The disease model of addictions is made up of the following components: an addiction is not a symptom of a hidden psychiatric disorder but is a primary disease, an addiction is a multidimensional biopsychosocial disease, and the disease is not biogenetically predisposed. Other facts in the disease concept are that:

1. Children of alcoholics are twice as likely to become alcoholics (as opposed to children whose parents are not alcoholics)
2. Young men with alcoholic relatives metabolize alcohol in a different way than men without alcoholic relatives (after ingesting three drinks, they had lower alcohol levels and lower impairment in behavior)
3. Daughters adopted by alcoholic mothers were three times more likely to become alcoholics
4. Some studies suggest that there is a connection between biochemistry and alcoholism; increased tetrahydropaveroline (also called THP) is present in clients in treatment. THP is similar to opiates, and studies suggest that opiates instill the wish to consume ethanol.

Physical components are present in addictions because the more an individual consumes a drug, the higher the individual's tolerance and need for more becomes. Drug and alcohol addictions affect culture, society, and family. Many studies suggest that families with alcoholics experience alcoholism symptomatology, academic problems, antisocial behavior, social problems, unbalanced careers, and severe physical symptoms. The psychological components to addictions can possibly appear before an addiction begins and persist after detoxification. Psychological components to addictions may be self-doubt, abstinence, and a connection to the drug.