There are a lot of people out there that really want to understand alcoholism and drug addiction. So the questions - ‘what is alcoholism or what is drug addiction?’ are very common.

You first need to know that alcoholism and drug addiction are fairly complex so if you are one of those people looking to understand them, please keep reading.

To understand addiction and alcoholism in depth, you would need to know things like the causes of drug addiction and alcoholism, if alcoholism and addiction is a disease, the hereditary and genetic impact on alcoholism.

But lets take it a step further back first and go deeper than that - so that we really get to the heart of the problem.

Yes - you may have a genetic predisposition towards addiction because of an alcoholic or addicted parent which increases the chances of you going down the same route life may be tough for numerous reasons so you use alcohol or drugs to cope, which can lead to alcoholism or drug addiction - but I think there is a far more basic, fundamental factor.

And I think it’s ultimately an emptiness and lack of wholeness that you feel, which you cover up or try to hide/suppress by using drugs and alcohol. I know - I’ve been there. You feel disconnected to life and question your purpose, which is something I used to do all the time. Still do actually, but it’s not nearly as bad.

According to Dr. Andrew Weil, who has a brilliant explanation for it in his book, Natural Health, Natural Medicine; addiction is not psychological or pharmacological problem and can’t be solved using these methods. He says it is at root, a Spiritual Concern, due to the fact that it represents a misdirected attempt at experiencing wholeness, satisfaction and inner completeness.

So in trying to understand, what is drug addiction and what is alcoholism actually? Remember that they are in essence a Spiritual ‘problem.’ And by doing that, you will be far more effective in treating and recovering from them successfully.

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