Bel-Mar Infinity Pty Ltd

Addiction is a disease of the brain. It is a primary, chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward, motivation and memory pathways. That means that when a person is in the grips of addictive disease he or she cannot control what they use – drugs, alcohol, gambling, sexual behaviour etc. When the brain’s circuits or pathways are affected by alcohol and other drugs, it leads to biological, psychological and social problems. Alcoholics and other addicts need help, not punishment. The dysfunction that’s caused by addictive disease propels the addict to pursue, at all costs, reward or relief by using alcohol or other drugs, as well as behaviours like gambling, spending, sexual ‘acting out’ or internet gaming. Addicts can’t stop in spite of knowing their behaviour is damaging themselves and their loved ones. Addiction is progressive – it gets worse. Without treatment many addicts end up in prison, disabled, or dead before their time.