[equoid]

Surely the "addiction is a disease" mindset is a defensive response to the (especially in America) mindset that addiction is a moral failing. I.e. one crackpot opinion begets another.

The truth about 'addiction' is complex and different for each individual but, given that no one is born an addict, at heart the concept describes how many people have learnt to cope with their individual circumstances. Disease and morality are both inadequate to discuss this.