Substance Use Disorders: Differentiating What We Know from What We Believe

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2014 one-and-a-half times more people died from drug-overdoses in the USA than from motor vehicle crashes. Opioids, primarily prescription pain relievers and heroin, are the main drugs associated with overdose deaths. This epidemic occurs in a context where approximately 22 million Americans or 8% of the population over 12 years of age has a problem with or dependence on alcohol and/or drugs. Dr. Capoccia reviews and discusses the difference between what we know…the current science… and prevailing beliefs concerning addiction disorders. Is it bad behavior or a health condition? Confined to sub-populations or inclusive of all socioeconomic status populations? Treatable or not