Dissertation study: a holistic view of addiction can reduce stigma around substance dependence

Piia Koivumäki

15.12.2025 - A new doctoral dissertation in philosophy by Piia Koivumäki (University of Jyväskylä) examines addiction through Lauri Rauhala’s philosophical view of the human being. In her conceptual research, Koivumäki develops a holistic understanding of addiction, where dependence is seen as bodily and lived, and as something that takes shape across life situations and personal history, not only in the brain or in “willpower”.

Choice or disease, and why the debate gets stuck

Substance dependence is often framed as either a person’s own choice or a disease. Koivumäki argues that public discussion has become stuck between blaming individuals and, in reaction, “brain disease” talk that aims to remove blame. She points out that addiction clearly has an individual and brain level, but also a social level, and that none of these alone captures the full picture.

Koivumäki also notes that “brain disease” language can create its own stigma, and that thin models tend to either blame the person or label them as incurably ill. She argues that speaking about someone’s “own choice” or an “incurable disease” is stigmatising and does not inspire hope, nor does it encourage seeking help early, which she describes as crucial.

A life situation approach

Instead of focusing mainly on blame or disease, Koivumäki emphasises looking at life situations, the relationships and circumstances in which addiction develops. This approach moves beyond seeing a “faulty” or “sick” individual as the target of stigma, and she argues that dismantling stigma and renewing care requires multidisciplinary cooperation. Her key idea is simple: as the perspective widens, stigma shrinks.

Public defence

Koivumäki’s dissertation is titled “Holistinen addiktiokäsitys Lauri Rauhalan filosofisen ihmiskäsityksen valossa”. The public defence is on Friday 19 December 2025 at 12:00 in the old festive hall S212 (Seminarium, Seminaarinkatu 15, Jyväskylä). The opponent is Docent Jussi Backman (Tampere University) and the custos is University Lecturer Joona Taipale. The language of the defence is Finnish.

Dissertation (JYX, via URN): https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-1163-9

Livestream page: https://r.jyu.fi/vaitos-koivumaki191225

(listed to start at 10:00 on 19 December 2025)