Addiction is the number one cause of accidental death in the United States. The rate has increased astronomically in recent years and occurs even more than car accidents. It is a condition of addiction to a particular substance, thing or activity. There have been several debates about whether addiction is a disease or a choice. What is the difference between addiction and physical dependence? Is it just a habit or is it an addiction? Once you are an addict, will you always be an addict? These are the most frequently asked questions when it comes to addiction. The most debatable question of all is: is there a cure for addiction? As you continue reading, I hope to be able to clarify some of these questions and answer them for you. Addiction is not a disease that makes it difficult for people without understanding why. Many wonder: why have that first drink when you know you won't stop? It's so hard for us to understand if we don't have the disease. Personally, my father and my boyfriend have the disease. Both recently got out of rehab and are sober. It took a lot to realize that they weren't drinking to harm me, they had that distortion in their brain that made them feel like they had to keep drinking. Even though they didn't have the choice to become addicted, they had the option to get help in recovery and they both did. With addiction, the changes in your brain will last a lifetime, even when you are sober. During his period of sobriety, an addict will have some triggers that may arise from environmental factors and will need to be careful and be aware. As mentioned above, addiction is a disease and we all know that habit is not. With habits you can easily change your usual behavior from negative to positive. Addiction in its very nature is naturally known to be bad. You don't have to go to rehab to change the habit of biting your nails or curling your hair. Addiction ends up affecting daily life, health, relationships, and so on. People with addiction take drugs or drink alcohol because afterwards they feel better or "normal" with habits that are not the case. You may have a habit of drinking wine after a bad day which may remain a habit if drunk in moderation and have no effect on your daily life