If addiction is a disease, why do the court system and many treatment models substance abuse, use the behavior modification approach, rather than treating the alleged disease? According to Daniel Akst in his Boston Globe article, the commonly held view of addiction within the treatment community has been for years that it is a disease (Akst 1) In contrast; the courts have viewed those with addictions as though it is bad behavior. Although some professionals hold to the idea that addiction is a disease treatable with medication, there is sufficient evidence that behavior modification is itself the real cure and should be the way society as a whole views those addicted. The controversy between opposing views of addiction, addressed by Gene Heyman PhD, a professor teaching at Boston College and Harvard University, in his book Addiction: a Disorder of Choice, as discussed in the article by Daniel Akst, which appeared in the Boston Globe. According to Heyman, the widely held view of addiction is that it is a disease, and this conventional wisdom is wrong (Akst 1). Perhaps in a self-preservation mode, those involved in the treatment of addiction prefer to have the addicted see themselves as suffers of a disease, hence the addicted need professional help for longer periods. This ignores the fact that about 75% of people chose to stop there abuse of substances. The generally held view of addiction needs to change from that of a disease to one of bad choices. The view of addiction needs to transition from that of considering it a disease to one of accepting that addiction is the result of personal choices. The currently held approach tends to take the responsibility away from the addicted person, which while making them feel better about himself or herself also provides an excuse for continued abuse. Heymans research shows that addicts respond to incentives just like most other people, and in fact most people with addiction stop using without