Terminology About Addiction Should To Be Specific

by Ned Wicker

(Wisconsin)

A few years ago at the 45th annual Wisconsin Association on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (WAAODA) Spring Conference it was all about change, as much as it centered on accepted standards. Entitled “A New Perspective: The Changing Face of Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services,” the conference got off to a rousing start with a discussion on terminology, neuroscience and how that impacts treatment by Dr. Carlton Erickson of the University of Texas.

As the old saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same, the WAAODA groups has seen its share of change over the years and Erickson encouraged them to brace themselves for more.

Erickson, professor of pharmacology at the UT brought the conference up-to-date on current terminology and thinking. That sounds rather mundane, but it was interesting to look around the large banquet hall and see how many people had different understandings of common issues. For example, what is the cause of addiction? Is it caused by a genetic condition, socio-economic circumstances, or is it by the substance itself? However, the major issue is to how to overcome, and so it becomes necessary to at least agree on terms.

Terminology, neuroscience and how neuroscience relates to treatment

Erickson’s lecture was divided into three major parts – terminology, neuroscience and how neuroscience relates to treatment. Focusing on terminology, it’s amazing how the therapists, doctors, counselors and other professionals had their own definitions and views.

People will often use substance/chemical/drug abuse interchangeably with substance/chemical/drug dependence. Because the public thinks they are the same, that creates a stigma. That’s controversial and reminded me of a college professor who told us that usage determines meaning. That is, if the uninformed masses use a word incorrectly its meaning changes to the incorrect form. I was always bothered by that. Abuse and dependence are to entirely separate issues and Erickson drew the distinction rather nicely.

Drug abuse is people making bad decisions, like college students drinking in bars on a Saturday night. Dependence is not a choice. It’s a diseased caused by a brain “dis-regulation.” Throw in the term addiction and the misunderstanding creates folk lore. For example Erickson shared, “I’m addicted to my cell phone.” You’ve probably heard that “Crack babies are addicted.” He added a personal favorite of mine, “Marijuana is not addictive.” These folk-lore tales add to the confusion.
Crack babies are babies in distress, mainly because there are other factors. Moms may also use alcohol and are poorly nourished. The babies are not addicted and just because there is withdrawal, according to DSM, they are not necessarily addicted.

Users can’t stop, it’s a brain disease!

Chemical dependence is characterized by impaired use of the drug. People will tell you that “I can quit any time.” Can they? Users can’t stop, it’s a brain disease and people can’t stop without help. It’s not the amount of the drug taken, or the frequency of use, or having withdrawal from the drug, it’s the inability to stop using. Erickson says that DSM V eliminates the terms abuse and dependence.

We have the new DSM V, which has fueled the debate about the term “substance use disorder” and the debate over other terms continues. Be ready for some spirited discussion in the next couple of years as the new standards are rolled out.

Would a “cure” for addiction be good?

On the surface DSM sounds like an invitation to have an argument, but it’s important to do the clinical trials, share the data and have discussion on specific language that will serve to advance the science and treatment of the disease. Erickson asked the audience an interesting question, “If there was a cure for addiction would that be a good thing?” Well, of course, wouldn’t it, or does the human condition specify that if I don’t fall prey to the substance, I’ll fall prey to something else and thus to be human is to be “addicted” to something?

The criteria for “addiction” or “substance use disorder” are being evaluated and the disease would be considered moderate if one to three criteria were present, and severe is four or more were observed. Again, more trials are unfolding and more changes are coming. The science advances and our understanding changes. Terminology is important because folk lore isn’t science. Inexactitude, shouted loudly and continuously isn’t truth.

and Finally Remember:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
– Matthew 7:7-8

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