Yes, addiction is a disease. Be it addiction to heroin or school or food or sex or gambling. It is an illness, but one that can only be treated when the sufferer truly seeks help. Forcing addicts to treatment is about as effective as counting the grains of sand on the beach. While I pity them, I don't feel a need to care for them, especially not the ones who steal, lie and hurt others to support their habit. For them, contrary to some thought, incarceration is the best treatment. It may not cure them, but it protects the rest of us.