This document discusses addiction in veterans and argues that it should be considered a mental illness by the military. It provides three main points of evidence: 1) Addiction meets the criteria for a disease according to the disease model, as it affects the brain on a physical, cellular level and causes common symptoms. 2) Mental illnesses like PTSD are connected to addiction, as veterans are often prescribed addictive opioids for pain and mental health issues. 3) Addiction physically affects the brain's reward system and dopamine levels, especially for veterans who experience severe stress, increasing their risk-taking behaviors.