Why do they say that once an addict is clean he is still considered to be an addict?!

I'm not certain about this, but I'm going with what I think considering my knowledge on other topics...

It may e because, no matter what, your mind is constantly attracted to that drug you're addicted to. When you quit it, it doesn't make your MIND want it any less. If you recovered and have not used it for some number of years and then tried just a little bit, I'm guessing that maybe your body will crave for more and you'll be back to how you used to be.

I'm no expert and I'm not saying this is accurate, but I'm working with logic... Research, if you don't get your answer, might be a good idea.Health Question & Answer

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I don't suppose you can call completely rehabilitated addict an addict anymore. Simply put, one is cured from appendicitis after a successful surgery, and the inflammation is gone .? Is one still considered as having an infection .? Yes, any disease although it's been cured, recurrence is possible, same with prev, addicts. Yes, some return to rehab clinic again and again. But I personally know of many prev. patients who are totally cured, some with just once .?.? Never wanted to get involved in again. Unfortunately acohol and some other substances are easily within reach for vulnerble patients...That's why this simplified misconception of the term again, alas ! As long as we continiously have preconceived ideas and categorize them as a herd instead of as a decent fellow human being with a past, we can't abolish the terminology...unfair. Sadly we as a society are eager to attach unreasonable stigma on mental illnesses, particularly drug & alcohol addicts whether they are cured or not....IMO.Health Question & Answer

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For the same reason that once someone is an alcoholic, they are always an alcoholic. This is due to the fact that they still remain addicted, even when not drinking. The same would be true for a drug addict. Generally, they still crave the substance. People who smoke experience the same cravings even after years of abstinence. Health Question & Answer

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Because if you're addicted to something even if you've been clean for a long period of time anything can make you go back to that addiction
For example if you are/ were addicted to cocaine everytime you get drunk you crave that high of just one line of cocaine - knowing that just that ONE line will make you sober and make you feel betterHealth Question & Answer

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it doesnt matter how much clean time you have you will always have that urge. ive seen people go back out after having 16 years(not gonna name names not important) its the same with cutters, im a cutter and even though im going through some things i havent cut in over a year. but im still a cutter

i hope this helps you understandHealth Question & Answer

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because he still is an addict, when your addicted to things after a long period of ttime you still are urged to do it every once in a while. You always have to tell yourself not to do it and thats why most addicts find what is a called their "higher power". Health Question & Answer

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Because they WILL always be an addict. My father was an alcoholic & the few times he got sober I learned in my Al Anon meetings he would always be an alcoholic, but a recovering one. You can be drug-free & still be a recovering addict.Health Question & Answer

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it depends what they are additcted to because they can get back on what ever it was once they try it againHealth Question & Answer

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