Dear Dr. K: My brother has struggled with addiction for years. I’ve told my husband that addiction is a disease, but he claims my brother is weak and lacks willpower. Is he right?

Dear Reader: There is a lot of stigma and shame associated with addiction. But the truth is, people with substance-use disorders aren’t simply weak or immoral. It surely is true that people who try out illegal addictive drugs for recreational purposes are breaking the law. In my opinion, they also are doing something profoundly stupid. But they’re often teens, who tend to do a lot of stupid, impulsive things. Moreover, many people who become addicted to legal drugs were started on those drugs by their doctors. MORE