THINK ABOUT IT –
Feb. 12, 2026 – Addiction is one of the most common and consequential chronic medical conditions in the United States. Nationwide, more than 46 million people met the criteria for a substance abuse disorder as of 2021, the most recent data available.
Decades of evidence show that addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease of the brain. Nonetheless, there’s still widespread public misunderstanding of what constitutes “treatment” for addiction, not to mention heavy stigma associated with it.
…Addiction has causes that are neurobiological, psychological and structural. Treating these drivers is as important as managing the initial withdrawal. Medically managed withdrawal does not restore neurochemical imbalances, provide long-term relapse prevention strategies or help patients manage ongoing life stressors or triggers as they arise.
