3 The concept that substance dependency is an illness is not, however, universal. Some would argue that dependency is not an illness because: Dependency is not transmissible or contagious. Addiction is not autoimmune, hereditary, or degenerative. Addiction is self-acquired, indicating the person gives the condition to himself. Proponents of this way of thinking put far more emphasis on the social and environmental aspects of addictionone advocate declares that dependencies might be "cured" by locking addicts in a cell where there is no access to substancesinstead of on the brain changes that happen as an outcome of substance abuse.For instance, it is true that the majority of drug abuse starts with a decision (although oftentimes compound use began with a prescription from a physician for a genuine medical issue and developed into abuse). However while nobody required an addicted person to begin misusing a compound, it's hard to picture somebody would willingly destroy their health, relationships, and other major locations of their lives.