Learn about the issues
Addiction is a complex social issue as well as a medical condition. Learn what the research shows about key topics.
Responsible opioid prescribing
It’s critical to take steps to reduce the risks and harms of prescription opioids without reducing the availability of opioids when medically necessary.
Medications for Addiction Treatment
It’s not "replacing one addiction with another." It's an science-based treatment that's proven to save lives, reduce relapse, and help people live happy, healthy lives.
Mass incarceration
Research shows that strict punitive approaches for drug offenders do not reduce crime, improve health, or protect communities. People with substance use disorders need treatment, not jail time.
12-step programs
These programs can be an invaluable resource for some people in recovery. But they don’t work for everyone, and 12-step programs alone are not a substitute for science-based addiction treatment.
Medical marijuana
Evidence supports the drug's therapeutic effects for certain conditions, but more research is needed.
Diversion from the criminal legal system
An alternative to punishment, diversion programs offer a range of effective community responses to substance use and addiction.
