychological determinants
• Increases blame and moral judgment
• Discourages treatment-seeking behavior
• Ignores involuntary brain changes and trauma history
• Contributes to criminalization over rehabilitation

Patterns of Addiction and Strategies for Prevention

Recovery is often nonlinear and includes cycles of relapse and recommitment. Understanding patterns of use, environmental cues, and emotional triggers is key.

2025 strategies emphasize:

• Trauma-informed care
• Neurocognitive retraining
• Community-based recovery ecosystems
• Digital health platforms for relapse prevention
• Integration of mental health and addiction services

New data supports combining behavioral therapy, medication, and social support as the most effective triad for long-term success. Virtual therapy, telehealth support groups, and mobile relapse-alert systems are now part of comprehensive treatment plans.

Co-occurring behaviors—such as using substances alongside gambling, sex, or risk-taking—require dual-focus treatment. The rise of behavioral addictions further supports a model of addiction that transcends substance use alone.

Addiction Help in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village

Addiction is a complex, chronic condition shaped by biological, psychological, and environmental variables. At PCI, we believe that treating addiction means addressing the whole person—not just the symptoms.

Our biopsychosocial approach is rooted in evidence-based practices, ongoing education, and a trauma-informed philosophy of care. Whether you’re exploring treatment for the first time or looking for continued support, PCI provides personalized and compassionate addiction help to guide you through recovery.

If you or someone you love needs help with addiction, contact PCI today to get connected with a care coordinator. Let us help you take the first step toward lasting recovery.