Neither alcoholism nor substance (drug) abuse is a disease. In recent years, it has become a popular theory that both are diseases and the addict himself is ‘sick’ with addiction. This line of thought gives the alcoholic/addict an easy out—they can’t help their drinking or using drugs because they are sick. The truth is both alcohol and drugs are addictive; the user wants and needs more and more of his abused substance. Both actually do affect the user’s brain, but it is not a brain disease.