Despite the potential for treating drug addiction more successfully than programs involving abstinence alone,
many individuals believe that the addict is responsible for his or her condition and that using another drug to
treat addiction is akin to “cheating.” According to this philosophy, those who become addicted can be
considered fully recovered only if they stop taking the drug or engaging in the behavior and never relapse.
In this Discussion, you will analyze the reward pathways of the brain and apply that understanding to both
substance and behavioral addictions. You will then examine treatments for addiction and the associated
advantages and disadvantages of these treatments.
References
National Institute of Drug Abuse. (n.d.). DrugFacts: Treatment statistics. Retrieved from
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-statistics
National Institute of Drug Abuse. (n.d.). Trends & statistics. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/relatedtopics/trends-statistics