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Biology/Is "Substance Abuse" a Disease

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Expert: - 12/4/2009


Question
Why is substance abuse classified as a disease and how did it become to be? I may have asked a question beyond your scope yet I have always been satisfied with your knowledge and explanation of things so I asked lol.....  

Answer
Dear Gesus,

Because there is an addiction component to severe substance abuse, many people consider it a type of disease.  I'm not an expert on the sociological reasons for this classification (it's more of a sociology question than a completely scientific one), but I did find this very interesting web site with an excellent overview of the subject:

http://www.alcohol-drug-treatment.net/disease.html

I hope you find it helpful!

Dana

Biology

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Dana Krempels, Ph.D.

Expertise

I can answer biology-related questions in the areas of evolution, zoology, botany, genetics, and ecology. But I don't answer homework questions or provide ideas for your science fair projects. So students please do your learning the right way by reading your text assignments and studying!

Experience

At the University of Miami, I teach Evolution and Biodiversity, Botany, Zoology, Genetics, Ecology, and a variety of seminars (e.g., the Biology and Evolution of Human Gender Roles).

Education/Credentials
I have a B.S. in Biology and an A.B. in English from the University of Southern California (1980). I earned my Ph.D. in Biology in the area of evolutionary biology/visual physiology from the University of Miami in 1989.

Past/Present Clients
I am currently an "expert" in both the "Rabbits" and "Wild Animals" categories.

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