Sean Beadle and Teyah Spangler: Conquering the disease of addiction

Drug and alcohol addiction is a growing problem that continues to cause wreckage in the lives of individuals and families across the country and especially in our local communities.

In 1987 alcohol and drug addiction was added to the list of known diseases, and in 2011 addiction was defined as a chronic brain condition rather than an issue in behavior or consequences of poor decision-making after exposure to the chemical for a long period of time or due to genetic factors.

In 2022 in Pennsylvania, state police confiscated over $65 million worth of illegal drugs; already this year, $300,000 worth of fentanyl was seized in downtown Pittsburgh, a major fentanyl distribution ring was broken up in Kiski Valley and the former police chief of Greensburg was arrested for drug distribution-related charges.

According to the Attorney General, in 2021 an average of 14 Pennsylvanians died of heroin or opioid overdoses each day, resulting in 5,168 deaths for the entire year. In addition, 70% of people using opioids are using them illegally and admittedly obtained them from a family member or friend who was prescribed them, which leaves only 30% of opioid users in the category of proper usage.

To put figures in perspective, in 2015 the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 52,402 people died due to drug-related overdoses, and that nearly doubled by 2021 with 106,699 deaths. Also, the CDC estimated that more than 140,000 people die in alcohol-related deaths each year.

While these statistics may seem distant or even irrelevant, every digit represents the life of a person that was cut short — a parent burying a child or a father telling his kids they will never see their mother again.

People in active addiction can be untrustworthy, unreliable and capable of committing heinous acts that create a wide array of consequences. But when they are committed and willing to receive treatment, they can transform into responsible, accountable and exceptional members of society.

Because these individuals lack self-control, they can often pose serious danger to the safety and well-being of the others around them as well as their environment. For instance, drugs raise the risk of driving collisions by up to 30 times, and combining alcohol and drugs increases serious accidents or death while driving by up to 200 times.

Many people don’t understand that drug and alcohol addiction is a disease, which gives rise to valid and logical questions. They have two beautiful kids, why can’t they stop drinking for them? If they loved me enough, wouldn’t they stop using? The doctor told them that if they continue to drink they will die; why won’t they stop? Some people believe that drug addiction and alcoholism are a matter of will power, that people choose to continue to drink or use drugs, and if they wanted to or if the consequences got great enough, they could stop.

The disease of addiction is caused by the deregulation of specific pathways in the brain. That results in a person’s inability to willingly stop using an addictive substance. The deregulation of these pathways can be caused by both prolonged exposure to an addictive substance and genetic predisposition to addiction. In addition, like other diseases, lack of treatment will result in negative consequences.

With support and treatment, there can be less devastating effects on the community due to addiction.

Despite addiction being a disease, there is a stigma surrounding it that causes shame for people directly and indirectly affected. Many people associate drug addicts and alcoholics with people who live under a bridge with a bottle of booze in a brown paper bag. But the vast majority are everyday people in our community.

It is estimated that 10% of people will be directly affected by drug and/or alcohol addiction. Therefore, it is likely that you, a family member or a friend are suffering from this disease. Please know that there is hope, and there is no shame in seeking treatment for a disease.

Sean Beadle and Teyah Spangler are students at Seton Hill University, Greensburg. They wrote this op-ed for their advanced biochemistry class.