Is Addiction Really a Chronic Relapsing Disorder?: Commentary on Kelly et al. "How Many Recovery Attempts Does It Take to Successfully Resolve an Alcohol or Drug Problem? Estimates and Correlates From a National Study of Recovering U.S. Adults".

Abstract

The most widely used definitions of drug addiction are of the condition having a chronic course that is typically characterized by relapse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), for example, defines addiction as "a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences" (NIDA, 2019). With regard to alcohol addiction, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) similarly defines alcohol use disorder as "a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive alcohol use, loss of control over alcohol intake, and a negative emotional state when not using" (NIAAA, 2019).