Addictions research needs something new. Its vision has been controlled by one particular lens, and even though this lens highlights certain features of the addictive experience, it can blind as much as reveal when it is the only way of seeing. To reduce all discussion of addictions to one image would be to sacrifice helpful perspectives that bring meaning and understanding.

In the case of addictions, the disease metaphor has been the controlling metaphor and it has jealously guarded its turf. No other perspective has been invited to broaden our understanding, let alone offer a major conceptual overhaul. Of course, the disease metaphor has usefulness. It highlights the way we can feel controlled by something other than our own will. What it doesn’t highlight is that the bondage we experience is a voluntary slavery.

Click to continue reading this article excerpted from the Spring 2001 issue of The Journal of Biblical Counseling (Volume 19:3). (PDF - click to read or right-click and save to your hard drive.)

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Ed Welch is a counselor and faculty member at CCEF.

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Posted 2-16-2010

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