The Eagle View Wellness Centre for Addiction and Rehabilitation hosted an Addiction 101 family workshop on Saturday, May 16, where speaker Marius Swart explained addiction as a chronic brain disease that affects behaviour, decision-making and the brain’s reward system.

Swart told attendees that addiction is not simply the result of excessive alcohol or drug use, or behavioural habits, but a medical condition that changes brain structure over time. He referred to the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s 2011 definition, which classifies addiction as a primary chronic disease involving brain reward, motivation, memory and related neural circuits.

“It’s not just a behavioural problem,” he said, explaining that repeated substance use alters neural pathways, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to control their use once it begins.

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He added that medical observations dating back to the 1930s suggested alcohol dependence could involve a physical reaction similar to an “allergy”, where the first drink triggers a loss of control.

Swart explained that addiction is formally diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which identifies substance-related disorders across categories including alcohol, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, sedatives and other substances.

He explained that sedatives slow the central nervous system, stimulants increase activity, and opioids, while widely used for pain relief, carry a high risk of dependence.

Swart also warned that some prescription medications fall within these categories, stressing the importance of honesty between patients and healthcare providers during recovery.

“If you’re in recovery, your doctor needs to know,” he said.

A key focus of the workshop was how addiction affects the brain’s reward system and frontal lobe, which is responsible for planning, judgement and impulse control.

Swart said long-term substance use weakens these functions, making rational long-term decision-making more difficult and increasing the focus on immediate gratification.

He explained that this is why relapse can occur even after treatment, noting that brain circuits linked to addiction are not quickly restored.

“It’s not about being weak, it’s about changes in the brain that have been documented in research,” he said.

Swart also described how triggers and environment play a major role in recovery, stressing the importance of avoiding high-risk situations and maintaining support systems.

He concluded by reminding families that recovery is a long-term process.

“Even after years of sobriety, neural pathways linked to addiction can remain active and require ongoing awareness and support to prevent relapse,” he said.