Do you class addiction as an illness?

[MissCommando]

I was listening to LBC in bed last night and there was a discussion about a soldier who is being made redundant in December. His local council/housing association said he's in the silver tier and that people with illnesses are above him (including alcoholics). The soldier is not happy with this. This then led to people phoning in saying they didn't think addiction should be classed as an illness as it's self inflicted.

I think my personal view is that addiction isn't an illness but more a behavioural issue. I think an illness is something that takes over your body, that you have absolutely no control of.

What are your thoughts?

[MissCommando]

This should be in chatterbank, not business and finance lol!

[chelle7272]

An addiction IS somwthing you have no control of.
No-one starts out wanting to be an addict, and there are osften underlying mental health issues, depression, abuse etc which have contributed to the behaviour.