Is addiction a disease? According to the definitions used by most medical associations, yes, and a chronic one at that. However, medical lexicon is surprisingly fluid–and remarkably biased–making addiction’s classification such a challenging endeavor. This article breaks down the terminology, how those terms have evolved, and how these concepts fit with one another in the disease model of addiction. 

What Is A Disease?

Disease is a broad term that can include disorders, syndromes, infections, and disabilities. According to the Oxford dictionary, it is defined as “A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.” 

The formal definition of which can and has changed many times before. In fact, even the current dictionary definition varies depending on which source you use. Why does this matter? These differences highlight a crucial flaw in trying to compartmentalize the multi-faceted beast that is addiction: that health, wellness, illness, and disease are all subjective. 

The Trouble with Defining Disease

Our ability to classify, categorize, and define anything is limited to the lens of human perception–not even the sciences are immune from it. Even medical terminology is influenced by societal norms, moral values, political ideologies, and the limitation on the knowledge available at the time. Whether we realize it or not, these biases color our perception, including those towards drug abuse and addiction. 

The concept of “disease,” and by extension, “health”, is just as susceptible to changes as tastes in fashion or food preferences are. Take for example osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease. Prior to 1994, the World Health Organization thought this to be an unavoidable part of growing older. Now, it’s considered a deviation from health, an abnormality, with distinct causes. As our understanding of our bodies and minds change, so will our definitions. 

Making A Case: The Disease Model of Addiction

However, technical definitions are not the only things that can determine whether addiction is a disease or not. Shifts in approach and thinking are regarded as case models and can influence how a condition is viewed by society, how it’s treated, and of course, how it’s labeled. In the case of drug abuse and addiction, several have been developed over the course of history. 

A Brief History of Models Towards Drug Use & Addiction

In the 18th and 19th centuries, there was the moral model. Addiction was seen as a sin, a moral weakness caused by faulty character. Instead of treatment, actions were punitive and individuals were met with a considerable social stigma. 

The psycho-dynamic model is a theory that originated with Sigmund Freud in the early 20th century. It attributed drug abuse to a lack of coping mechanisms and unconscious motivations. In this, addiction is an attempt to self-regulate and deal with stress. This model is still often incorporated in current addiction therapy and counseling. 

The social learning model introduced the concept that addiction had a behavioral component as much as a chemical one. It distinguished between dependence and compulsion and recognized that addiction can be a sliding scale of severity. 

What Is the Disease Model of Addiction?

The disease model of addiction argues that the cause or “origin” of addiction is internal to the individual and, being a disease, cannot be controlled. It likens addiction to that of heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Like these debilitating and chronic conditions, addiction can cause a host of issues that prevent the body from functioning as normal. Additionally, genes can play a role and cause someone to be predisposed to developing the condition, even if it’s not present at birth. 

This model was adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous and was highly influential in how this organization approached alcoholism. The 12-Step model is widely known as countless other organizations modeled themselves after this approach. This is one of the main reasons why the disease model of addiction is still one of the main models used.

Shortcomings of the Disease Model

One of the main arguments against the disease model is that it removes the individual from having to take responsibility for their actions. Although research has shown that there can be a genetic, and even a hereditary, component to substance abuse and addiction, it still does not account for this condition in its entirety. One critic points out that most addicted individuals quit their addiction at some point, something that is not possible with that of heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. 

The lack of agency that the disease model purports doesn’t just lack scientific evidence, but this attitude can actually be harmful in itself. This view is comparatively fatalistic, implying that addiction cannot be controlled; it is inherent and can only be managed through complete abstinence (a key component of the AA approach).  

Addiction Is A Disease, Not An Excuse

Trying to pin down whether addiction is a disease is helpful in the scope of public health, where such labeling can positively influence legislation, healthcare benefits, and social acceptance. In terms of the individual, it can influence how someone might view their condition. Gene Heyman perhaps said it best, that addiction is a “disorder of choice”.

It’s without question that addiction can be difficult to manage once it has onset. However, individuals do have a choice of how they face it. Even chronic diseases like diabetes can have actions taken to make them more manageable. Even if efforts don’t completely cure the disease, they can go a long way towards giving the individual a better quality of life. Remember, no matter how addiction is labeled, you always have a choice. 

If you’re ready to choose a better life that’s addiction-free, you can make the first step by contacting an addiction treatment facility today.

Sources: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1299105/ 

https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/substance/n324.xml

The nature of how Suboxone works means that opioid abusers will find it increasingly difficult to get a high from their habitual substance of choice. This sometimes results in those individuals turning to other drugs which is always a bad idea–no matter the type. So, despite Suboxone being a legal pharmaceutical, many adverse drug interactions can arise when combined with other substances. This article will explore the dangers of simultaneous Suboxone and cocaine use, which is surprisingly interconnected. 

Suboxone and Cocaine: Why It’s Dangerous

Suboxone (or to be more precise, the buprenorphine portion of Suboxone), creates a “ceiling effect” that prevents opioid receptors from experiencing the full effect of an opioid. This limits the euphoric sensation those drugs can generate and is one reason why Suboxone can be so effective in breaking the cycle of addiction. 

This same functionality dampens the effects of cocaine as well. It may sound like a positive but this is precisely where the danger of mixing Suboxone and cocaine lies. The minimized effects often lead to individuals taking much higher doses of cocaine than they would have otherwise. This in turn, greatly increases the likelihood of overdosing and death.

How Often Are Suboxone & Cocaine Combined?

The instances of cocaine being used with Suboxone are surprisingly high. Studies found that cocaine use increased tremendously during treatment programs and over 50% of patients were using while receiving buprenorphine treatment. Patients that hadn’t used cocaine previously had now taken it up.

Another disturbing trend regarding Suboxone and cocaine use is that individuals with an opioid addiction who use cocaine during treatment face much lower odds of success. The reason is not a pharmacological one, however. Instead, this indicates a lack of motivation, which is one of the most powerful predictors of successful treatment more. Motivation actually plays an even greater role in recovery than socioeconomic status, demographics, the type of drugs used, family situation, etc. 

What causes patients in rehab to turn to other illicit drugs? 

There are several potential reasons. One is simply a lack of understanding of the nature of addiction. Patients feel that their drug abuse issue only extends to one particular substance; that it’s just one type of drug that they cannot control their compulsions to use. However, countless studies have shown that individuals who struggle with any form of drug addiction have a much higher likelihood of becoming addicted to other types of drugs. They mistakenly believe that they can safely trade one type of drug for another. 

Further, several studies have found that cocaine use, in particular, is strongly influenced by whether or not the individual is undergoing withdrawal. Individuals use a different drug to distract from the discomfort of the substance that’s currently in their system. This short-sighted behavior continues the cycle of debilitating behavior and in many cases, can worsen the withdrawal side effects. 

Another potential reason is that rehab causes them to lose their primary coping mechanism. Stressors can have them scrambling to find anything that can numb the negative emotions they are feeling at the time. This behavior could be linked to depression or some other underlying mental health issue. In such cases, dual diagnosis treatment would be ideal to help address both those and the behavioral issues related to addiction. 

How To Minimize The Temptation

One of the quickest ways to bring out potentially lethal aspects of a drug is to combine it with other drugs, legal or otherwise. Even though Suboxone is a prescription medication, taking it with narcotics like cocaine, physician-prescribed medications, or even legal drugs like alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine can be deadly. No matter the type, doing multiple drugs at once is always, always, a bad idea. It can seriously impede on the effectiveness of your addiction treatment, and in worst cases, it can put you in deadly situations.

In the lifelong journey that is recovery, the risk of relapsing or using other drugs will always be present. One way to minimize the temptation to do so is by enrolling in a residential treatment program (also known as intensive addiction treatment). This type of setting provides a controlled environment that would make it difficult to acquire or use other drugs while in rehab and allows you to focus solely on recovery. 

Klonopin is a powerful benzodiazepine used for the treatment of panic disorders and seizures. This classification includes the likes of Xanax and Valium, notorious for their potential to become habit-forming. While Klonopin may not be in the spotlight as often, these powerful benzos can result in addiction, overdose, and withdrawal effects. One major contributor to the development of such adverse effects is the buildup of Klonopin. This begs the question: How long does Klonopin stay in your system? A key component to understanding how long Klonopin stays in the body is understanding the concept of Klonopin’s half-life.

How Long Klonopin Stays In Your System: Klonopin Half-Life

Half-life is a pharmacology term used to describe the amount of time it takes for an amount of a substance in the body to be reduced by 50%. It plays an important role in toxicology and understanding how the effects of a drug might be amplified with continued use. When levels of a drug are too high the individual can develop a tolerance, which significantly increases the likelihood of the development of addiction or overdose.

Klonopin has a long half-life and remains in the system for a considerable amount of time: 30-40 hours. However, it takes about five half-lives before a substance is fully eliminated from the body, which means a single dose of Klonopin can stay in the system for up to a week. Why does this matter? Even if you’re not feeling its effects anymore, Klonopin is still in the body (Klonopin hits its peak between 1 and 4 hours) – and will be for quite some time. Taking this medication slightly more frequently than recommended, or taking larger doses than recommended, can quickly lead to toxic – and potentially dangerous – levels of build-up. 

Factors That Influence Half-Life

The exact amount of time it takes for Klonopin to leave the body can vary depending on a number of factors.

• Age
• Dosage
• Duration of use
• Frequency of use
• Liver function
• Presence of other drugs

Many of these are directly correlated to variables that affect metabolism, of which age is the most significant factor. The presence of other drugs can also play a significant role in metabolism. 

Klonopin Overdose

Klonopin is a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs whose rate of overdose deaths has risen over 500% in the past few decades. The abuse potential of these types of drugs is well-noted, however, Klonopin overdoses are not limited to individuals who intentionally misuse the medication. In many cases, it occurs amongst patients who are taking Klonopin exactly as prescribed – but how is this possible?

Potential Causes of Klonopin Overdose

Klonopin is slower acting but longer-lasting than other popular benzos. Since it takes longer to feel the effects, it can result in users taking more than their recommended Klonopin dosage. Paired with Klonopin’s staying power within the body, you’ve got the perfect storm for accidental overdose. 

Signs & Symptoms

The symptoms of a Klonopin overdose are typical to that of any other benzo overdose:

• Ataxia (loss of control of body movements)
• Clammy skin
• Coma
• Drowsiness
• Enlarged pupils
• Shallow breathing
• Slurred speech
• Weak but fast pulse

The severity of these symptoms can vary, depending on many of the same factors that affect their metabolism. They are much more likely to be life-threatening if Klonopin was taken with alcohol, another medication, or an illicit drug. 

Treatment

Fortunately, there are medications that can be used to reverse the effects of a Klonopin overdose. Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist that can reverse the sedative effects, even that of a coma. Its effectiveness is primarily limited to use for benzo intoxication compared to other types of drug overdoses. 

Is Klonopin Dangerous?

Klonopin overdose is rarely fatal. However, the majority of fatal overdoses involved other drugs being taken at the same time. If you have a Klonopin addiction or are taking Klonopin while addicted to or abusing other substances, the risk of fatality is significantly higher. Quitting Klonopin cold turkey can be harmful and result in withdrawal effects just as other drugs would, and is never recommended. Instead, users should seek a benzo detox program that can help wean them off a medication (or multiple medications, if needed) to prevent seizures or other complications.