04/09/2018
The costs of substance abuse and addiction are vast and varied. Substance abuse and addiction often triggers or exacerbates physical and mental health problems, impedes educational and vocational progress, leads to family rupture and strain, hinders social development, and contributes to social inequity including disparities in health, education, and the criminal justice system faced by racial/ethnic minority and low-income communities. Advances in addiction science have identified the biological, psychological, environmental, and socio-cultural factors that contribute to the development and progression of addictive behavior. Scientists then use this knowledge to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches that reduce the burden of substance abuse and addiction on individuals as well as the toll on their families and communities. Further, the knowledge generated from research related to addiction has the potential to inform science-based policies and programs that reduce the prevalence of drug abuse and addiction, improve public health, and move towards health equity.
