3 The idea that compound addiction is a disease is not, nevertheless, universal. Some would argue that addiction is not a disease due to the fact that: Addiction is not transmissible or contagious. Addiction is not autoimmune, genetic, or degenerative. Addiction is self-acquired, suggesting the person offers the condition to himself. Proponents of this way of thinking put a lot more emphasis on the social and environmental factors of addictionone proponent claims that addictions may be "cured" by locking addicts in a cell where there is no access to substancesinstead of on the brain modifications that take place as an outcome of compound abuse.For instance, it is real that many compound abuse begins with a choice (although in many cases substance usage began with a prescription from a medical professional for a genuine medical problem and developed into abuse). However while nobody forced an addicted person to begin misusing a compound, it's tough to picture somebody would willingly ruin their health, relationships, and other significant areas of their lives.