The life-process model of addiction is the view that addiction

Substance dependence

The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...

 is not a disease

Disease

A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...

 but rather a habitual

Habit (psychology)

Habits are routines of behavior that are repeated regularly and tend to occur subconsciously. Habitual behavior often goes unnoticed in persons exhibiting it, because a person does not need to engage in self-analysis when undertaking routine tasks...

 response and a source of gratification and security that can be understood only in the context of social relationship

Society

A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...

s and experiences.

This model of addiction is in direct opposition to the disease model of addiction

Disease model of addiction

The disease model of addiction describes an addiction as a lifelong disease involving biologic and environmental sources of origin. The traditional medical model of disease requires only that an abnormal condition be present that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the individual...

. The proponents of the life-process model argue that the biological mechanisms

Biological process

A biological process is a process of a living organism. Biological processes are made up of any number of chemical reactions or other events that results in a transformation....

 that might account for addictive behavior

Behavior

Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with its environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment...

 have not been identified and thus do not support using the term disease, preferring to emphasize the individual's ability to overcome addiction by repairing relationships and personal strength of will.

Notable supporters

• John Booth Davies
• Stanton Peele
  Stanton Peele
  Stanton Peele, Ph. D., J.D., is a licensed psychologist, attorney, practicing psychotherapist and the author of books and articles on the subject of alcoholism, addiction and addiction treatment.His awards have included:1989...
  
  
• Chris Prentiss
• Jeffrey A. Schaler, author of the book Addiction Is a Choice
• Thomas Szasz
  Thomas Szasz
  Thomas Stephen Szasz is a psychiatrist and academic. Since 1990 he has been Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Syracuse, New York. He is a well-known social critic of the moral and scientific foundations of psychiatry, and of the social...
  
  

Relevant Books

• The Myth of Addiction by John Booth Davies (Routledge, 1997) ISBN 978-9057022463
• A Critique of Nicotine Addiction by Hanan Frenk and Reuven Dar (Springer, 2000) ISBN 0792372255
• Problem Drinking Nick Heather and Ian Robertson (Oxford University Press, 1997) ISBN 0192628615
• The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure by Chris Prentiss (Power Press, 2007) ISBN 0943015448
• Addiction is a Choice by Jeffrey Schaler (Open Court, 1999) ISBN 0-8126-9404-X
• The Truth About Addiction and Recovery by Stanton Peele (Fireside, 1992) ISBN 0671755307