Answer by Dr. Adrian Perkel

Addiction is not a disease in the sense that you 'catch it', like a cold. It is a disease in the sense that it develops a life of its own which must be treated. But underneath those destructive urges and patterns lie experiences, feelings, wants, and psychological injuries. Without addressing these elements as well, the unconscious drivers that create and feed the addictive patterns, it is difficult to become truly free of them. These inner elements are unique to each addict's experiences of life.