Addictions are becoming one of the leading causes of death in the United States claiming 100,306 lives from April 2020 to April 2021, an increase of 28.5% from the same period one year before (CDC).
Loving those who are addicted may be the only answer to saving countless lives, but first, we must take the time to understand what addiction is and how to treat it.
To do this, we must ask the hard questions, “What is addiction?” “Why haven’t we been able to solve or at least successfully treat it?” “What is driving the problem?”
This article will take a hard look at these questions and more.
What is Addiction?
Addiction is also known as substance use disorder (SUD). According to the American Psychiatric Association, a SUD is a complex medical condition where there is an uncontrolled urge to use and focus on a substance. Some of these may include alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, sugar, or prescription medications.
SUD leaves people unable to function in their day-to-day lives due to the side effects or the direct effects of the substance. For instance, you might have been surprised to see that sugar was among the substances in the above list. People who are addicted to sugary foods and drinks are often clinically obese and have numerous health issues that affect their lives.
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