For low-functioning addicts, the negative consequences are all over the place and clear to anyone with which the addict has a relationship. Every decision, endeavor, or feeling revolves around and is controlled by the addiction, which creates all sorts of dysfunction across all of life. Disease or personal moral failure?

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is defined as "a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry; Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social, and spiritual manifestations; This is reflected in the individual pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other compulsive behaviors. The addiction is characterized by impairment in behavioral control, craving, inability to consistently abstain, and diminished recognition of significant problems with one's behaviors and interpersonal relationships. Like other chronic diseases, addiction can involve cycles of relapse and remission; Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction...

Like most other diseases; however, there is treatment. Many people are addicted to something and those who do not deal directly with substance addiction tend to assume it is entirely about being a moral failure because so much of the factors and consequences involved are criminal behaviors. However, addiction is a disease. Recovery, is not as easy as getting a prescription or surgery or some form of medical intervention like other diseases. Addiction recovery requires a tremendous amount of work, total commitment, and a vast and support network of relationships and resources.
References

ASAM. (2011). Retrieved on March 30, 2011, from www.asam.org.

Knapp, Caroline. (1996). Drinking: A love story. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

Stiles, Steven. (2011). Thorns in the heart. Second edition. Santa Cruz, CA: CreateSpace.